To prepare a refrigerator for scrap, you must safely remove all food, properly recover hazardous refrigerants (like Freon), and strip the valuable metals. The law strictly regulates refrigerant disposal, so taking the extra time to properly degas and break down the unit will protect the environment and significantly maximize your payout.
Scrapping a refrigerator generally yields between $15 and $50 depending on its weight, the current price of scrap steel, and whether you break it down. Whole refrigerators typically weigh 150 to 300 pounds and are classified by scrap yards as "shred" or "tin".
Scrapping a refrigerator is generally worth it if you value convenience over a large payout, as whole units usually only fetch $15 to $35 in scrap. However, if you strip out the copper and compressor, you can push the value closer to $50 to $100. Alternatively, selling a working fridge or using utility rebate programs yields a much higher return.
Talk to Your Local Scrap Metal Recycler.
Thousands of local scrap metal recyclers can recycle old fridges and freezers. Ask your scrap metal recycler for assurance that your old unit will be properly recycled.
Fridges and freezers can be salvaged for their steel, aluminium, copper, and other materials which typically make up around half of the total weight of the fridge/freezer.
To make $100 from recycled aluminum, you will need roughly 125 to 200 pounds, assuming a typical scrap yard payout of $0.50 to $0.80 per pound. If you live in a state with a container deposit law (e.g., OR, MI), you would only need about 1,000 to 2,000 cans.
The best way to dispose of an old refrigerator is to recycle it responsibly. Because fridges contain harmful refrigerants and foam insulation, discarding them in a standard landfill is illegal in many areas.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? typically charges between $𝟏𝟎𝟎 and $𝟐𝟓𝟎 to pick up a single refrigerator. However, because they use a volume-based pricing model, the exact cost depends on where you are located and how much total space your items take up in their truck.
A typical refrigerator weighs roughly 150-250 lbs (68-113 kg), of which 65-75% is metal, primarily steel. A standard unit contains roughly 120-140 lbs of ferrous metal (steel), along with 2-4 kg of non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminum in the coils, motor, and wiring.
Certain indestructible materials and non-biodegradable synthetic creations never truly decompose. While natural wear, sunlight, or physical crushing break them down over time, they do not return to natural organic elements. Instead, they persist indefinitely or break down into microscopic particles that pollute the environment.
If you want to scrap a sealed unit for the copper inside, breaking open the steel casing can be difficult, but we suggest scrapping it as a whole unit. You can cut the copper tubing around the sealed unit and the back of the fridge. These pieces of tubing will likely be graded as #2 copper tubing or dirty copper.
Top Electronics with the Most Gold Content
Desktop and Laptop Computers: Motherboards, CPUs, and RAM modules in older computers (especially pre-2000s) contain significant amounts of gold. A typical desktop computer can have up to 0.2 grams of gold, primarily in connectors and circuit boards.
Bare bright copper wire is the highest paying and most valuable commonly available scrap metal, fetching between $4.30 and $5.55 per pound depending on the market. Because it is unalloyed, uninsulated, and completely clean of solder or paint, mills can recycle it with minimal processing.
You can sell your old refrigerators directly to the scrap yard, and you can get about $15 to $50 per unit, depending on their weight, condition, and local market price. Or you can disassemble the refrigerator as we mentioned above and sell the parts separately to get more profits.
Scrap aluminum typically ranges from $0.45 to over $1.00 per pound. If you're a buyer, seller, or recycler, understanding aluminum pricing will help you make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Air conditioning units and refrigerators contain the most copper of any household appliances. These heavy-duty cooling systems rely on extensive networks of copper tubing, evaporator/condenser coils, and internal compressor motors.
Misconception #1: Scrap Yards Won't Accept Appliances
Every scrap yard is different, but many do accept common household appliances such as refrigerators or microwaves. If you have an old appliance and you're not sure what to do with it, contact your local scrap yard.
The spot price of raw copper today is approximately $𝟔.𝟑𝟖 per pound on the commodity markets.
Refrigerators are among the most valuable appliances for scrap due to their weight and metal content. A typical refrigerator contains: Steel: 140-200 lbs (main body, shelves, coils) Copper: 3-5 lbs (refrigerant lines, compressor)
Most scrap yards cannot legally accept fridges because they contain hazardous substances. Only licensed facilities can safely recycle them. Why can't I throw a fridge away with general waste? Fridges contain refrigerants and insulation foam that release harmful gases when damaged.
A scrapyard will typically pay between $10 and $35 for a standard refrigerator, as it is mostly weighed as bulk steel or "shred". Because they are large, bulky, and difficult to process, some yards may offer less (or charge a Freon removal fee).
1-800-GOT-JUNK? is often more expensive because they operate as a premium, full-service "concierge" model. You aren't just paying for dumping fees; you're paying for the convenience of having a two-person crew do all the heavy lifting, hauling, and sweeping.
If your fridge lost power or died, discard any perishable items that reached temperatures above 40∘F40 raised to the composed with power cap F40∘𝐹 for more than two hours. This includes meats, dairy, eggs, cooked leftovers, and cut produce. When in doubt, it is highly recommended to throw it out to prevent foodborne illness.
Got Junk? typically charges between $100 and $160 for a single refrigerator pickup. However, because they use a volume-based pricing model, your final cost will depend on your location and whether you are having other items removed at the same time.
Contact your council, or charities or social enterprises in the area to see if they provide a collection service. If you're buying a fridge or freezer, the retailer should take your old one away. Find your nearest drop-off or collection point for electricals by entering your postcode in our recycling locator.