JUNK-A-SAURUS🏠 HomeHow to Dispose of a Refrigerator or Appliance in Utah
Old appliances are heavy, awkward, and can't just go to the curb. Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant (freon) that has to be handled properly under federal rules. Here's how to get rid of one the easy way.
Can I take a refrigerator to the dump?
Yes, but not to the curb, and not without paying a separate fee. Salt Lake County transfer stations and the Trans-Jordan Landfill will accept a fridge or freezer, but there is a catch most people find out at the gate: the Trans-Jordan Landfill requires the refrigerant to be removed before you arrive, and then charges $20 per unit on top of the normal load fee (currently a $15 minimum, or $41 a ton). Curbside trash collection will not take one at all, and leaving it out is how you end up with a citation rather than an empty garage.
The reason is federal, not local. Refrigerant has to be recovered by a certified technician before the shell can be scrapped. Which is why "just take it to the dump" is rarely one trip. You need the refrigerant pulled and certified first, then the run to the landfill, then the $20.
Can I take a freezer to the dump?
Same answer and the same fee. A chest or upright freezer is treated identically to a fridge because it uses the same refrigerant. Window air-conditioning units and dehumidifiers fall under the same rule for the same reason.
Do I need to remove the doors first?
If the unit is going to sit anywhere before disposal, yes. Utah follows the federal rule on abandoned appliances: a working latch on a discarded fridge is an entrapment hazard for children. Take the door off, or tape it open, the moment it stops being a working appliance. Most facilities will refuse a unit with an intact latch.
What does it cost to get rid of a fridge in Utah?
Three routes, roughly:
- Haul it yourself. $20 appliance fee plus the load charge ($15 minimum), but only after you have paid someone certified to recover the refrigerant. Cheapest on paper. Two errands, a certified technician and a truck in practice.
- Retailer haul-away. Some stores take the old one when they deliver the new one, often for a fee, and usually only on delivery day.
- Appliance pickup. Ours starts at $150 for a quarter load plus the $50–75 show-up fee. We carry it out of a basement if that is where it lives, and the metal goes to a recycler.
Is it worth scrapping a fridge for the metal?
Rarely. Scrap yards pay by weight and a domestic fridge is mostly plastic and foam insulation, so the return is small, and most will not take one at all unless the refrigerant has already been recovered and certified. We pull the metal out ourselves and send it to a recycler, which is where that value actually goes, and you get the space back the same day.
Why fridges need special handling
Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners contain refrigerant that has to be recovered properly before the unit is scrapped, you can't just leave one at the curb. They're also heavy and awkward to move without scratching floors or doorways. We disconnect the appliance, get it out without the drama, and send the metal to recyclers so it's dealt with the right way instead of taking up space in a landfill.
Serving the Salt Lake & Utah valleys
Junk-A-Saurus is based in Draper and hauls across both valleys, including Sandy, South Jordan, West Jordan and Riverton in the Salt Lake Valley, plus Lehi, American Fork, Lindon and Orem down in the Utah Valley. Wherever you are, you get the same deal: a free, upfront quote, all the lifting and loading handled, and same-day service whenever we can fit you in. Call or text 801-516-9569 and we'll get you on the schedule.