Washers and dryers are awkward rather than complicated. They're heavy, they're usually wedged into a closet or garage corner, and they're hooked up to water, power and sometimes gas. Once they're disconnected, getting rid of them in Los Angeles is mostly free. This guide walks through the city pickups, the donation limits, and the disconnect steps people tend to skip.
The quick version
| City | Washer/dryer pickup | Notice needed |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LASAN) | Free metal appliance pickup[1] | 1 business day before trash day |
| Burbank | $12.14 per machine[2] | 1 business day by phone, 2 online[2] |
| Glendale | Free bulky item[3],[4] | 3 business days[3] |
| Pasadena | Not on the excluded list[5] | 2 weeks; 2 free pickups a year[6] |
What state law says about laundry machines
California counts washers and dryers as "major appliances," the same category as refrigerators, dishwashers and water heaters.[7] That matters because some appliances contain parts that need special handling, such as capacitors that may contain PCBs and mercury switches.[8] Those parts have to be pulled before the machine is crushed or shredded, and only a certified appliance recycler may do that.[9],[10]
Washers and dryers don't have refrigerant, so they're simpler than a fridge. But they still aren't trash-bin items, and they still end up at a recycler rather than being dumped whole. One exception: a heat-pump dryer runs on a refrigerant loop, so handle it the way you'd handle a fridge.
Free pickup in the City of LA
LA Sanitation's metal appliance pickup covers washers and dryers, along with fridges, dishwashers, air conditioners and water heaters, at no extra cost for homes with LASAN curbside service.[1]
- Book it through MyLA311 or 1-800-773-2489 at least one business day before your regular trash day.[1],[11]
- List the washer and the dryer as two separate items. Crews collect only what's on the day's work order.[1]
- Put them at the curb for trash day, with hoses and cords tucked in or taped down.
Commercial laundry equipment, like coin-op machines from an apartment laundry room, isn't part of the curbside program; LASAN excludes commercial appliances.[11]
Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena
Burbank: a fee per machine
Burbank's bulky pickup takes washers and dryers, but each one carries a $12.14 special handling fee.[2] The fee lands on your Burbank Water and Power bill, and only the person on that account can book the pickup.[2] Book online through Our Burbank 311 two business days ahead with a photo, or call (818) 238-3800 one business day ahead.[2] Keep the machines at least 5 feet from anything fixed at the curb, and don't set them out before the night before.[2] If a machine is too heavy for the regular crew, it gets tagged and collected the following Friday.[2]
Glendale: free, but plan three days out
Glendale's bulky list names washers and dryers, and the City describes major appliance pickup as free for residents.[3],[4] Submit the request at least three business days ahead; for a Thursday pickup, that means by Monday.[4] Items go to the curb after 6 p.m. the night before.[3] If you're in a Glendale building with 5 or more units, your building's hauler handles bulky pickup instead, with up to 4 free appointments a year for the property.[12]
Pasadena: allowed, but mind the limits
Pasadena's bulky pickup excludes refrigerators and air conditioners, but washers and dryers aren't on its excluded list.[5] The limits still apply: two free pickups a year booked two weeks ahead, about 3 cubic yards per pickup, and no single item heavier than two people can safely lift.[5],[6] Call the Citizen Service Center at 626-744-7311 to confirm your machines qualify when you book.[6]
Your options compared
| Option | Your cost | Wait | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| LASAN or Glendale pickup | Free[1],[3] | 1–3 business days' notice | Disconnect, move to curb |
| Burbank pickup | $12.14 each[2] | 1–2 business days' notice | Disconnect, move to curb |
| Pasadena pickup | Free twice a year[6] | 2+ weeks | Disconnect, move to parkway |
| Donation (working, newer units) | Free drop-off; Habitat pickup $50[13] | Varies | Disconnected, clean, tested |
| Scrap yard | Varies by yard | Yard hours | Truck and two people |
| Retailer haul-away with new machines | Set by the store | Delivery day | Usually none |
| Junk removal crew | Quoted per job | Often the same or next day | Show the crew the machines |
Donating a washer or dryer
A charity will only take a set that works, is disconnected, and isn't too old:
- Goodwill Southern California doesn't accept major appliances, washers and dryers included.[14]
- Habitat LA ReStores accept working appliances less than 8 years old that are uninstalled and disconnected.[13] Their paid pickup needs the machines on a ground floor, in a garage or carport, or at the curb.[15]
- The Salvation Army takes working appliances that aren't built in, but it turns down gas appliances and anything with mechanical problems.[16] That rules out a gas dryer.
- Out of the Closet won't take appliances over 3 years old.[17]
- Pickup Please doesn't take washers or dryers.[18]
If your set is older and still runs, a free listing online for someone who can pick it up often works faster than a charity.
Scrap yards
Laundry machines are mostly steel, so scrap yards take them. SA Recycling's Sun Valley yards at 8250 Tujunga Ave. and 9754 San Fernando Rd. accept large appliances.[19],[20] Bring a government-issued photo ID if you want to be paid.[19] Weekday hours start at 7 a.m. at both, and both close early on Saturday.[19],[20]
Dishwashers and water heaters
The same pickups handle the other kitchen and utility appliances. LASAN's metal appliance pickup takes dishwashers and water heaters for free in the City of LA.[1] Burbank charges its $12.14 fee on dishwashers, water heaters and water softeners.[2] Glendale lists dishwashers as accepted bulky items.[4] Goodwill won't take a water heater.[14] Drain a water heater completely before it goes to the curb; a full tank is far too heavy to move.
Older Valley homes, garage laundry and stuck valves
A lot of Valley housing dates from the early 1960s. The median home in Reseda's 91335 ZIP was built in 1963, and in North Hollywood's 91606 it's 1962.[21],[22] In houses that age, the washer often sits in the garage or a back porch, and the shutoff valves behind it may not have been turned in years. Test them a few days before pickup. If a valve won't close all the way or starts to drip at the stem, shut the main water off before you pull the hoses, and call a plumber if needed.
Older gas dryers may have a rigid pipe instead of a flex connector. That's a job for a plumber, not a pickup crew.
Don't set machines out without a booking
The EPA warns that appliances left at the curb without a scheduled pickup may end up landfilled or broken apart unsafely, and it recommends arranging collection through public works, a retailer or a recycler.[23] Glendale treats bulky items left on the curb without arranged disposal as illegal dumping,[24] and state law makes dumping on any public or private property without consent unlawful.[25] Book first, then roll them out.
Disconnect and move day
- Book the pickup and list the washer and dryer (and any dishwasher) as separate items.
- Run the washer on a drain or spin cycle so it's empty, then unplug it.
- Close both water valves behind the washer and take off the fill hoses. Keep a bucket handy; they always hold water.
- Pull the drain hose out of the standpipe and tape it to the back of the machine.
- For a gas dryer: shut the gas valve, disconnect the flex line and cap the stub (hire a plumber if you're unsure).
- Unhook the dryer vent duct and cover the wall opening.
- Unstack a stacked pair before moving; they're two items and two lifts.
- Use an appliance dolly with a strap, and walk it down stairs one step at a time with a spotter.
When to call a hauler
The free city pickup covers most laundry swaps if you can get the machines outside. A crew is the easier route when:
- the laundry closet is upstairs or the machines are stacked in a tight alcove;
- you're in Burbank with a washer, dryer and dishwasher, and the per-item fees add up;
- the new set arrives tomorrow and the old one has to be out of the way first;
- the machines are part of a larger garage cleanout or move-out;
- the apartment laundry room has older units that the city won't collect.
Had a large fish tank and dryer removed - the team did a fantastic job. They were on time and quick. Would definitely use them in the future and recommend to others.
Legacy Junk Removal is a family-run crew out of a Victory Blvd base in North Hollywood, working across the Valley and in Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. Same-day service most days when you reach us by early afternoon; next-morning slots are common. Text a photo of the machines and where they sit, and you'll get a price back. More on the appliance removal page.