How to Dispose of a Refrigerator in Florence, SC

The Freon Catch

A refrigerator or freezer is not ordinary junk. It contains refrigerant (Freon) in a sealed loop, and under federal Clean Air Act rules that refrigerant must be recovered by a certified technician before the unit is crushed or recycled. That single fact shapes every disposal option below: you cannot simply drop a fridge at most sites without addressing the refrigerant, and reputable recyclers and scrap yards will ask about it. Older units may also contain compressor oil and, in some cases, other regulated components. Here is how to handle it in Florence.

Option 1: Retailer Haul-Away With a New Purchase

If you are buying a new refrigerator, the easiest path is to have the store take the old one on delivery. Big-box retailers offer this for a fee with a qualifying purchase - Home Depot and Lowe's typically charge in the range of about 15 to 50 dollars per appliance for haul-away when they deliver the new unit, and they handle the refrigerant side. See our big-box haul-away guide for the details and limits.

Option 2: Scrap Metal Recycling

A refrigerator is mostly steel, so a scrap yard may take it - but many require proof the refrigerant has already been recovered, or will charge a fee to recover it. Call ahead. If the Freon is properly handled, the appliance's metal is genuinely recyclable rather than landfilled.

Option 3: County White-Goods Handling

Florence County handles white goods (large appliances) differently from household trash. Because of the refrigerant, do not assume you can leave a fridge at a convenience center like a bag of trash - confirm the county's current white-goods procedure and any requirements with County Recycling at (843) 413-3013 before you haul.

Option 4: Full-Service Junk Removal

If it is not tied to a new purchase, it is dead, or it is stuck in a garage or on a second floor, junk removal is the simplest route. We carry the unit out - no dragging it across the yard or wrestling it up a basement stairwell - and route it to appliance recycling with proper refrigerant handling. Pricing is by volume, and a single appliance is a small job.

Option	Freon handled by	Best when
Retailer haul-away	Retailer / delivery crew	Buying a replacement
Scrap yard	You or the yard (confirm)	You can transport it
County white goods	Per county procedure	DIY, after confirming rules
Junk removal	Us / our recycler	No new purchase, or hard access

Working vs. Dead: Does It Change Your Options?

Whether the appliance still runs affects the smart move. A working refrigerator or freezer in decent, clean condition may be welcomed by a charity like the Habitat ReStore, which resells working appliances - call first to confirm they want it and can pick it up. A working unit also has resale or give-away value through local marketplace and Buy Nothing groups, where a neighbor will often haul it themselves. A dead unit has no donation path; its value is in the steel and the recoverable refrigerant, so recycling is the goal. Either way, an old but functional second fridge running in a hot garage is quietly costing you money on the power bill every month, so retiring one is often a small win even before you count the reclaimed floor space.

One more consideration: age. Refrigerators made before the mid-1990s may use older refrigerants and can contain other regulated components, which is another reason to route them through a proper appliance recycler rather than a random scrap pile. When in doubt about a very old unit, mention its age when you call so it is handled correctly.

Safety Notes

Doors: If a fridge or freezer will sit anywhere accessible before pickup, remove the door or secure it shut - this is a long-standing child-safety rule to prevent entrapment.
Do not vent Freon: Releasing refrigerant to the air is illegal. Leave the sealed system alone and let a certified handler recover it.
Empty and clean: Pull all food and, if possible, let it dry out to avoid odor and mold before it is moved.

Want the fridge gone without the Freon paperwork or the heavy lift? Call (854) 204-9863 and we will carry it out and recycle it properly.

Sources

Last verified: July 15, 2026. County white-goods procedures and retailer fees change - confirm before you haul.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just take my old fridge to the landfill?

Not like ordinary trash. Refrigerators contain Freon that must be recovered by a certified technician first, and the county handles white goods separately. Confirm the procedure with County Recycling at (843) 413-3013, or let a junk remover handle it.

Does the store remove my old refrigerator when I buy a new one?

Usually yes, for a fee, with a qualifying purchase and delivery. Home Depot and Lowe's typically charge around 15 to 50 dollars per appliance and handle the refrigerant. Ask before you buy.

Is a refrigerator recyclable?

Yes - it is mostly steel. Once the refrigerant is properly recovered, the metal can be recycled at a scrap yard or through an appliance recycler rather than landfilled.

Why do you take the door off?

An accessible fridge or freezer with a working latch is a child-entrapment hazard, so doors should be removed or secured before the unit sits out. Our crew handles the removal for you at pickup.