Refrigerator Recycling in Albany, NY
Refrigerators go to the curb as white goods with the doors removed; call DGS 24 hours ahead.
See all 2 optionsChecked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check
Before you go
- Refrigerant must be removed by a certified technician; ask whether the operator handles that and what it costs.
- Empty and clean it, and ask whether doors must be removed or taped shut.
- Check for utility appliance-recycling rebates before paying for disposal.
New York rules
- Refrigerators and freezers are household appliances excluded from New York's e-waste law. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab)
- DEC's storm debris guidance: nonworking refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners need Freon or other refrigerant removed by a certified technician before recycling. Source: NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab)
More New York rules (8)
- Refrigerant must be removed from refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners by a certified technician before they are recycled (DEC storm debris guidance). Source: NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab)
- Household hazardous wastes are household materials that would be regulated as hazardous waste if generated elsewhere; household-generated HHW is exempt from state and federal hazardous waste rules. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- Residents can take HHW to authorized HHW collection facilities or HHW collection events hosted by counties and municipalities; DEC has a map and list of permitted facilities. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- If there is no permitted facility nearby, check with your municipality for periodic one- or two-day HHW collection events. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- The state Environmental Protection Fund can pay up to 50 percent of the cost of municipal HHW collection programs. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- General Municipal Law 120-aa required every municipality, by September 1, 1992, to adopt a local law requiring source separation of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics, yard waste) where economic markets exist. Source: NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab)
- DEC tells residents to check local guidance to see which items their program accepts. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab)
- DEC lists New York collection programs for items that belong outside the recycling bin: beverage containers, carpet, cell phones, e-waste, lead-acid vehicle batteries, mercury thermostats, paint, pharmaceuticals, plastic film, rechargeable batteries and tires. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab)
Where this information comes from (15)
Where this information comes from
Checked October 26, 2026
- City of Albany: Garbage Collection (opens in new tab) · City of Albany
- Bulk trash such as furniture, mattresses and toilets may go to the curb in limited quantities; call General Services at (518) 427-7480 at least 24 hours before your collection day. Checked October 26, 2026.
- White goods such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, stoves, hot water tanks and tires can also be placed curbside after calling DGS 24 hours ahead. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Acceptable white goods include clothes dryers, freezers, refrigerators (doors removed) and microwave ovens. Checked October 26, 2026.
- City collection serves residential properties with 4 or fewer units. Checked October 26, 2026.
- City of Albany: Mattress & Box Spring Disposal (opens in new tab) · City of Albany
- Mattress pickup is only for residents on the City of Albany's waste and recycling collection. Checked October 26, 2026.
- NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Refrigerators and freezers are household appliances excluded from New York's e-waste law. Checked October 26, 2026.
- NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- DEC's storm debris guidance: nonworking refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners need Freon or other refrigerant removed by a certified technician before recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Refrigerant must be removed from refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners by a certified technician before they are recycled (DEC storm debris guidance). Checked October 26, 2026.
- NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Household hazardous wastes are household materials that would be regulated as hazardous waste if generated elsewhere; household-generated HHW is exempt from state and federal hazardous waste rules. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Residents can take HHW to authorized HHW collection facilities or HHW collection events hosted by counties and municipalities; DEC has a map and list of permitted facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
- If there is no permitted facility nearby, check with your municipality for periodic one- or two-day HHW collection events. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The state Environmental Protection Fund can pay up to 50 percent of the cost of municipal HHW collection programs. Checked October 26, 2026.
- NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab) · New York State Senate (Open Legislation)
- General Municipal Law 120-aa required every municipality, by September 1, 1992, to adopt a local law requiring source separation of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics, yard waste) where economic markets exist. Checked October 26, 2026.
- NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- DEC tells residents to check local guidance to see which items their program accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
- NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- DEC lists New York collection programs for items that belong outside the recycling bin: beverage containers, carpet, cell phones, e-waste, lead-acid vehicle batteries, mercury thermostats, paint, pharmaceuticals, plastic film, rechargeable batteries and tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.
How we check our information