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How to get rid of a refrigerator, air conditioner, or TV in Boston

Fridges, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and old TVs and monitors can't just go out with the trash in Boston. The City says Massachusetts law bans items containing Freon or cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from the trash, so Boston runs a separate special item collection by appointment. If your appliance still works, a few local charities will take it instead.

Last verified 2026-10-22

Which items need the City's special collection

The City lists refrigerators and freezers, water coolers, ice makers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers (items with Freon), plus televisions, laptops, and computer monitors (items with CRTs). Dishwashers, water heaters, and plumbing fixtures are not part of this program; the City says to donate them or hire a private hauler. The City does not collect commercial-grade items.

How the free City pickup works

Schedule an appointment online or call 311 (617-635-4500); the City does not collect special items without one. Put the item where your trash normally goes (curbside, public alley, or dumpster area) by 6 a.m. on your appointment day, or after 5 p.m. the night before, somewhere publicly accessible and not on private property. The City page doesn't mention a fee. Limits: 5 items per appointment and 10 per calendar year. Cancel before 12 p.m. the day before. If it's missed, call 311 within 24 hours.

Fridge and TV prep rules (or it won't be taken)

Remove all doors from fridges and freezers, including mini fridges, and set the doors next to your trash bin for regular collection. Take out all food. Fridges or freezers with doors attached or food inside will not be collected. Don't smash appliances or electronics. TVs and computers must be freestanding, not boxed, and wipe your data from computers first.

Donating a working appliance

The Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston ReStore in West Roxbury accepts appliances less than eight years old, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, free-standing stoves, cooktops, and microwaves, and dishwashers only if never installed; it doesn't take in-wall stoves, and everything must work. Household Goods in Acton takes refrigerators, washers, electric dryers, and air conditioners up to 18" x 30" x 24" if newer than 10 years, plus flat-screen TVs under 55" and under 10 years old with an attached base and power cord. The Thrift Shop of Boston takes smart flat-screen TVs and small appliances but not older, CRT, or rear-projection TVs. The Salvation Army's national FAQ says it generally takes working, non-built-in appliances such as ACs, microwaves, TVs, and washers and dryers, but not gas appliances or TVs older than 5 years; rules vary by location, so call 800-SA-TRUCK.

Paid pickup from inside your home

The City only collects from the curb, so if you can't move the appliance yourself you'll need help. ReSupply lists appliances among the items it picks up for donation in Boston, with teams that handle stairs; it's a paid service with a separate booking fee. LoadUp, a junk removal service, lists TV disposal from $80, fridge disposal from $115, and washer removal from $85 on its national page, with the final price set by ZIP code, item, and pickup conditions. Confirm the price before you book.

Options

city bulk pickup

City of Boston special item collection (fridges, ACs, TVs, monitors)

Takes

• Refrigerators & freezers
• Air conditioners
• Dehumidifiers
• Water coolers
• Ice makers
• Televisions
• Computer monitors
• Laptops

Not accepted

• Commercial-grade items
• Dishwashers, water heaters, plumbing fixtures (donate or hire a private hauler)

Condition rules

Appointment required. Remove all fridge/freezer doors (including mini-fridges) and all food, or the item won't be collected. Don't smash appliances or electronics. Wipe data from computers. TVs and computers must be freestanding, not boxed. Max 5 items per appointment and 10 per calendar year. Cancel before 12 p.m. the day before.

Stairs / inside pickup

No. Place it where trash is collected (curbside, public alley, or dumpster area); items on private property are not collected.

Lead time / hours

Not stated, check with them

Cost

No fee is mentioned on the City page. Check with 311 if unsure.

Service area

City of Boston residents.

How to book

Website / booking · 311 or 617-635-4500

Sources

[1] [2] · last verified 2026-10-22

drop-off

Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston ReStore (West Roxbury)

Takes

• Bed frames, headboards & footboards
• Dressers, bureaus & armoires
• Coffee & end tables
• Desks (3' x 5' or smaller)
• Tables & chairs (not conference tables or dated)
• Upholstered furniture (not ripped, worn, broken, dated or faded)
• Outdoor furniture
• Appliances less than eight years old (fridges, washers, dryers, free-standing stoves, cooktops, microwaves, never-installed dishwashers)
• Cabinets, doors, lighting, building materials

Not accepted

• Mattresses & box springs
• Sofa beds
• Sofas with slip covers
• Futons
• Platform & trundle beds
• Hutches, sideboards, buffets, china cabinets
• TV armoires & entertainment centers
• Fitness equipment
• In-wall stoves

Condition rules

All donations must be in working order. Staff can refuse any item based on condition and store need. Email the ReStore for the current list.

Stairs / inside pickup

Drop-off: staff help unload at the store. In-home pickup is arranged through ReSupply (paid; see the ReSupply listing).

Lead time / hours

Drop-off Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (as posted).

Cost

Drop-off fee: not stated. Pickup is through ReSupply, a paid service.

Service area

Drop-off at the West Roxbury store. Habitat says a second ReStore is set to open in Watertown in fall 2026.

Address

1580 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA

How to book

Website / booking · restore@habitatboston.org

Sources

[1] · last verified 2026-10-22

paid hauler

ReSupply donation pickup (Boston)

Takes

• Furniture (tables, dressers, bed frames, bookcases, etc.)
• Couches, sectionals, recliners, futons
• Mattresses
• Appliances
• Clothing, boxes & bags
• Office furniture

Condition rules

Items should be clean, sturdy, complete, and usable (no broken frames, missing parts, or pet damage). Items the charity can't accept may carry a recycling fee, charged in $10 increments.

Stairs / inside pickup

Yes. Teams go up and down stairs; disassembly is available. Extra fees may apply.

Lead time / hours

Priority pickups in 24 to 48 hours; small items in as little as one hour (per ReSupply's Boston page).

Cost

Paid service. Starts at $19 (bags/boxes), $49 (small furniture and boxes), $99 (sofas and bulky furniture), plus a separate non-refundable booking fee. Final quote confirmed on site before loading.

Service area

Boston (enter your ZIP to confirm).

How to book

Website / booking

Notes

Habitat Greater Boston ReStore and Household Goods both point donors to ReSupply for in-home pickup.

Sources

[1] [2] [3] · last verified 2026-10-21

furniture bank

Household Goods (Acton)

Takes

• Standard-size mattresses & box springs
• Bed frames (all parts) & bunk beds
• Dressers & armoires
• Couches, sofa beds & futons
• Chairs (no office chairs)
• Kitchen, dining, end & coffee tables
• Refrigerators, washers, electric dryers (newer than 10 years)
• Air conditioners up to 18" x 30" x 24" (newer than 10 years)
• Flat-screen TVs under 55" (less than 10 years old)

Not accepted

• Mattresses with any stains or rips
• Office furniture, desks, file cabinets
• Glass-top items
• Outdoor furniture
• Oversized or wall-mounted items

Condition rules

Clean, complete, and in good working condition; nothing broken, chipped, torn, stained, or recalled.

Stairs / inside pickup

Volunteer pickup asks that items be in a garage or on the first floor if possible.

Lead time / hours

Drop-off Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteer pickups typically scheduled 4+ weeks ahead. Paid pickups through ReSupply or ReMARKable Donations in as soon as 2 business days.

Cost

Drop-off: not stated. Volunteer pickup: minimum $35 donation requested. Paid pickups (ReSupply / ReMARKable Donations): for a fee.

Service area

Volunteer pickup only in Acton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford, so not Boston. Boston donors can drop off in Acton or use the paid pickup partners.

Address

530 Main Street, Acton, MA

How to book

Website / booking · 978-763-1198

Sources

[1] [2] · last verified 2026-10-22

charity pickup

The Thrift Shop of Boston (Roslindale)

Takes

• Furniture (including antiques)
• Small appliances
• Smart flat-screen TVs
• Housewares, lamps, rugs, mirrors

Not accepted

• Couches, futons & sleep sofas
• Beds: headboards, footboards, frames, mattresses, box springs
• Chairs with upholstery stains, tears or sun damage
• Office furniture, large desks
• TV armoires
• Older/CRT/rear-projection TVs
• Cribs

Condition rules

Clean and in usable condition. Drop-off by appointment.

Stairs / inside pickup

Not stated, check with them

Lead time / hours

Drop-off by appointment on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Pickup timing: not stated.

Cost

Furniture pickup has a fee that depends on location and volume, usually $50 to $150 (as posted).

Service area

Not stated, check with them

Address

33 Corinth Street, Roslindale, MA 02131

How to book

Website / booking · 617-325-5300 · thriftshopofboston@gmail.com

Notes

Email photos, your location, and timeframe to request a furniture pickup. Proceeds support The Home for Little Wanderers.

Sources

[1] · last verified 2026-10-22

charity pickup

The Salvation Army donation pickup (1-800-SA-TRUCK)

Takes

• Unbroken furniture: beds, sofas, chairs, tables, desks, cabinets (per national FAQ)
• Mattresses (per national FAQ)
• Working, non-built-in appliances (per national FAQ)

Condition rules

Gently used and unbroken. The Salvation Army says accepted items vary by location; call 800-SA-TRUCK for local rules.

Stairs / inside pickup

Not stated, check with them

Lead time / hours

Not stated, check with them

Cost

Advertised as a free donation pickup on satruck.org. Local terms: check with them.

Service area

Enter a Boston ZIP on satruck.org to see whether pickup is offered at your address. I could not confirm Boston coverage on 2026-10-21.

How to book

Website / booking · 1-800-728-7825

Sources

[1] · last verified 2026-10-21

paid hauler

LoadUp junk removal

Takes

• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Couches
• Appliances
• General junk

Condition rules

No donation-quality requirement stated; this is junk removal.

Stairs / inside pickup

Yes. Full-service option removes items from inside (basement, attic, upstairs); curbside option also offered.

Lead time / hours

Same-day pickup available in most areas and next-day almost everywhere else (per LoadUp's national page).

Cost

Per LoadUp's national page: full-service from $75, curbside from $70, priority/same-day from $85. Guaranteed price shown before booking. Item pages list TV disposal from $80, fridge disposal from $115, and washer removal from $85 (starting prices; final price confirmed by ZIP, item, and pickup conditions).

Service area

LoadUp says it serves all 50 states. Enter your Boston ZIP to confirm.

How to book

Website / booking

Notes

We do not currently have an affiliate relationship with LoadUp. If that changes, this listing will be labeled.

Sources

[1] · last verified 2026-10-22

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