Here's the thing most Amarillo residents get wrong about microwaves: they assume it's complicated. They've heard something about e-waste regulations, or they put it next to the trash cart once and the truck left it sitting there, and now they figure the whole thing is a bureaucratic mess requiring permits and phone calls and drives across town.
It's not. Amarillo actually has one of the more sensible bulk item setups in the Texas Panhandle. The city picks up appliances curbside for free. Two established scrap yards will take your microwave and put a few dollars in your hand for the metal. A third option — retailer haul-away — handles it without you lifting a finger if you're buying new. The confusion comes from not knowing which of those three routes fits your situation.
This guide goes through each option in order of practicality, with verified addresses, confirmed phone numbers, and the specific steps for each one.
- Microwaves are classified as appliances/e-waste — they cannot go in your standard weekly trash cart.
- City bulk curbside pickup is free for Amarillo residents for appliances — but you must schedule it first. Putting it on the curb without scheduling will not result in pickup.
- Bulky items must be placed in the grass near the sidewalk or no more than three feet from the curb — not in the alleyway. The alley is an automatic rejection.
- The Amarillo Landfill at 16250 Bezner Dr is free for city residents. Those outside city limits pay by weight.
- No Texas law specifically bans microwaves from landfill — but city collection rules still require scheduling for appliances rather than standard trash pickup.
Option 1: Free City Curbside Bulk Pickup
This is the lowest-effort option for most Amarillo residents. The City of Amarillo's Solid Waste department offers free scheduled curbside pickup of large household appliances — microwaves included — for all city residents. No fee. No trip anywhere. You schedule it, put it on the curb, and it disappears within one to three business days.
How to schedule:
- Call the City of Amarillo Solid Waste at 806-378-6813, or fill out the online Curbside Collection Request form at amarillo.gov/solid-waste/bulky-item-pick-up.
- Tell them you have an appliance — specifically a microwave. They confirm the scheduled pickup window.
- On the scheduled date, place the microwave in the grass near the sidewalk or no more than three feet from the curb. Not in the alley. Not blocking a fire hydrant or utility wires.
- Pickup arrives within one to three business days of the scheduled date, weather permitting.
That's the whole process. The city explicitly lists appliances as qualifying items alongside furniture, mattresses, fencing, hot tubs, and hot water heaters. A countertop microwave is not a complex case.
A few specifics worth knowing: first, Panhandle weather can delay pickup. An ice event or dust storm will push your window back — the city notes this in their FAQ. Second, if you have multiple items to put out, do it in one request. The city prefers consolidated scheduling. And third, the item must actually be on the curb by the scheduled date — don't set a pickup date and then leave the microwave in the garage another week hoping they'll knock.
If the curbside request form is unavailable or you prefer a direct conversation, the Solid Waste admin email is solidwasteadmin@amarillo.gov. Phone is faster.
Option 2: Scrap Metal Centers — Get Paid for the Metal
A microwave contains steel casing, copper wiring, an aluminum interior in some models, and various ferrous metal components. Scrap value on a standard countertop unit runs roughly $2–$8 depending on current steel and copper prices and the size of the unit. Not life-changing money. But if you're already loading up your truck with a few items, the scrap yard is the better call than curbside.
Two verified Amarillo scrap yards take microwaves:
Amarillo Recycling Company (ARC)
3518 E Amarillo Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79107
Phone: (806) 383-4644
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM, Sat 8 AM–11:30 AM, Closed Sunday
Family-owned since 1984. They specifically list shreddable appliances and tin as accepted magnetic scrap — a microwave falls directly under that category. ARC has a metal shredder on-site and buys ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Pull up to the scale, they weigh the microwave, and you get paid on the spot. Their customer portal at amarillo.myscrapportal.com shows current pricing if you want to check before making the trip.
Amarillo Metals Co.
415 N Grand St, Amarillo, TX 79107
Established 1972. Accepts metals, batteries, electric motors, radiators, and appliances.
Call ahead to confirm current appliance acceptance and hours.
Over 50 years in business, which counts for something. They advertise themselves as a one-stop shop for aluminum, copper, brass, steel, and appliance scrap. Good option if you're on the north side of town.
Both yards work the same way: you drive in, go to the scale or the drop-off area, they assess and weigh the material, and you get paid cash or a check depending on the yard. You do not need an appointment for a single microwave. Show up during business hours.
One thing to know: over-the-range microwaves that include a built-in exhaust fan and mounting hardware will weigh more and thus fetch more at the scale. A countertop unit is lighter. Neither requires disassembly before drop-off — bring it as-is.
Option 3: Retailer Drop-Off and Haul-Away
If you're buying a new microwave anyway, this is the simplest path. Several major retailers in Amarillo offer haul-away service when delivering a new appliance, or accept small appliances at in-store recycling stations.
Best Buy has a dedicated electronics and small appliance recycling program at its Amarillo store. Countertop microwaves fall under their small appliance recycling — drop it at the customer service desk. There may be a small fee for certain appliance categories; check with the store directly, as program details change. Best Buy's broader policy allows recycling of most household electronics at the store regardless of purchase. Contact the Amarillo Best Buy location before making the trip to confirm current microwave acceptance, as policies vary by store.
Home Depot and Lowe's both occasionally offer haul-away of old appliances when delivering new ones as part of their installation services — this applies more to large appliances like ranges and refrigerators than to countertop microwaves. Worth asking when you order if you're getting a new microwave delivered and installed. Not guaranteed for countertop units, but the over-the-range models with installation service often qualify.
Walmart appliance delivery: If buying through Walmart with home delivery, ask at checkout whether haul-away of the old unit is included. Policies vary by delivery partner and are not consistent.
Retailer haul-away is the zero-effort option when it works. The problem is it only applies if you're already buying a replacement, and coverage for smaller countertop microwaves is less consistent than for full-size appliances. Confirm before you commit.
Option 4: Donate or Sell a Working Microwave
If the unit still works — heats food, turntable spins, timer functions — donation or resale is the right first call. Sending a functioning appliance to a scrap yard is wasteful in the truest sense.
Goodwill of Amarillo accepts working small appliances, including microwaves, at their donation centers. Call ahead to confirm they're accepting microwaves at the specific location before making the drive. Clean it out first — dried food inside is an automatic rejection at most donation centers. Same policy at Salvation Army.
Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor are consistently the fastest options for a working unit. Post it for free or $10–$25 depending on age and condition. Someone in your neighborhood is looking for a spare microwave for their garage or rental property. In Amarillo's active Nextdoor communities — particularly in the Heights neighborhoods and the southwest side — small appliances move quickly at low prices.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Amarillo accepts working household appliances. Call them to confirm current microwave acceptance policy and operating hours before bringing it in. ReStore inventory acceptance shifts based on current stock levels.
One rule that applies everywhere: if the microwave sparks, makes abnormal sounds, has a damaged door seal, or shows burn marks inside — do not donate it. A malfunctioning microwave is a fire hazard. Those go to scrap or curbside pickup, not a charity.
Option 5: Amarillo Landfill — The Last Resort That's Actually Fine
Worth saying plainly: the landfill is not the villain it's sometimes made out to be for a microwave. Texas does not classify residential microwaves as hazardous e-waste the way California does. TCEQ guidelines focus primarily on items with refrigerants, large batteries, and specific toxic components. A standard household microwave — steel casing, magnetron, basic copper wiring — is not in the same category as a CRT television or a refrigerator with Freon.
If curbside pickup is delayed and you need it gone now, drive it to the landfill. It's free for Amarillo residents.
Amarillo Landfill
16250 Bezner Dr, Amarillo, TX 79124
Phone: (806) 359-2056
Hours: Confirm current hours by calling ahead — typically weekdays and Saturday mornings.
Cost: Free for City of Amarillo residents. Outside city limits: pay by weight.
Bring proof of Amarillo residency if asked — a utility bill or driver's license with an Amarillo address. Not always required, but worth having.
The landfill is a reasonable choice when the other options involve too much scheduling overhead or you need same-day resolution. It's the last option here not because it's wrong, but because recycling or scrap are clearly better uses of the metal inside the unit.
Full Drop-Off and Pickup Directory — Amarillo, TX
⚠️ Hours and policies verified at time of publication (April 2026). Call ahead before making a trip.
| Location | Address | Phone | Hours | Cost | What They Take | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Curbside Pickup | Your curb — schedule first | (806) 378-6813 | Schedule by phone or online; pickup within 1–3 business days | Free | All household appliances, furniture, fencing, mattresses | Schedule Online |
| Amarillo Recycling Co. (ARC) | 3518 E Amarillo Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79107 | (806) 383-4644 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM, Sat 8 AM–11:30 AM | Pays you | Shreddable appliances, ferrous/non-ferrous metals, copper, aluminum | Get Directions |
| Amarillo Metals Co. | 415 N Grand St, Amarillo, TX 79107 | Call to confirm | Call to confirm current hours | Pays you | Metals, batteries, electric motors, radiators, appliances | Get Directions |
| Amarillo Landfill | 16250 Bezner Dr, Amarillo, TX 79124 | (806) 359-2056 | Call to confirm current hours | Free (residents) | General bulky waste drop-off | Get Directions |
| City Oil Recycling Drop-Off (SE 27th & Hayes) | SE 27th & Hayes, Amarillo, TX | (806) 378-6813 | Call to confirm | Free | Used oil, oil filters, tin, aluminum only — NOT microwaves | Get Directions |
Curbside vs. Scrap Metal: Which Is Actually Better?
Depends on one thing: do you have a truck or SUV and anything else metal to get rid of?
If the microwave is your only item and you'd rather not leave home, curbside pickup wins. Zero cost, zero effort after the phone call. The one to three business day window is the only trade-off. For most Amarillo households, this is the right answer.
If you have a truck load of scrap — old appliances from a garage cleanout, scrap metal from a fence project, a dead car battery or two, maybe an old window AC unit — the scrap yard is the move. Amarillo Recycling Co. takes all of it. You get paid by weight at the end. A truck bed full of mixed appliances and scrap metal can fetch $30–$80 depending on what's in it and where copper and steel prices sit that week. The microwave alone won't make the trip worth it. A full load makes it obvious.
| Factor | City Curbside | Scrap Metal Yard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free — and you get paid |
| Effort | One phone call, then curb | Load it, drive across town |
| Timeline | 1–3 business days after scheduling | Same day |
| Best for | Single item, no truck needed | Multiple items, want cash back |
| Outcome for metal | Landfill or municipal recycling | Metal recovered and recycled |
| Weather risk | Delays possible (Panhandle wind/ice) | No weather dependency |
Common Mistakes Amarillo Residents Make
- Putting the microwave in the alley without scheduling pickup. The city is clear: bulky items do not go in the alleyway. They go on the curb, three feet max, and only after a pickup has been scheduled. An unscheduled item in the alley sits there, creates a code violation, and your neighbors will eventually report it. Took a call to 806-378-6813 to find this out.
- Assuming the standard trash cart will take it. Your regular weekly trash pickup will not take a microwave. The driver has no discretion on this — oversized appliances require the bulk pickup truck and a scheduled slot. A microwave sitting next to the trash cart on pickup day stays right where it is.
- Driving to the city recycling drop-off sites expecting to leave a microwave. Amarillo's city-run recycling drop-off centers at SE 27th & Hayes, behind Fire Station #4, and at 6th and Western accept used oil, tin, and aluminum only. A microwave is not accepted at these locations. This surprises people. Those sites are for loose materials, not whole appliances.
- Donating a broken or sparking microwave. Goodwill, ReStore, and Salvation Army all reject damaged appliances. A microwave that doesn't heat, has a cracked door, or shows any electrical fault is not a donation — it's a liability. Scrap yard or curbside pickup. Not a charity bin.
- Waiting on the scrap yard payout for a single microwave. The payout for one countertop microwave at current scrap steel rates is roughly $2–$6. If you're making a special trip across town just for the microwave, curbside is the better use of your time. The scrap yard math works when you bundle it with other metal items.
- Leaving the microwave on the curb the night before without a confirmed pickup date. Scheduling a window and then setting it out early is fine — but putting it on the curb a week early "just in case" is a code issue. Schedule first, then set it out within the designated window the city gives you.
Tex's Take
Amarillo's curbside bulk pickup is one of the genuinely good things about living in the Panhandle. Free, no income test, no permit, no hauler fee — you call, they come, it's gone. Most Texas cities this size don't offer that without some kind of fee or zone restriction. It's worth using. One phone call to Solid Waste takes sixty seconds.
That said, if you've got a truck and a garage full of old appliances, the scrap yards are the smarter choice. Amarillo Recycling Company has been operating since 1984 and runs a legitimate operation with transparent pricing on their portal. The scrap value on a single microwave isn't enough to motivate most people, but combine it with a water heater, a dead chest freezer, and some fencing from a fence project and the trip pays for itself in fuel plus a little extra. Think of the microwave as the item that finally motivated you to clear out the garage properly.
The one thing I'd flag: always call the city recycling drop-off sites before going. The three city sites only take oil, tin, and aluminum. A microwave at those drop-off points is going nowhere. The number of Amarillo residents who've made that particular wasted trip is higher than it should be, and the signage at those locations isn't always clear about what they won't take. Call 806-378-6813 first — it's the right starting point for any solid waste question in this city.
Before-You-Go Checklist
Curbside pickup — before you put it out:
☐ Curbside pickup scheduled via phone (806-378-6813) or online form
☐ Item placed on the grass near the sidewalk — not in the alley
☐ Not blocking fire hydrant, utility wires, or pedestrian right-of-way
☐ Item placed out on the scheduled date — not a week early
Scrap yard trip — before you load the truck:
☐ Called ARC at (806) 383-4644 to confirm they're open and current pricing
☐ Microwave loaded safely — no loose glass or sharp metal edges exposed
☐ Any other scrap metal bundled in same trip to maximize payout
☐ Bring a valid ID — some scrap yards require ID for purchases above a threshold
Donation — before you drive it over:
☐ Microwave actually heats food correctly — tested before donating
☐ Interior cleaned — no food residue or grease buildup
☐ Called donation center ahead to confirm they're accepting microwaves
☐ No sparking, no cracked door seal, no burning smell — if any of these apply, do not donate
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just put my old microwave next to the trash cart on pickup day?
No. Your regular weekly trash pickup does not take appliances. The collection truck for standard household trash will leave it. You need to schedule a separate bulk pickup with Solid Waste at (806) 378-6813 or through the city's online request form. Only after scheduling should you place it on the curb during the designated window.
How long does city curbside pickup take in Amarillo?
The City of Amarillo's official policy states pickup occurs within one to three business days of the scheduled date, barring inclement weather or service delays. Panhandle weather — winter ice, high wind events, dust storms — can push this window back. If you're on a deadline, the scrap yard or landfill give you same-day resolution.
Will a scrap yard accept a microwave with a broken magnetron or damaged interior?
Yes. The scrap yard is buying metal, not a working appliance. A broken, burnt-out, or non-functional microwave has the same scrap metal value as a working one — the weight of the steel casing and copper wiring doesn't change. Bring it as-is. No disassembly required.
Does the city's recycling drop-off on SE 27th and Hayes take microwaves?
No. Amarillo's three city recycling drop-off sites accept used oil, oil filters, tin, and aluminum only. Whole appliances — including microwaves — are not accepted at these locations. Many residents make this mistake. For appliances, use curbside bulk pickup, the scrap yards, or the landfill.
How much will a scrap yard pay me for a microwave in Amarillo?
A standard countertop microwave typically weighs 25–35 lbs. At current scrap steel rates, expect roughly $2–$8 depending on weight and the day's pricing. Larger over-the-range models with more steel will land at the higher end. Scrap prices fluctuate daily — check Amarillo Recycling Co.'s customer portal at amarillo.myscrapportal.com for current pricing before the trip.
Is it legal to throw a microwave in the regular trash in Amarillo?
Putting it loose in your weekly trash cart is not the correct process — the cart is sized for regular household waste, not appliances, and the truck's automated system won't pick it up cleanly. Texas does not classify residential microwaves as hazardous waste the way some states do, but the city's collection rules require scheduling for appliances. Curbside bulk pickup is free and the right route.
⚠️ Hours, prices, and policies listed in this guide were verified against official City of Amarillo sources and verified business listings at time of publication (April 2026). Always call ahead before making a trip, as schedules and acceptance policies change. City of Amarillo Solid Waste: (806) 378-6813.
Your Next Step
Pick the option that fits your situation. If you're not in a hurry, call Solid Waste at (806) 378-6813 right now — the scheduling call takes under two minutes, and the microwave is gone within a few days. If you have a truck and other scrap to clear, Amarillo Recycling Co. on E Amarillo Blvd is open Monday through Saturday.
If you're dealing with other large appliances alongside the microwave — a dead fridge, an old washer — the process is similar but has some additional requirements. Our guide on recycling a refrigerator in Texas walks through the refrigerant removal rules and free haul-away options that apply statewide. And if you've got a mattress to deal with at the same time, the West Texas mattress disposal guide covers the closest free options for Panhandle residents.
0 Comments