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Electronics Recycling · Raleigh, NC

Appliance Recycling in Raleigh

Before you go

Anything with a compressor has refrigerant in it, and that's what drives both the fee and the rules.

  1. Identify whether it has a compressor

    Fridges, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water coolers do. The refrigerant has to be recovered by a certified technician before the metal can be processed, which is why these carry a fee that a washing machine doesn't.

  2. Take the doors off a fridge or freezer

    An abandoned unit with a working latch is a child-suffocation hazard. Several states and a great many city codes require the doors off before it can sit outside. Do it after it's in position, not before you move it.

  3. Empty it and let it dry

    Defrost it, pull the shelves and drawers, and wipe it out. A sealed unit full of spoiled food is refused at the scale, and reasonably so.

  4. Check for a utility rebate first

    Many electric utilities run a fridge and freezer retirement program that hauls a working second unit away for free and pays fifty dollars or so on top. It's worth a search before you pay someone.

Compare options

Appliance Recycling in Raleigh

2 free · 2 fee-based

Facility Cost Open now Notes
North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility(919) 856-7400 Free
for Wake County residents and businesses		 Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Walk-in Wake County-operated facility. Also accepts appliances, cardboard, cooking oil, motor…
South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility(919) 856-7400 Free
for Wake County residents. Latex paint under 10 gallons can also be dried and put in regular trash.		 Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Walk-in South Wake location in Apex. Same accepted items as North Wake.
Paid or fee-based options
Anything With A Plug Recycling(919) 610-3465 Depends on the item
Pickup: $60 flat fee. Event pickup: $100 (3 hrs)		 Mon-Fri 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sat 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Walk-in Pickup avail. Free drop-off at their facility. Flat fee $60 pickup.
Best Buy Free for most
$30 fee for TVs under 50"		 Hours not published Walk-in Best Buy at Triangle Town Center, Brier Creek, and other Raleigh area locations.

How it works in Raleigh

Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens) are collected free at the curb via the City of Raleigh's Bulky Item Collection — call ahead to schedule a pickup. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units must have refrigerants removed by a Section 608-certified technician before disposal under the federal Clean Air Act. Wake County's North Wake and South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facilities accept appliances under the residential scrap-metal program. Best Buy, Lowe's, and Home Depot typically haul away old appliances when a new one is delivered (fee varies by retailer).

Local rules

  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10 bans computers, monitors, printers, and televisions from NC landfills, effective July 1, 2011 (Discarded Computer Equipment and Television Management Law, SB 887 / S.L. 2010-67).

Worth knowing

  • Raleigh garbage customers get free curbside e-waste pickup (max 4 items/week) at 919-996-3245 — a widely overlooked option that beats hauling TVs to the county facility.
  • Raleigh's bulky/special pickup fees rose April 1, 2026: $35/load for bulky and $70/load for special. E-waste pickup remains free.
  • Residents who want to dispose of large appliances (refrigerators, freezers, AC units) must have the refrigerant removed and tagged by a certified technician before schedule pickup or drop-off.

Wake County household hazardous waste

Wake County Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

Free HHW disposal for Wake County residents.

(919) 856-7400 Official program page (opens in a new tab)

13 more Raleigh rules, not specific to this item
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10 bans lithium-ion batteries from landfill disposal effective December 1, 2026.
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.70 prohibits disposal of lead-acid batteries in landfills, incinerators, or waste-to-energy facilities; retailers selling lead-acid batteries must accept used ones for recycling.
  • City of Raleigh stormwater rules: oil-based paint, paint cleaner, and paint waste may not be disposed in the sanitary sewer or stormwater system (latex wash water is allowed in sanitary sewer only).
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10 also bans motor oil, motor-vehicle oil filters, antifreeze, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles from landfill disposal in NC.
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10(f), as amended by SL 2023-137: expands the NC landfill disposal ban to include photovoltaic modules (solar panels) effective December 1, 2026.
  • Wake County Solid Waste Ordinance (Chapter 65): establishes operating rules for all county solid waste facilities, sets fees for non-resident use, and prohibits commercial waste dumping at residential facilities.
  • Wake County's three HHW sites run completely different schedules: South Wake (Apex) is the only Mon-Sat site, North Wake (Raleigh) is Saturday only, and East Wake (Wendell) is weekends only. Showing up on the wrong day is a common mistake.
  • The North Wake HHW main storage building was destroyed in a January 22, 2025 fire; same-day Saturday collection runs at an adjacent building under a temporary state permit while a replacement is planned.
  • PaintCare does not operate in North Carolina — the program is only in 12 states plus DC, so NC residents have no producer-funded paint takeback network and must use HHW facilities or dry-and-trash latex paint.
  • Motor oil, antifreeze, and used oil filters are not accepted at HHW sites — they go to the Multi-Material Recycling Facilities instead, a frequent point of confusion.
  • Wake County allows small amounts of fully dried latex paint (mixed with kitty litter or sand until solid) in regular household trash; only larger amounts or oil-based paint require HHW (10-gallon paint limit per visit).
  • Wake County requires all solid waste disposed at its Transfer Station to be covered (tarped) during transport, and loads must have a cover or else face a $50 per load penalty.
  • The City of Raleigh's green yard waste cart program accepts leaves, grass clippings, and brush up to 6 inches in diameter — but not dirt, rocks, or treated lumber.

Other Raleigh programs

  • Wake County Multi-Material Recycling Facilities (MMRFs)Electronics with cords (TVs, computers, monitors, phones, game consoles, microwaves, printers), large appliances, scrap metal, motor oil/antifreeze, cooking oil, cardboard. North Wake MMRF at 9029 Deponie Drive (next door to the HHW facility); South Wake MMRF at 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex; East Wake MMRF at 5051 Wendell Blvd.
  • Wake County Household Hazardous Waste FacilitiesThree HHW facilities accepting oil-based paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, acids/bases, fluorescent bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and medications. South Wake (6130 Old Smithfield Rd, Apex, Mon-Sat 8AM-4PM); North Wake (9037 Deponie Dr, Raleigh, Sat only 8AM-4PM); East Wake (5051 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, Sat-Sun 8AM-4PM).
  • City of Raleigh curbside e-waste collectionFree scheduled curbside e-waste pickup for City of Raleigh garbage customers; max 4 electronic items per week; accepts TVs (working or broken), monitors, computers, small corded appliances.919-996-3245
  • City of Raleigh Yard Waste & Bulky Item CollectionCurbside yard waste collection (bags, cans) on designated service days. Bulky item pickup (furniture, appliances) available for a fee: $35/load for bulky items (furniture, mattresses), $70/load for special items (appliances with refrigerant). E-waste pickup remains free.919-996-3245
  • Call2Recycle drop-off networkFree rechargeable and lithium-ion battery drop-off at participating Home Depot, Lowe's, and Staples locations across the Raleigh area.
  • Batteries Plus — Raleigh locationsFree recycling for rechargeable and single-use batteries plus fluorescent bulbs/tubes at Raleigh-area Batteries Plus stores. Also accepts small electronics (phones, tablets) and ballasts for recycling.
  • NC Department of Justice shred-event calendarStatewide listing of free community paper-shredding events; Raleigh-area events typically cluster in April-May and September-October at banks, credit unions, and police stations.
  • Wake County Convenience Centers (weekend HHW collection sites)Two weekend-only collection sites for residents unable to visit the main HHW facilities during the week. Accept HHW items including paint, pesticides, and automotive fluids. Saturday-Sunday 8AM-4PM at select locations.
Where this came from: 14 sources

Common questions

About Appliance Recycling here

How much does Appliance recycling cost in this area?

2 of 4 facilities (50%) offer free recycling for Appliance. Facilities that may charge: Anything With A Plug Recycling, Best Buy. Anything With A Plug Recycling: Free drop-off. Pickup: $60 flat fee. Event pickup: $100 (3 hrs). Beyond 1hr from downtown Raleigh: additional fees.. Best Buy: Free (most items). $30 fee for TVs under 50"..

Do I need an appointment for Appliance drop-off?

No appointment needed. North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, Anything With A Plug Recycling, Best Buy accept walk-ins.

Is pickup available for Appliance?

Yes, 1 facility offers pickup: Anything With A Plug Recycling.

Are there quantity limits for Appliance drop-off?

Some facilities have limits: South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility: 10 gallon latex paint limit; Best Buy: 3 items per day per household.

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