Usually, for an extra fee
Short answer: Sometimes, often for an extra fee. Many states ban large appliances from landfills, so they usually go to metal recycling.
Dumpsters.com says most landfills accept appliances without refrigerants, oils or complex electronics, for example washers and dryers without digital panels, but appliances may carry an extra fee in some areas. Washers with digital panels are on its check-first list. About 22 states (NERC 2020) and Massachusetts (MassDEP) ban 'white goods' from disposal.
Scrap metal recyclers often take washers and dryers, sometimes free. Other options are retailer haul-away and city bulky-item pickup.
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.