Old appliances out of the house and hauled off

Anything that cools runs on refrigerant. Federal rules under EPA Section 608 say the last stop in the disposal chain, like a scrap recycler or a landfill, has to make sure that refrigerant is recovered from refrigerators, freezers and window units before they're scrapped. EPA doesn't require or accept a sticker as proof. The final disposer needs a signed statement with the name and address of whoever recovered it, and the date.

Local programs still use tags, and each city handles it a little differently. That's why a fridge is never quite as simple as a couch.

Bryan will pick up refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, but it charges to remove and certify the refrigerant, even if the unit is empty, unless it was certified ahead of time. College Station won't pick up a freon appliance at all until a certified technician has removed the refrigerant and tagged it, and it asks residents to tape the doors shut.

Caldwell's city sanitation won't take any appliance that has refrigerant. Somerville's Collection Station takes white goods, but refrigerant units have to be drained and tagged first.

With ME3 Junk Solutions, freon is handled, so you don't need to arrange it before pickup. Those disposal requirements can add to the cost, and that's part of the firm price you get before loading.

Appliances without refrigerant are simpler. College Station counts appliances without freon units as regular bulky items, and Bryan's weekly brush and bulky pickup takes appliances too. If you can get it to the curb, that may be all you need.

The catch is getting it there. A washer full of old water, a range on a tile floor or a stacked laundry pair in a closet is a two-person job, and it's the kind of carry the crew does every week.

Dishwashers and built-in microwaves are a little different, because they're fastened in. Have them unhooked from water and power first, and the crew takes them from there.

Landlords swap appliances between tenants, and the old unit usually ends up in the garage or on the back porch until someone deals with it. Remodels do the same thing with a range, a dishwasher and a microwave all at once. Pairing the old appliances into one pickup is simpler than handling them one at a time.

Water heaters and window units count too. They can ride along in the same pickup as the fridge, so the whole remodel pile goes at once.

Unplug it. Empty the fridge and freezer, and give them a day to drain if you can. Shut off the water to a washer or an ice maker. If it's a gas range or dryer, have the gas line shut off and capped by someone qualified before pickup day.

Then send a photo of the appliance and the path out: steps, a narrow laundry door, a garage step. Weight and access set the labor, and the pricing page explains how that turns into a number.

If you'd rather haul it, Twin Oaks Landfill is out in Anderson, in Grimes County. Bryan tells residents they can take refrigerant appliances straight to Twin Oaks for disposal and recycling. College Station says its residents can bring freon appliances there for a special waste fee. Look up current hours and fees on the Twin Oaks Landfill website before you load up. The full walk-through is in how to dispose of a refrigerator in Texas.

Out in Caldwell or Somerville, where the city won't take a charged unit, see junk removal in Caldwell for what's nearby.