In short
- By-law 2024-453 puts stoves, washers, dryers and dishwashers on the non-collectable list, so the curb is closed to them.
- Scrap metal appliances are free at the Trail Waste Facility when they arrive source-separated.
- One Ottawa hauler prices a single item at $135 and a quarter truck at $329, before tax.
- Gas and water connections are for a trade to disconnect, before the crew lifts anything.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single appliance | $135 | One Ottawa firm’s estimate, before tax |
| Minimum pickup | $129–$175 | Two Ottawa firms’ published minimums |
| Quarter truck | $329 | One Ottawa firm, before tax |
| Half truck | $529 | Same firm |
| Appliance with refrigerant | $30–$50 extra | One Ottawa firm’s item fee |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: Junk Ninja, Ottawa appliance removal (single $135, quarter $329, half $529, accepted list, prep); Junk That Funk, pricing ($129 minimum); Mighty Mouse Junk Removal (minimums from $175); JunkPal, pricing (Freon appliance $30–$50). City: By-law 2024-453 (appliances non-collectable); City of Ottawa, Special items (appliances, refrigerant tag); Trail Waste Facility rates (scrap metal free). 613 Bins, what the City takes (list of appliances refused at the curb). The company that calls sets its own price.
Which appliances we mean
Stoves and ranges, washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, water heaters and wall air conditioners. Fridges and freezers have extra rules and their own page: see fridge and freezer removal.
One Ottawa hauler lists refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, convection ovens, microwaves and water heaters as accepted, as long as the item is non-hazardous.
What the City says
Curbside crews in Ottawa leave household appliances where they stand. The Solid Waste Services By-law 2024-453 files them in the non-collectable schedule beside construction waste. The City tells residents to arrange their own removal, through a participating retailer or a business that recycles appliances.
The City’s Trail Waste Facility takes scrap metal free of charge when it is source-separated. A refrigerant appliance needs its cooling chemicals drawn off, and a tag from a qualified technician, before it goes in. Loading a stove into a car, driving out and unloading it by hand is real work, and a washer weighs enough to hurt a back on stairs. For a furniture and appliance combination, a hauler is one trip.
Connections come first
A junk crew lifts and carries. Disconnecting gas, power and water is trade work, done before the day:
- Gas stove or dryer. A gas fitter disconnects and caps the line. Gas leaks injure people, and the work follows code.
- Electric range or dryer. The breaker is switched off and the cord unplugged.
- Washer and dishwasher. Water valves shut, hoses drained.
- Built-in units. An over-the-range microwave or a built-in dishwasher is screwed to the cabinet. Say so in the request.
What drives the price
Hauler pricing follows the truck space. On one Ottawa list a single appliance costs $135, a quarter truck $329 and a half truck $529, before tax. Other Ottawa firms print minimums of $129 to $175, and one lists $30–$50 on top for an appliance with refrigerant. What moves the number:
- how many pieces and how big they are,
- stairs, tight turns and distance to the truck,
- an extra fee for refrigerant units,
- other junk in the same trip, which adds to the share of truck.
Prices by item shows the pattern across the market.
Where the appliance goes
A working appliance can be donated. Ask the company where yours ends up: donation, scrap metal or landfill. Reuse routes are on the donating furniture page.
Timing
When the new range or washer has a delivery date, write it in the request with a second date nearby. A delivery with no haul booked leaves the old unit standing in the hall, so match the two.
On paper
The quote lists each appliance, the floor, the price including any refrigerant fee, HST, and what the crew will not disconnect. For several appliances plus other junk, compare it with the junk removal cost page.
Who comes to the door
Appliance requests are passed to one independent hauler, and the crew with the dolly works for it. That firm calls to check the floors and the connections, quotes per unit and books the pickup. Ottawa Junk Desk has no crew and no price list of its own.
Questions to ask the company
- Does your price include disconnecting the appliance, or do I need a tradesperson first?
- What do you charge for each extra appliance after the first?
- Do you add a fee for anything with refrigerant or a gas connection?
- Can the crew take the appliance out through the basement stairs?
- Where do working units go: donation, scrap, or the landfill?
Have this ready for the call
- Make, size and fuel of each unit: gas or electric stove, front or top-load washer
- Which floor, and how many steps, with the width of the narrowest door or turn
- Appliances emptied, with racks, drawers and filters out, and doors taped shut if loose
- For a gas unit, the valve shut and the line capped by a gas fitter before the crew arrives
- A clear path from the unit to the door, and parking for the truck
Questions people ask
Why does the City refuse appliances at the curb?
The City’s solid waste by-law lists appliances as non-collectable. Fridges, freezers and air conditioners also need their refrigerant removed before disposal. The City tells residents to arrange their own removal, so book a pickup date for the stove and keep it off the garbage pile.
My gas stove is hooked up. Can the crew unplug it?
Gas is a trade job. A gas fitter disconnects and caps the line; a crew then takes the stove away. Say in the request that the stove is gas, so the company knows what to expect. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility from outside.
Is there a fee for a washer with water still in it?
Drain the hoses and tub before the crew arrives. A washer with water inside is heavier and leaks across floors and stairs. Shut the water valves at the wall; if they will not turn, mention it in the request.
Can I trade in an old appliance when a new one is delivered?
Some stores offer haul-away with delivery. Ask the store for the price and the date when you order. If the store does not offer it, or the delivery day does not match, a hauler takes the old unit on any day you choose.
Do dead appliances still have scrap value?
The Trail Waste Facility takes scrap metal appliances free when they are source-separated. A hauler may sort metal for recycling, but the price you are quoted covers the removal, so ask whether any credit applies.
Can I put several appliances in the same request?
Yes. List each one with make, size and floor. The company confirms the share of the truck on the call. One Ottawa list prices a quarter truck at $329 and a half truck at $529, before tax.