Usually not
Short answer: No, not with the refrigerant still in it. The refrigerant has to be recovered first, so most haulers refuse fridges and freezers.
Under Clean Air Act Section 608 (40 CFR 82.155), whoever takes the final step in disposal, such as the scrap recycler or landfill, must make sure the refrigerant is recovered, or get a signed statement saying who recovered it and when. EPA does not accept a sticker as proof. Dumpsters.com says refrigerators, freezers and AC units can't go in its dumpsters unless a professional has removed the Freon.
Use retailer haul-away when you buy a new one, a utility bounty or rebate program, or a city bulky or white-goods pickup. Or have the refrigerant recovered with proper recovery equipment and keep the signed statement before scrapping it.
NERC 2020 state tables show white-goods (major appliance) disposal bans or restrictions in:
| State | Detail |
|---|---|
| CA | all facilities |
| FL | landfills |
| HI | LF, WTE |
| IL | with mercury switches, CFC refrigerant or PCBs |
| IN | containing refrigerant |
| IA | must be demanufactured before landfilling |
| LA | landfills |
| ME | landfills |
| MA | all facilities |
| MN | major appliances |
| MO | landfills |
| NE | all facilities |
| NY | landfills |
| NC | all facilities |
| ND | all facilities |
| OR | large home and industrial appliances |
| PA | incinerators only |
| SC | LF, TS |
| SD | landfills |
| VT | refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, water heaters, dishwashers, freezers |
| VA | CFCs/HCFCs and PCBs must be removed first |
| WI | major appliances (microwaves OK if capacitor removed) |
State lists are state-reported to the Northeast Recycling Council as of July 2020. Check your state's current rules.
Checked October 2026. Rules change; your hauler's prohibited-items list is the final word.