GET STARTED | Get Your Fair Cash Offer Today

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

📞 Questions about appliance disposal? Call the services listed below — not NCB.  |  Selling your Buffalo home as-is? (716) 557-7005  |  Get a Cash Offer →
🏠
NICKEL CITY BUYERS DOES NOT REMOVE OR PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL APPLIANCES

We are a real estate purchasing company — not a junk hauler or appliance removal service. We do not send crews to pick up your refrigerator, stove, or washer. This guide exists to help you find the right removal services. Our only role: if you are selling a Buffalo property and want to leave all appliances behind, we buy the entire home as-is with everything inside.

💰 National Grid fridge/freezer rebate: up to $50 per unit — free pickup for qualifying customers  •  ♻️ Metalico Buffalo pays cash for scrap appliances — free pickup for larger loads  •  🚛 1-800-GOT-JUNK Buffalo: same-day appliance removal available · LoadUp: starts at $89  •  🚫 NEVER put a refrigerator or freezer at the curb with doors attached — child entrapment hazard & code violation  •  🏠 Selling your home? NCB buys as-is — appliances, furniture, everything stays  •  💰 National Grid fridge/freezer rebate: up to $50 per unit — free pickup for qualifying customers  • 
Appliance removal Buffalo NY old refrigerator stove pickup Erie County
Buffalo NY · Erie County Appliance Guide 2026

Appliance RemovalBuffalo, NY

Old fridge in the garage. Stove that hasn’t worked in years. Washer and dryer you can’t take with you. Buffalo and Erie County have more free and low-cost appliance removal options than most homeowners realize — including a rebate that actually pays you.

Selling? Leave the Appliances → (716) 557-7005
FreeMultiple Options
$50Fridge Rebate
CashScrap Metal Value
Same DayPaid Removal
🧊Appliance Types 💰Free Options 🎁Rebate Program 🚛Paid Removal 🚫Door Removal ❓FAQ
Old appliances Buffalo NY kitchen washer dryer removal options Erie County

More Options Than You Think

Most Buffalo homeowners assume appliance removal means calling a junk hauler and paying $150–$300 per piece. But there are four paths — and two of them are free. National Grid customers can get a $50 rebate on refrigerators and freezers with free pickup. Scrap metal recyclers like Metalico Buffalo often pick up larger appliance loads at no charge.

⚠️ Important — Please Read Before Calling Us

Nickel City Buyers does not remove or purchase individual appliances. We are a property purchasing company — not a junk hauler. Do not call us to pick up your refrigerator or stove. The removal services in this guide handle that. Our only role: if you’re selling your home and want to leave every appliance behind, we buy the entire property as-is. Nothing gets removed before closing — we handle it after.

What Counts as an Appliance — and How Each Gets Removed

Different appliances have different removal paths in Buffalo. Here’s what you’re actually dealing with for each major category.

🧊
Refrigerators & Freezers
Contains Freon — requires CFC evacuation before curbside placement. National Grid rebate: $50 per unit for qualifying customers. All doors must be removed for curbside. Also accepted at 1120 Seneca St.
Rebate Available
🫧
Washers & Dryers
High scrap metal value — Metalico Buffalo often picks up free or at minimal cost. Count as 1 piece of Buffalo’s weekly 2-piece bulk trash limit. Junk removal $89–$200 range.
Scrap Value
🍳
Stoves & Ovens
Accepted as part of Buffalo’s 2-piece weekly curbside bulk trash (no special scheduling). Gas stoves must be fully disconnected before curbside. Significant scrap metal value.
Weekly Curbside OK
🍽
Dishwashers
Accepted curbside as weekly bulk trash (counts as 1 piece). Must be disconnected from plumbing. Low scrap value but junk haulers take them. Also accepted at 1120 Seneca St.
Weekly Curbside OK
🌬
Window A/C Units
Contains refrigerant — requires proper CFC handling. National Grid accepts window A/C units as a value-added pickup alongside fridge/freezer program. Cannot be crushed before refrigerant removal.
Freon Rules Apply
🔥
Water Heaters & Furnaces
High scrap metal value — most scrap recyclers pick up free. Gas lines must be professionally disconnected. Cannot go in roll-off dumpsters. Junk haulers charge $75–$150.
Scrap Value

Free Appliance Removal Options in Buffalo

Before paying a junk hauler, check these three paths — they cost nothing and cover most common appliances.

💰

National Grid Appliance Recycling — Get Paid to Recycle

National Grid’s Residential Appliance Recycling Program pays up to $50 per refrigerator or freezer and picks up free. Available to National Grid electric customers in Upstate NY including Buffalo and Erie County. Maximum 2 fridge/freezers and 2 window A/C units per year.

Eligibility: Unit must be 10–30 cubic feet, in working condition, and belong to a National Grid electric residential customer. Schedule at nationalgridus.com or call 1-877-889-4762.

Note: NYSEG’s appliance recycling program is currently closed as of 2025 — National Grid is the active WNY program.

Metalico Buffalo — Scrap Metal Recycling
Metalico Buffalo pays cash for scrap appliances and offers free pickup for larger loads. Accepts all appliances in any condition. Metal recyclers pay based on current scrap prices — washers, dryers, stoves, and water heaters all have significant ferrous metal value. Call for a quote before scheduling a paid hauler.
metalicobuffalo.com · Multiple WNY locations
Buffalo Weekly Curbside Program
City of Buffalo residents can put most appliances out as part of the 2-piece weekly bulk trash on their regular collection day. Refrigerators and freezers require door removal and Freon evacuation first. Cheektowaga requires 24-hr advance notice for appliances. Each suburb has its own rules — see our Bulk Trash Guide.
Free for qualifying City of Buffalo residents
⚠️ EXTREME CAUTION — READ BEFORE PLACING ANY REFRIGERATOR AT THE CURB ⚠️
🚫
DO NOT PLACE A REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER AT THE CURB WITH THE DOORS ATTACHED

A refrigerator with intact doors left at the curb is a child entrapment hazard. Children can climb inside and become trapped — the doors latch from the outside and cannot be opened from within. This has caused child deaths across the country.

In Buffalo, placing a refrigerator or freezer at the curb with doors attached is a code violation — the City of Buffalo’s sanitation ordinance requires all doors be removed before curbside placement. The Cheektowaga sanitation flyer explicitly states: “REMOVE ALL DOORS FROM REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS!”

How to Remove Refrigerator Doors — Step by Step

Door removal is easier than most people expect. For most refrigerators, it takes 10–20 minutes and requires only basic tools. Here’s exactly how to do it.

Tools You Need
→Phillips head screwdriver
→Flathead screwdriver
→Nut driver or socket set (usually 5/16″)
→Work gloves
→Helper (doors are heavy)
STEP 1 Unplug and Empty the Refrigerator
Unplug from the wall. Remove all food, shelves, drawers, and bins. The unit must be completely empty before moving or door removal. For a water-line fridge, disconnect the water supply line first and let it drain.
STEP 2 Remove the Top Hinge Cover
On most refrigerators, there is a plastic cover at the top of the unit hiding the top hinge. Pry it off gently with a flathead screwdriver. This exposes the hinge bolts and often the wiring harness for the freezer door.
STEP 3 Disconnect Any Wiring Harness
Some freezer doors have a wiring harness connecting the door to the main unit (for ice makers, door alarms, or displays). Gently unplug the connector — do not cut wires. The connector is typically a simple push-tab clip. For disposal, this doesn’t need to be reconnected.
STEP 4 Remove Top Hinge Bolts — Helper Must Hold the Door
This is the critical step — have a helper hold the door. The top hinge bolts (usually 2–3, typically 5/16″ hex bolts) hold the door in place. Once the bolts are removed, the door will fall if unsupported. Your helper holds the door steady while you remove bolts. Lift the door straight up off the lower hinge pin and set it aside flat.
STEP 5 Remove the Middle Hinge (French Door & Freezer-Below Models)
For bottom-freezer or French-door refrigerators, there is a middle hinge between the two doors. Remove the middle hinge bolts, support the lower door, and lift off. French-door models may require removing both doors before the middle hinge comes off — work top to bottom.
STEP 6 Confirm Both Doors Fully Removed Before Curbside
Both doors — freezer and refrigerator — must be completely removed and placed separately from the unit. Do not lean doors against the unit at the curb. A detached door lying flat or standing upright nearby is acceptable. The unit must be open and non-latching before curbside placement.
DONE Now Handle the Freon — Before Curbside
Door removal is step one. Step two is Freon/refrigerant evacuation — see the section below. Both must be done before the unit can legally go to the curb. The easiest path: use the National Grid program or a licensed junk hauler — they handle both door removal coordination and CFC evacuation as part of their service.
💡
Rather Skip the Whole Process?
Use the National Grid program (free pickup + $50 rebate) or a licensed junk hauler — they handle door removal, refrigerant evacuation, and disposal themselves. Or sell the property as-is to NCB and leave the fridge in place — we handle everything after closing.

Freon & Refrigerant Rules — Also Required Before Curbside

After the doors are off, the refrigerant must also be handled properly. This is a federal law requirement — not optional.

⚠️ Federal Law — Section 608 Clean Air Act

It is illegal to knowingly vent, release, or dispose of appliances containing CFC or HCFC refrigerants without proper evacuation by a certified technician. This applies to refrigerators, freezers, window A/C units, and dehumidifiers. Violations can result in significant federal fines.

Never Do This
  • ✗Crush a refrigerator without Freon evacuation first
  • ✗Cut refrigerant lines on any appliance
  • ✗Assume the junk hauler handles it — confirm first
Compliant Options
  • ✓National Grid program — CFC handled, free + $50 rebate
  • ✓Licensed haulers (1-800-GOT-JUNK, LoadUp) — CFC certified
  • ✓Drop off at 1120 Seneca St — City of Buffalo residents

Selling Your Home? Leave Every Appliance Behind.

To be clear: Nickel City Buyers does not remove or buy individual appliances. We are a property purchasing company. We do not send crews to haul out your refrigerator. What we do is purchase the entire home — with the old fridge in the garage, the broken stove, the washer and dryer, all of it — as-is. You leave everything. We handle the property after closing.

If you’re selling a Buffalo or Erie County home and don’t want to deal with appliance removal, disposal scheduling, Freon compliance, or door removal — sell the property to us and walk away. Fair cash offer within 24 hours. Close in as little as 7 days.

Get a Free Cash Offer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to get rid of old appliances in Buffalo NY?
The cheapest options in order: (1) National Grid rebate program — free pickup plus $50 cash back for qualifying refrigerators and freezers; (2) Metalico Buffalo and scrap metal recyclers — free pickup for larger loads with cash paid for metal value; (3) City of Buffalo weekly curbside program — free, counts as 1 of your 2 weekly bulk pieces. Note: Nickel City Buyers does not remove individual appliances — we purchase entire properties. If you’re selling your home and want to leave the appliances behind, an as-is property sale eliminates the removal cost entirely.
Can I put a refrigerator at the curb in Buffalo?
Yes, but with strict requirements. Under Buffalo city ordinance and federal law, all doors must be removed from refrigerators and freezers before curbside placement — this is a safety requirement for children. The refrigerant (Freon/CFC) must also be evacuated by a certified technician before the unit is placed curbside for bulk trash collection. Most junk haulers and the National Grid program handle refrigerant evacuation as part of their service.
Does National Grid still offer a rebate for old refrigerators in Buffalo?
Yes — the National Grid Residential Appliance Recycling Program is active for Upstate NY customers including Buffalo and Erie County. National Grid electric residential customers can receive up to $50 per refrigerator or freezer with free pickup (max 2 units/year). Window A/C units are picked up as a value-added service alongside fridge/freezer recycling. Schedule at nationalgridus.com or call 1-877-889-4762. Note: NYSEG’s appliance recycling program is currently suspended — National Grid is the active WNY program.
Do scrap metal recyclers take old appliances in Buffalo?
Yes. Metalico Buffalo and similar scrap metal recyclers accept all types of appliances in any condition — working or broken. Washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, and furnaces all have significant ferrous metal content. For larger loads, many recyclers offer free pickup. Call for a quote before scheduling a paid junk hauler — for multiple appliances, a scrap recycler may pick up for free or even pay you for the metal value.
How much does appliance removal cost in Buffalo?
Paid appliance removal in Erie County ranges from $89 (LoadUp, single item curbside) to $150–$300+ (1-800-GOT-JUNK, in-home full service). Multiple appliances from the same location are typically discounted. Before paying, check free options: National Grid rebate, scrap metal recyclers, and Buffalo’s weekly curbside program — all may eliminate the cost entirely depending on your appliance type and situation.

Related Buffalo Homeowner Guides

Everything else you need when clearing a WNY home.

FurnitureFurniture Removal Buffalo NY Bulk TrashBulk Trash Pickup Buffalo NY CleanoutGarage Cleanout Buffalo NY HazardousHazardous Waste Disposal WNY SellingToo Much Stuff to Move? As-Is SaleLeave It Behind When Selling HubBuffalo Homeowner Resource Center Sell As-IsWe Buy Houses Buffalo NY
Nickel City Buyers, LLC provides this appliance removal guide for homeowners throughout Buffalo, NY and Western New York — including Cheektowaga, Amherst, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Lackawanna, Hamburg, Kenmore, Lockport, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Depew, Lancaster, Orchard Park, Grand Island, Clarence, East Aurora, Williamsville, Wheatfield, and all of Erie and Niagara County. We purchase homes as-is with all appliances and contents included — no removal required before closing. Call (716) 557-7005 or visit nickelcitybuyers.com. NAP: Nickel City Buyers, LLC · 3842 Harlem Rd STE 400-339, Cheektowaga, NY 14215 · (716) 557-7005.