Who picks up old appliances in St. Louis?

The short answer

In the City of St. Louis, the City itself collects appliances monthly through BOAT-E, included in your $14 per month per unit solid-waste fee, with refrigerator doors removed. In the County and the Metro East, your municipality or trash district's hauler decides. Retailers often haul the old unit when they deliver a new one. Scrap collectors take some metal appliances. A junk hauler takes anything, from inside the house: a standard fridge is $164, a washer $133, a dryer $128.

The City of St. Louis: BOAT-E

BOAT-E stands for batteries, oil, appliances, tires and electronics — the City's own name for its monthly collection of the items that cannot ride with ordinary trash. It is part of the City's refuse service, paid through the solid-waste fee billed quarterly on the water bill.

What to know:

• Refrigerator doors must be removed before set-out.
• Follow the City's schedule and set-out instructions for your area.
• It is curbside or alley-side collection. The City does not come into your basement.

If your old range is already in the alley and it is your week, this is the right answer. If it is in a basement in Carondelet, someone still has to carry it up.

County municipalities and trash districts

St. Louis County is not one system. It is dozens of municipalities plus unincorporated areas served by contracted trash districts. Some include appliances in bulky collection. Some schedule them separately. Some charge per item. Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clayton, University City, Florissant, Ferguson, Hazelwood, Chesterfield and Ballwin each set their own policy, and so do the districts covering Oakville, Mehlville, Affton and Lemay.

Look at your trash bill: the hauler's name and contact are usually on it. Ask whether appliances are accepted, whether they need scheduling, and whether there is a charge.

Illinois Metro East

Belleville, O'Fallon, Edwardsville, Granite City, Alton, Collinsville and East St. Louis each run or franchise their own residential trash service. Appliance rules vary city to city. One Illinois rule worth knowing if you are clearing a whole kitchen or office: covered electronics such as TVs, computers and monitors cannot go in Illinois trash, per Illinois EPA. That is separate from appliances but often comes up in the same cleanout.

Retailers

The store delivering your new washer, fridge or range will often haul the old one if you ask at checkout. It is convenient when the timing works. Before you count on it:

• Ask what they charge and whether it is like-for-like only.
• Ask whether the delivery crew will remove it from a basement or upper floor. Many will not.
• Have it disconnected and emptied before they arrive. Delivery crews do not usually disconnect gas.

Retailers do not help with the second fridge in the basement, the dead chest freezer in the garage, or the water heater from last year.

Scrap collectors

Because Missouri bans major appliances from landfills, appliances in this region end up with scrap-metal recyclers. Some people with trucks collect metal appliances for the scrap value. That can work for a washer or dryer already sitting outside. For anything with refrigerant — fridges, freezers, AC units, dehumidifiers — federal rules require the refrigerant to be recovered before scrapping, so ask how they handle it.

A junk hauler, from anywhere in the home

A Webster Groves basement with a dead chest freezer and an old tank water heater is $146 + $131 = $277. A Dutchtown flat turnover with a fridge and a gas range left by a tenant is $164 + $137 = $301. Crews carry from any floor, with no stairs fee, and appliances go to recycling.

Getting an appliance ready, whoever takes it

Whichever route you pick, the same prep makes it go smoothly.

• Fridges and freezers: unplug a day ahead, empty, defrost into towels, and prop the door open so it does not smell. For City set-out, remove the doors.
• Washers: shut off the water, disconnect and drain the hoses, and run the drain cycle if it still works.
• Dryers: unplug; for gas dryers, have the gas line shut off and capped safely by someone qualified.
• Ranges: electric ranges unplug; gas ranges need the gas disconnected safely first.
• Water heaters: turn off power or gas and water, and drain the tank. A full tank is very heavy.

Then clear the path: basement stairs, the back door, the gangway. In older St. Louis homes, the tightest point is usually the turn at the top of the basement stair.

Who to call, by situation

• City resident, appliance already outside, can wait: BOAT-E.
• County or Illinois, appliance at the curb: your municipal hauler.
• Buying new: ask the retailer.
• Metal appliance, no refrigerant, already outside: a scrapper may take it.
• In the basement, upstairs, several units, or today: book a pickup at the instant quote page. Same day if you book by 4 PM.

Frequently asked questions