Will San José Junk Pickup take a refrigerator?

We could not confirm it from the City's page. Ask when you book through 311.

How to get rid of a refrigerator in San José, CA

San José's no-cost Junk Pickup takes up to 12 large items per request, booked through 311. We could not open the City's acceptable-items list, so confirm refrigerators are accepted, and how to prepare one, when you book.

Last checked Oct 21, 2026 against the official City of San José Environmental Services website. See sources.

Cost: No cost (Junk Pickup)
Limit: Up to 12 items per request
Confirm: Fridge rules not verified

Option 1: City pickup (No-cost Junk Pickup)

Who can use it

Owners and renters at single-family and multi-family homes served by the City's residential collection.

How to book

Request online at 311.SanJoseCA.gov, in the San José 311 app, by dialing 3-1-1, or by calling (408) 535-3500.
Appointments fall on your regular recycling and garbage collection day.
You will get a separate appointment confirmation email within two business days. Need it sooner? Contact your recycling collection company (look it up in 311 My Collection Schedule).

Refrigerator rules

Book through 311.SanJoseCA.gov, the 311 app, 3-1-1 or (408) 535-3500.
Ask whether doors must be removed and the fridge emptied when you schedule.

Setting it out

Set items out no more than 24 hours before your appointment.
Put them on the street next to the curb, the same way you set out your carts.
Not in a red zone, not blocking a hydrant, and not directly next to a parked car.

Fees and limits

Junk Pickup is no cost.

Option 2: Drop it off yourself

We did not find an official public drop-off site for this item. Ask a private hauler, or check the city's page listed under Sources.

Option 3: Donate or give it away

Habitat for Humanity ReStores generally want household appliances that are less than 10 years old, in good working order and complete. Rules vary by store; find yours with the ReStore locator.

Donation rules are set by each charity and can change. Call before you load up.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm from an official page that Junk Pickup accepts refrigerators, or what preparation is required. The acceptable-items PDF would not open.
We could not open the City's acceptable-items list (PDF) when we checked, so item-specific rules beyond the City's main Junk Pickup page are not confirmed.