Appliance Recycling In San Diego

Appliance Pickup Available in San Diego

Have multiple appliances and can’t bring your appliance to our warehouse? If so, appliance pickup and removal are available throughout San Diego County.

For example, we can help with the pickup of refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, and other household or commercial appliances.

Once we receive your information, we’ll contact you directly to discuss the appliances and arrange a convenient pickup time. However, pickup availability may vary based on location, appliance type, quantity, and accessibility.

Book Your Appliance Pickup Appointment

Schedule your appointment for secure, certified recycling of home appliances. If you have any questions, call us at (619) 889-1305 or email us at [email protected].

General Contact form

Appliance Prices, Pickup and What to Know

What It Costs

Working or broken makes no difference to the price.

Free Small appliances: toasters, air fryers, blenders, coffee makers, kettles, fans

$3 Microwaves & vacuums, carpet and steam cleaners

$5 Mini fridges, beverage coolers, countertop ice makers

$10 Large appliances: washing machines, dryers, ovens and stoves, dishwashers, lawnmowers

We charge a small recycling/handling fee for the appliances listed above because they require special handling and have additional downstream recycling costs. However, we accept all standard e-waste free of charge.

See Every Item & Price

Pickup From Your Home or Business

Have multiple appliances and can’t bring them to our warehouse? Then appliance pickup and removal are available throughout San Diego County.

Handled by our contract driver, one appliance or several

  • First, send your name, pickup address and phone number.
  • Also, tell us the appliance type, quantity and which floor it’s on.
  • Then our contract driver contacts you directly to schedule and confirm the cost.

We also offer volume pricing and recurring pickups for businesses.

Request a Pickup

Before You Bring It

  • Fridges, freezers and AC units: a technician has to remove the refrigerant first. Then bring the technician’s certification tag.
  • Anything that ran on gasoline needs to be completely empty of fuel and oil.
  • Gas, water and hardwired appliances need to be disconnected before pickup.
  • Bringing a lot at once? Call first, because large drop-offs need approval.

Not sure about an item? Call or text (619) 889-1305.

Drop-Off Locations

We also process all devices securely with certified data destruction to protect your information. Call or Text us Now at (619) 889-1305 or email us at [email protected] for FREE E-Waste Disposal!

Free Appliance Recycling & Removal Service in San Diego

LARGE APPLIANCES ONLY ACCEPTED AT OUR POINT LOMA AND CHULA VISTA RECYCLING CENTERS (SAN MARCOS TAKES MICROWAVES)

San Diego Recycling Center

4009 Hicock St STE D, San Diego, CA 92110

Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

(No Appointment Needed)

Chula Vista Recycling Center

819 Anita St, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

(No Appointment Needed)

North County Recycling Center

2930 Norman Strasse Rd STE 104, San Marcos

Monday to Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

(No Appointment Needed)

Appliances We Accept and What Each One Costs

Working or broken makes no difference to the price. In fact, we accept everything below in any condition.

Small Appliances Recycle for Free

Free

  • Toasters and toaster ovens
  • Blenders and food processors
  • Air fryers
  • Coffee makers and espresso machines
  • Kettles and mixers
  • Slow cookers and rice cookers
  • Waffle irons and electric grills
  • Hand vacuums
  • Fans and humidifiers
  • Space heaters (not oil-filled)

No fee, no quantity limit. So if you're clearing a kitchen, bring it all.

Large Appliances Recycling

$10 each

  • Washing machines
    Front-load, top-load, compact and portable
  • Dryers
    Electric and gas, compact and stackable
  • Washer-dryer sets
    Matching sets and combination units
  • Ovens, ranges and stoves
    Electric, gas, convection, freestanding, slide-in
  • Cooktops
    Electric, induction and gas
  • Dishwashers
    Built-in and portable
  • Trash compactors and garbage disposals
  • Lawnmowers
    With gas and oil fully drained
  • Satellite dishes and home gym equipment

Microwaves and Vacuums Recycling

$3 each

  • Microwaves
    Countertop, over-the-range and built-in
  • Vacuums
    Upright, canister, stick and robot
  • Carpet cleaners and steam cleaners

Mini Fridges Recycling

$5 each

  • Compact and mini refrigerators
    Including dorm fridges
  • Beverage coolers and wine fridges
  • Countertop ice makers

However, cooling appliances follow the refrigerant rules below.

Appliances and Materials We Cannot Accept

We take almost any appliance, working or broken. However, there are a few exceptions, mostly for safety reasons.

We can't take

Why, and what you can do

Fridges, freezers and AC units that still have cooling gas in them

The cooling gas (refrigerant) is harmful, and by law a certified technician has to remove it first. Once it's out, we can take the unit. For details, see the refrigerator rules above.

Built-in refrigerators

These are the fridges built into kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, we aren't set up to handle them. Instead, ask the company installing your new fridge to take the old one.

Anything that still has gas or oil in it

Lawn mowers, leaf blowers and pressure washers can leak or catch fire. Empty all the gas and oil first, then bring it in.

Oil-filled heaters and radiators

These are the portable heaters that look like old radiators on wheels. Because the oil is sealed inside, we can't safely remove it here.

Appliances that are leaking

If oil, coolant or any other liquid is dripping out, we can't safely accept it.

Swollen, cracked or leaking batteries

Damaged batteries can catch fire, and they're common in robot vacuums and cordless tools. So call us first and we will tell you what to do.

Older equipment that may contain asbestos

This includes some furnaces and water heaters made before 1980. Instead, a licensed asbestos removal company must handle these.

Dirty or contaminated items

For example, anything with mold, pests, chemicals, bodily fluids or an unknown substance on it.

Factory and industrial machines

Large commercial or industrial machinery is too big for our process. Instead, we accept normal household and small-business appliances.

Items with no electrical parts

For example, cabinets, countertops, furniture and building debris. That is because we only recycle things that plug in or have electrical parts.

Not sure about an item, or bringing a lot at once?

Call us and describe it before you load anything, since large drop-offs need approval first. Also, chemicals and other household hazardous waste go to a San Diego County household hazardous waste (HHW) facility.

Call (619) 889-1305

Refrigerators, Freezers and Air Conditioners Recycling Rules

We accept refrigerators and freezers only once a technician has removed the refrigerant.

Every refrigerator, freezer, window AC unit, portable AC, dehumidifier, and wine cooler contains refrigerant (a cooling gas). Older units use Freon (R-12 or R-22), while newer ones use refrigerants such as R-134a, R-600a or R-410A. Under EPA Clean Air Act Section 608, a certified technician must recover that refrigerant before anyone disposes of or scraps the appliance. In fact, venting it is a federal offense, and it's the reason a fridge can't go for scrap like a washing machine.

Dream does not perform refrigerant recovery, so you have three options:

Window and portable AC units, as well as dehumidifiers, also follow the same rule.

1

Have it evacuated first

An HVAC or appliance technician recovers the refrigerant and gives you a signed certification tag. Then bring the unit and the tag, and we'll take it from there.

2

Check for a utility program

SDG&E and similar programs have offered free refrigerator and freezer recycling, including collection and refrigerant recovery, sometimes with a rebate. So it is worth checking before you pay anyone.

3

Call us anyway

Tell us what you have on (619) 889-1305 and we will tell you which route is cheapest for your situation, even when that route isn't us.

Water Heaters, Furnaces and Outdoor Equipment

Many recyclers turn these away. We take them:

  • Water heaters
    Gas and electric tank units
  • Furnaces and HVAC air handlers
  • Other yard equipment
    Trimmers, blowers and pressure washers

Anything that ran on gasoline must be completely drained of fuel and oil before it arrives. We can't accept it otherwise.

Appliance Brands We Accept

Every brand. The brand genuinely doesn't matter.

Whirlpool GE LG Samsung Maytag Frigidaire Kenmore Bosch KitchenAid Amana Electrolux Speed Queen Hotpoint Magic Chef Sub‑Zero Viking Thermador Miele Haier Insignia and the rest

Do I Need to Disconnect the Appliance Myself?

Yes, you need to disconnect appliances before we arrive. Our crews collect and load, but they aren’t licensed to break gas or plumbing connections. Specifically:

  • Gas ranges, gas dryers, gas water heaters and furnaces need a licensed plumber or HVAC technician to shut off and disconnect the gas line. This is not a DIY job, so we can’t do it for you.
  • Dishwashers and washing machines need the water supply shut off, supply lines disconnected and the drain line pulled. A competent DIYer can manage this, or else a plumber takes fifteen minutes.
  • Hardwired appliances like ovens, cooktops and some dryers connect straight to a junction box rather than a plug. So that’s an electrician’s job.
  • Anything plugged into a socket just unplug it.
Appliance recycling San Diego
Free appliance disposal near me

Stairs, Apartments and Difficult Access

If you are having a new appliance delivered, ask the installer to disconnect the old one. Have it disconnected and moved to a ground-floor room, garage or kerbside if you can. We can still collect from inside if you don’t.

Second-floor flats, basement laundry rooms, narrow stairwells, and buildings with lift restrictions are all workable, but we need to know in advance so we can send the right crew and equipment. Mention it when you schedule the pickup. For apartment communities and HOAs handling multiple-unit turnovers, we schedule recurring collections.

How Appliance Recycling Works and What Happens Next

From drop-off or pickup to material recovery, we also handle each appliance through a documented recycling process.

Bring your appliance to our San Diego (Hicock Street), Chula Vista or North County recycling center. You can also schedule a free e-waste pickup across San Diego County. When it arrives, we weigh and log the appliance before processing begins.

Before we process an appliance, we remove components that require special handling. For example, this can include compressor oil, capacitors, mercury switches, batteries and other materials that should not enter the shredder.

If a working appliance still has useful life, we may assess it for reuse rather than send it straight to material recovery. Otherwise, appliances that are not suitable for reuse continue through the recycling process.

After that, we dismantle appliances and separate them into recoverable material streams. Depending on the appliance, these can include steel, copper, aluminium, plastics, glass and circuit boards.

Finally, we send recovered materials to appropriate downstream processors. Ferrous metals go to steel processors, while copper and aluminium go to non-ferrous processors. Plastics and circuit boards also go through their respective recovery streams.

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Free appliance recycling San Diego

Why Choose Dream Electronic Recycling

Dream Electronic Recycling makes appliance recycling straightforward, with clear pricing and flexible pickup options across San Diego County. Small appliances can be recycled for free, while larger appliances have published handling fees of $3 to $10, so you know the cost before you bring them in or schedule a pickup.

We accept a wide range of household and light commercial appliances, including items that many recyclers do not handle, such as water heaters, furnaces, lawnmowers and trash compactors. For larger or multiple appliances, our countywide pickup service means you do not have to move heavy equipment more than once. We also work with property managers, contractors, restaurants and businesses that need scheduled collections for turnovers, remodels, equipment replacements and larger cleanouts.

Our R2v3 certification and CalRecycle registration (CEWID #127772) support a documented recycling process rather than simply hauling appliances away. We also provide straightforward guidance when an appliance requires special handling. For example, if a refrigerator or freezer needs refrigerant recovery before recycling, we’ll explain the available options, including utility programs when applicable.

Whether an appliance is working, broken, rusty or missing parts, we can help determine the appropriate recycling option. After all, Dream Electronic Recycling is locally owned, operating since 2015, and provides appliance recycling and pickup services throughout San Diego County.

What Is Appliance Recycling and Removal?

So if you need to have your appliances properly recycled, contact Dream E Waste today!

Contact Us

Appliance recycling is the process of collecting an end of life appliance, removing the components that can’t go into a shredder, and separating the rest into recoverable material streams mostly ferrous and non-ferrous metal, with plastics, glass and wiring alongside. Appliances are heavy, and that’s most of the story. A washing machine is roughly two thirds steel by weight. A dryer drum is steel, its motor is copper-wound, and its housing is often aluminium. Recovered properly, all of that goes straight back into manufacturing.

The parts that don’t are the reason the process is regulated. Older appliances contain mercury switches in chest freezer lids and some ranges, PCB-containing capacitors in units manufactured before the late 1970s, compressor oil, and in anything that cools, refrigerant. Under the EPA’s Clean Air Act Section 608, refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician before an appliance is disposed of or scrapped. That isn’t a best practice, its federal law, and its why the refrigerator question below has a longer answer than you’d expect.

In California, appliances also can’t simply go in a dumpster. That is because anything with electronic components falls under e-waste rules. In addition, the law treats refrigerant-containing units as hazardous waste until the refrigerant is out.

Appliance Recycling Service Areas We Cover Throughout San Diego

We proudly serve homeowners and residents throughout San Diego County, including Chula Vista, North County, San Marcos, Miramar, Kearny Mesa and multiple other counties. So drop off appliances at our San Diego, Chula Vista or San Marcos Recycling Center, or schedule a pickup anywhere in San Diego County.

LOCAL RECYCLING LOCATIONS WE SERVE

Find Appliance Recycling Near You

NEED A CONVENIENT OPTION?

Don't See Your Area Listed?

Even so, we provide Home Appliance recycling services and pickup throughout San Diego County.

Schedule a Pickup

Why do we charge anything at all? 

Large appliances are mostly steel, and steel has scrap value. But they also contain compressor oil, capacitors, mercury switches in older units, and insulation foam, and we have to remove and handle all of these separately before the metal is worth anything. The fee covers that handling. However, it doesn’t cover a truck, a crew or a drive, which is why the fee stays small.

Why does junk removal cost ten times more than recycling? 

They are not recycling the electronics. Instead, they are charging you for labour, a truck and a landfill tipping fee, and a good share of what they collect gets buried. In other words, you are paying for disposal, not for secure recycling. Here, however, you are paying for certified recycling processing.

What San Diego Community Says About Us

Rated Excellent by 2000+ locals for fast, friendly, and completely free electronic recycling.

Across 6 locations

Excellent

Based on 1,163 reviews

Google

  • Carmen CurrySan Diego

    Fantastic, free e-waste recycling in central SD. Workers are always super friendly. Getting in & out of there is hard in a car though.

    Edit: just dropped off something and was informed California now requires a small fee ($1-$10) to recycle items. $1 for anything over 3lbs (averaging about $3 for most items) $10 for the largest item: fridges. TVs are still free. Still a very small fee for recycling the items that shouldn’t/can’t go in the landfill. Love having Dream E-Waste local to me. Staff is always pleasant and helpful. Thanks again Dream!

  • J DSan Diego

    Friendly staff. Quick and easy.

  • J DMiramar

    Very friendly. Quick and easy. Thank you 👍

  • Sidney ShiromaMiramar

    Great customer service

  • Richard LancasterMiramar

    Electronic recycling was convenient and easy. The staff was very helpful. My garage which was full of dead batteries and light bulbs thanks Dream Electronic Recycling!

  • Elizabeth SieglerSan Diego

    Excellent service! So helpful and convenient, easy!!

  • Habeas CorpusSan Diego

    Awesome place

  • Brandon SawyerMiramar

    Fantastic! Super easy. Great service.

  • Justin ManorMiramar

    Just heard about this place and dropped off my old microwave so easy! Im bring all my ewaste here, you should too

Frequently Asked Questions

Small appliances like toasters, blenders and air fryers are free. Larger items carry a small handling fee: $10 for washers, dryers and stoves, $5 for mini fridges, $3 for microwaves and vacuums. That covers the hazardous-component removal that large appliances require, and it’s well below what junk removal typically charges.

Because large appliances need hand-dismantling before the metal has any value, compressor oil is drained, capacitors and mercury switches removed, and batteries pulled. The $10 covers that handling. Anywhere advertising completely free large-appliance removal is usually either funded by a utility programme or landfilling part of what it collects.

We accept appliances at our San Diego, Chula Vista and North County locations:

San Diego Center: 4009 Hicock St STE D, San Diego, CA 92110
Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Chula Vista Recycling Center: 819 Anita St, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
No appointment needed.

North County Recycling Center: 2930 Norman Strasse Rd STE 104, San Marcos, CA 92069
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturdays: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
No appointment needed.

Our other locations handle electronics but cannot receive appliances. Pickup is available throughout San Diego County if you would rather not transport your appliances.

Yes, throughout San Diego County. Send your name, pickup address and phone number, and then our contract driver will contact you directly to schedule and confirm the cost. Also, tell us the appliance type, quantity and which floor it’s on. Availability varies by location, appliance type and access.

Yes. For example, gas ranges, gas dryers, water heaters and furnaces need a licensed plumber or HVAC technician to disconnect the gas line. Similarly, dishwashers and washing machines need the water shut off and lines disconnected. Hardwired ovens and cooktops need an electrician. If it simply plugs in, just unplug it.

Only once a technician has removed the refrigerant. That is because federal law requires a certified technician to recover refrigerant before anyone scraps a cooling appliance. So have it evacuated and bring the certification tag, check whether a utility programme covers collection and recovery for free, or call (619) 889-1305 and we’ll tell you which route is cheapest.

Yes, and the price is identical to a working one. Broken, rusted, missing parts, twenty years old, condition makes no difference. After all, the recoverable steel, copper and aluminium inside are the same either way, which is exactly why a dead appliance is still worth recycling rather than dumping.

No. We charge a handling fee on large items rather than paying for them. Scrap yards may pay a small amount by weight, but you’ll need to transport it yourself and they generally won’t take anything containing refrigerant. For most people the maths favours a $10 fee and a pickup.

Marketplace works if the appliance runs and you are willing to wait, message strangers, and have someone come to your home. However, it doesn’t work for broken units, and a dead washing machine left on a kerb for a no-show is illegal dumping. In contrast, recycling gives you a fixed date.

No. Appliances don’t fit household collection, and the law treats refrigerant-containing units as hazardous waste until the refrigerant is recovered. Also, illegal dumping carries fines in the City of San Diego and unincorporated county alike. Meanwhile, self-hauling to a landfill means paying dump fees and giving up your time.

Yes. For example, restaurants replacing kitchen equipment, offices clearing break rooms, property managers on unit turnovers, hotels, and contractors mid-remodel all use scheduled collection. We also offer volume pricing and recurring pickups. Call (619) 889-1305 or submit the form with your quantity and location.

Hazardous components come out first, such as compressor oil, capacitors, mercury switches and batteries. Then we dismantle the rest into steel, copper, aluminium, plastics, glass and circuit boards, and each stream goes to an audited downstream processor. For example, a washing machine yields roughly 100 kg of recoverable material, most of it steel returning to manufacturing.