How to get rid of a washer and dryer in Massachusetts
Checked November 2026 · by JUNKRUN, Melrose MA
Short answer. Washers and dryers are "white goods," banned from the trash in Massachusetts, but unlike a fridge they hold no refrigerant, so the usual route is scrap metal or reuse. Town programs charge $10 to $28 per piece, and a working pair is worth a phone call to a donation outfit. JunkRun takes each for $119, carried out from any floor, $159 minimum.
The Massachusetts rule
"White Goods" are on the state ban list in 310 CMR 19.017(3) (effective December 31, 1991). MassDEP's definition lists clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, ovens, ranges, refrigerators, freezers and hot water heaters. It cannot go in the trash. Set one out at the curb only under your town's sticker or appointment rule.
What is different from a fridge: no refrigerant to recover. Disconnect water hoses and the dryer vent; for a gas dryer, have the gas line capped by a licensed professional first.
Free or cheap options
- Scrap metal. Washers and dryers are mostly steel. Metal is also on the state ban list (310 CMR 19.017(3)). Call a local scrap yard for its current terms; yards set their own.
- Donate or sell a working pair. Habitat for Humanity's Greater Boston ReStore lists dryers, washers, stoves and refrigerators "less than eight years old" on its wish list and offers an in-home pickup through ReSupply. Everything must be in working order and staff can refuse. A pair that works is easiest to give away on a neighborhood group with a "you haul" note.
- Town pickup or drop-off. See the table. Peabody and Saugus run sticker programs, Medford and Reading take prepaid pickups, and Boston's special items page names fridges, freezers and ACs, not washers and dryers.
- Retailer haul-away. Many appliance dealers take the old pair when delivering new ones, free or a flat fee; ask and get it in writing.
Typical municipal fees (checked November 2026)
- WinchesterWasher or dryer$15 eachHowTransfer Station, permitSource
- SaugusWasher or dryer$20 Red Sticker per item; each unit gets one white good item with a stickerHowCall Capitol 855-533-3400, collected on WednesdaysSource
- StonehamWasher or dryer$10 per miscellaneous metal item (washer, dryer, stove, dishwasher, water heater)HowStevens Street Recycling Center, metal permit, Stoneham trash customers onlySource
- PeabodyWasher or dryer$20 White Goods Sticker per itemHowContractor pickup (781-289-0500) or drop-off at 50 Farm AveSource
- MedfordWasher or dryer$27.85 per itemHowWM, schedule and pay at 800-972-4545, Tuesdays onlySource
- WalthamWasher or dryerFee not statedHowCapitol 855-533-3400, call by 3:30 pm the day beforeSource
- ReadingWasher or dryerFee paid to Republic in advance, amount not listedHowRepublic 800-442-9006Source
- LynnWasher or dryerCurbside bulk pickup is $20 per item via Capitol 855-533-3400; the white goods page lists no separate priceHowBulky Waste Item Days are free; check the city calendarSource
- BostonWasher or dryerNot named on the special-items page; call 311How311, boston.govSource
- MaldenWasher or dryerNot published; call DPW 781-397-7160HowWaste WizardSource
Stoneham charges $10 for a washer or dryer and $20 for a fridge or AC.
DIY or hauled?
DIY: a washer is a heavy two-person lift; use a hand truck with a strap, and drain the hoses first so water does not soak your trunk or truck bed. Dryers are lighter but awkward.
Hauled: basement laundry rooms with a staircase, or any pair you cannot get out alone. The most common reason people call is the stairs; a flat price that includes the carry is the point. A pair is two items, so it clears the minimum.
What JunkRun charges (checked November 2026 at junkrun.co/pricing)
- Standard appliance (washer, dryer, stove or dishwasher)JunkRun price$119 eachNoteFreon recovery included
$159 minimum pickup. A washer and dryer together is $238 (two at $119), one trip, carried from any floor. A single washer is $119, which is under the minimum, so add anything else you want gone. These are posted flat prices.
Related
- Where to dump big items in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts waste bans
- Bulky item pickup by town
- Back to the hub
Quick answers
Can I put a washer or dryer in the trash in Massachusetts?
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No. Clothes washers and dryers count as white goods, which are banned from disposal (MassDEP fact sheet). Use your town's sticker or appointment program, a scrap yard, or a hauler.
Does a washer or dryer need Freon removal?
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No. Only refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers hold refrigerant.
How much does my town charge to take a washer or dryer?
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$10 in Stoneham, $15 in Winchester, $20 in Saugus and Peabody, $27.85 in Medford. See the table above.
Will Habitat ReStore take a working washer or dryer?
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Greater Boston ReStore lists washers and dryers less than eight years old on its wish list, in working order, and staff can refuse a donation (habitatboston.org).