The quick answer
- A dehumidifier is a refrigerant appliance. It works like a small air conditioner, with a compressor and a sealed loop of refrigerant, so it should not go out with regular trash.
- Empty and dry it first. Pour out the water bucket, let the coils dry, and remove any washable filter.
- Working units can be sold, given away or donated where the charity accepts small appliances.
- Broken units go to a program that recovers the refrigerant: city appliance pickup, a transfer station or landfill appliance area, a scrap recycler that handles refrigerant appliances, or a retailer or utility program.
- Never cut the lines or vent the refrigerant. Releasing it on purpose is prohibited under federal rules.
- Call ahead. Many sites charge a refrigerant removal fee or need an appointment.
Why a dehumidifier needs special handling
A compressor dehumidifier pulls damp air across a cold coil so the moisture condenses and drips into the bucket. That cold coil is chilled by refrigerant, the same kind of system found in a window air conditioner or a refrigerator. EPA’s appliance guidance lists dehumidifiers right alongside refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners as appliances that contain refrigerants.
The federal Clean Air Act’s Section 608 rules say no one disposing of an appliance may knowingly vent the refrigerant. For household units that reach the waste stream still charged, EPA puts the duty on the final stop in the chain, such as the scrap metal recycler or the landfill, to make sure the refrigerant is recovered before the unit is crushed or buried. If you hand over a unit that has already been emptied, that facility needs a signed statement saying who recovered the refrigerant and when.
That is why some transfer stations and landfills set refrigerant appliances aside, charge a fee, or ask you to fill out a form. EPA also tells local collection programs not to toss refrigerant appliances into roll-off containers with ordinary trash headed straight to a landfill.
Before you get rid of it
- Unplug it and drain the bucket. If you use a hose connection, disconnect it and let the line drain.
- Let it dry for a day or two. A dry unit is lighter, will not leak in your car and is less likely to grow mold before pickup.
- Pull the filter. Most dehumidifier filters are washable mesh. A worn-out one can go in the trash.
- Keep it upright. Do not puncture, crush or remove parts. The refrigerant needs to stay in the system until a trained person recovers it.
- Find the label. The rating plate usually on the back or side lists the model and the refrigerant type. Snap a photo; the drop-off site may ask.
If it still works
A working dehumidifier is worth passing on, especially in the spring and summer when basements get damp. Options include:
- Selling or giving it away on a local marketplace or neighborhood group. Include the model, the capacity on the label and whether the auto shutoff works.
- Donating it to a reuse store or charity that takes small appliances. Call first; some do not accept anything with refrigerant or anything without the original bucket.
- Checking for a recall on the manufacturer’s site before you pass it on. A recalled unit should go through the recall instructions instead.
City bulk or appliance pickup
Many cities and counties collect appliances at the curb, sometimes for free and sometimes for a per-item fee. Refrigerant appliances often need their own appointment so a technician can recover the gas before the unit goes on the truck.
New York City is a good example of how this works. The Department of Sanitation lists dehumidifiers with air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and water coolers as appliances that contain CFC or Freon. Residents schedule a free curbside appointment for refrigerant removal; DSNY staff remove the gas and put a sticker on the appliance, and it is then picked up with recycling. DSNY’s page notes that the free removal does not cover units using R600a or R32 refrigerant, so check your label and the city’s instructions.
Other places follow similar steps under different names, such as “white goods,” “bulky item” or “appliance with freon” pickup. Search your local public works or trash hauler site for those terms.
Transfer stations, landfills and scrap yards
If curbside pickup is not available, the next stop is usually a public drop-off site:
- Transfer stations and landfills often have an appliance or metal area. Expect them to separate refrigerant units and possibly charge a refrigerant removal fee. Look up the dumps, transfer stations and drop-off sites near you and call to confirm what they take.
- Scrap metal recyclers may take dehumidifiers for their metal and copper. Some will only accept refrigerant appliances that have already been emptied and come with the signed recovery statement described above; others recover the refrigerant themselves for a fee.
- Household hazardous waste or e-waste events occasionally accept small refrigerant appliances, but many do not. Ask before loading the car.
Our guide on where to dump appliances covers the general rules for large and small units, and why refrigerant appliances are priced separately explains the extra fee you may see.
Retailer haul-away and utility programs
- When you buy a new one, ask whether the store will take the old unit. Some retailers offer haul-away with delivery of a new appliance, sometimes for a fee, and policies differ for small appliances bought in store.
- Electric utilities in some areas run appliance recycling programs, mainly for refrigerators and freezers, and a few have included dehumidifiers or room air conditioners. Check your utility’s energy efficiency page for current offers.
Check the refrigerant label
EPA notes that most refrigerants are named with an “R” followed by numbers. Older dehumidifiers may use refrigerants that harm the ozone layer, while many newer models use different types, including some flammable ones such as R32 or R290. EPA’s appliance guidance points out that flammable refrigerants are showing up in more small, newer units.
The type matters because not every collection program can handle every refrigerant. It is one more reason to leave the sealed system alone and let the facility deal with it.
Cleaning out a damp basement or a utility room? The same trip can take care of other cooling and humidity gear. See our guides to portable air conditioners, humidifiers and refrigerators.
What not to do
- Do not set it out with regular trash unless your hauler’s instructions specifically allow it with a refrigerant appointment or tag.
- Do not cut, drill or unscrew the refrigerant lines to “empty” the unit yourself.
- Do not strip it for copper before the refrigerant is recovered.
- Do not leave it at a donation bin or curb without permission.
- Do not dump it on vacant land or roadsides; illegal dumping fines are common.
Dehumidifier disposal FAQ
Can I throw a dehumidifier in the trash?
Usually not with regular trash. A compressor dehumidifier contains refrigerant that has to be recovered before the unit is scrapped or landfilled, so most areas route it through appliance pickup, a drop-off site or a recycler instead.
Do dehumidifiers have Freon in them?
They contain a refrigerant, which people often call Freon. The exact type is printed on the rating label and is written as an R followed by numbers. Newer units may use flammable refrigerants such as R32.
Will a scrap yard take a dehumidifier?
Some will. Federal rules make the final recycler responsible for making sure the refrigerant is recovered, so a yard may ask for a signed statement that it was removed, charge to remove it, or turn the unit away. Call first.
Can I remove the refrigerant myself?
Do not cut or open the lines. Venting refrigerant on purpose is prohibited, and recovery takes equipment that meets EPA standards. Let a city program, appliance recycler or technician handle it.
How do I dispose of a dehumidifier in New York City?
DSNY offers free curbside refrigerant removal by appointment for appliances like dehumidifiers, then collects the unit with recycling once it has a sticker. Its page notes units with R600a or R32 refrigerant are not covered by the free removal.
What should I do with a dehumidifier that still works?
Sell it, give it away or ask a reuse store or charity whether it accepts small appliances. Check the manufacturer site for recalls first, and include the bucket and any hose fitting.
The bottom line
To dispose of a dehumidifier, drain and dry it, then sell or donate it if it still works. If it does not, take it to a program that recovers refrigerant: city appliance pickup, a transfer station or landfill appliance area, a scrap recycler that handles refrigerant units, or a retailer or utility program. Keep the sealed system intact, check the refrigerant label, and call ahead about fees and appointments.