Who picks up old appliances in Providence?

The short answer

Four groups pick up old appliances in the Providence area: the City of Providence, through its free Waste Management bulky-item pickup for buildings of six or fewer units; the store delivering your new appliance, if it offers haul-away; your own town's program if you live outside the city; and private haulers. A flat-price JunkRabbit pickup is $164 for a standard fridge, $133 for a washer, $128 for a dryer and $131 for a tank water heater, carried out from any floor.

1. The City of Providence

Providence's bulky-item pickup is run by Waste Management and is free for furniture and large appliances. The city lists refrigerators, stoves, washer-dryers, water heaters and air conditioners. You schedule online or by phone at least 24 hours before your trash day, and the appliance goes out no earlier than the night before.

Two conditions limit who can use it. The building must have six or fewer units; buildings of seven or more have no city trash service at all. And the appliance has to be at the curb, which means you move it there yourself.

If both of those work for you, use it. It is the cheapest route by a long way.

2. The store selling you the new one

Many appliance retailers offer to haul away the old unit when they deliver a new one. Whether it is included, what it costs and what conditions apply varies by store and by order, so ask before you buy and get it in writing on the order.

Read the fine print on what haul-away means. Some delivery crews will take an old appliance only if it is disconnected, emptied and sitting in the spot where the new one goes. A delivery crew will usually not go back down to the basement to remove a second fridge or a water heater that is not part of the order.

Retailer haul-away is a good answer for a straight swap in an accessible kitchen. It does not help when you are clearing appliances without buying replacements.

3. Your own town's program

The service area around Providence covers three states, and every town runs its own program. Do not assume the Providence rules apply where you live.

• Cranston has held periodic free bulky-waste pickups, announced as events, rather than a standing schedule.
• East Providence handles bulk items through its contractor, MEGA Disposal.
• Pawtucket, Warwick, Woonsocket, North Providence, Johnston: check your city's public works page for current appliance rules.
• Fall River, New Bedford, Attleboro, Taunton and other Massachusetts towns set their own policies, as do the Connecticut Quiet Corner towns such as Killingly and Putnam.

JunkRabbit charges the same flat prices across all of them.

4. Private haulers and scrappers

Private junk removal is the route for everything the other three do not cover: a fridge in a seven-plus unit building Downtown, a washer in a shared triple-decker basement in Central Falls, a dead freezer in a Warwick garage, or an appliance that has to be gone before the next trash day.

Some people try scrap collectors who drive around picking up metal. That can work for a washer or dryer left at the curb. Be wary of anyone who wants to strip a refrigerator or freezer on your property; refrigerant has to be recovered under federal rules before scrapping, and a damaged sealed system is not something to have happen in your driveway.

When choosing a hauler, ask whether the price is fixed before booking, whether stairs cost extra, and whether the crew is insured. See how to pick a junk hauler in Providence.

Flat prices for appliance pickup

A landlord swapping out the laundry pair and a fridge in an Elmwood unit pays $133 + $128 + $164 = $425. A garage chest freezer and a window AC are $146 + $109 = $255. Carry-out from any floor is included.

Getting it ready, whoever takes it

Every route above expects the appliance to be ready to move. The steps are the same whether the city, a delivery crew or a private hauler is collecting it.

• Gas ranges and dryers. Have a plumber or your gas utility shut off and cap the line. Nobody should be pulling a gas appliance off a live connection.
• Water heaters. Turn off the supply and drain the tank. A full tank is heavy, and sediment spills on the way up a cellar stair.
• Washers and dishwashers. Shut the valves, disconnect the hoses and let them drain into a bucket.
• Fridges and freezers. Empty and defrost a day ahead, and wipe out the inside. Tape the doors shut for the carry.
• Measure the route. Triple-decker back stairs and old basement doorways can be narrower than a modern French-door fridge. A quick measurement saves a surprise on the day.

If you are booking a pickup, photograph the appliance and the path out. A kitchen fridge and a basement washer from the same Federal Hill apartment are $164 + $133 = $297, and the photos let the crew plan both carries.

Which one to call

Small building, appliance near the door, you can move it: the city's free pickup.

Buying a new one with delivery: ask the store about haul-away of the old unit.

Outside Providence: check your own town's page first.

Basement, upper floor, seven-plus units, or a deadline: a private pickup. You see the price before booking and choose a two-hour arrival window. Same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM, and the crew works seven days a week from 8am to midnight.

Landlords and property managers handling appliance turnovers in several buildings can set up an account that covers multiple properties.

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