In This Article:
- Why You Can't Just Leave It at the Curb
- Step 1: Drain and Disconnect Before You Do Anything Else
- Where to Take an Old Washing Machine in Laredo
- Laredo Rules
- Free Curbside Bulky Pickup
- Other Options: Retailers, Donation, Private Haulers
- Common Mistakes
- Tex's Take
- FAQ
August in Laredo finds a way of finishing off whatever's already on its last leg, and washing machines are no exception. One day it's spinning fine, the next it's making a noise like a truck stuck in gravel, and now you've got 150 pounds of dead steel sitting in your laundry room. Laredo doesn't make this complicated, but it also won't pick it up if you just roll it to the curb and walk away. There's a right way to do this, a free way in most cases, and a couple of ways that'll cost you if you skip a step.
Why You Can't Just Leave It at the Curb
The Willie Bote garbage cart isn't built for appliances, and the city's own rules say large household appliances don't go in it. Set a washer out on a regular trash day with no service request on file and it sits there. Laredo does have a free path for this exact situation. It's just not automatic.
There's also a financial angle most people skip past. A washing machine carries real scrap value in its steel drum and copper motor windings. Toss it in a dumpster rental and that value is gone. Take it to the right place and it's either free, or it pays you.
Step 1: Drain and Disconnect Before You Do Anything Else
Before you call anyone or load anything into a truck, unplug the unit, shut off the hot and cold water lines, and disconnect both hoses. Tip the drum forward over a towel or bucket to drain whatever water is left inside. This matters for three separate reasons: the landfill won't want a leaking unit on the scale, a scrap yard weighs by dry weight, and Habitat's ReStore truck drivers are authorized to refuse anything that isn't ready to move. Skip this step and you'll be doing it anyway, just in someone's driveway instead of your own.
Where to Take an Old Washing Machine in Laredo
| Center | Address | Phone | Hours | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Laredo Landfill | 6912 State Hwy 359, Laredo, TX 78043 | (956) 796-1098 | Mon–Sat, 8am–5pm (weather permitting) | $2 weekdays (under 2,000 lbs), free Saturdays up to 1 ton |
| Habitat for Humanity ReStore | 4703 Warehouse Ln, Laredo, TX 78041 | (956) 724-3227 | Tue–Sat, 7am–3pm | Free (donation, working units under 5 years old only) |
| Wilkinson Gary Iron & Metal | 2300 Scott St, Laredo, TX 78040 (call ahead, some directories list a different address) | (956) 724-7183 | Call ahead to confirm, hours vary by source | Free drop-off, possible cash for scrap weight |
Free Curbside Bulky Pickup
Residents who pay City of Laredo residential garbage fees get two free bulky item collections every year, up to four items per pickup, under City Ordinance Chapter 14, Section 14-9(m)(3)(6). Washing machines are explicitly listed as an acceptable item. Call 956-796-1098 to schedule a work order. Set the unit at least 10 feet from cars, mailboxes, fences, and overhead lines, and keep it accessible from the street, not tucked away on private property.
Already used both free pickups this year, or don't pay the residential fee? Rates kick in: $15 for the first item, $10 for the second on the same request, $5 for each one after that.
Other Options: Retailers, Donation, Private Haulers
Buying a replacement washer changes your options. Lowe's charges $30 for haul-away with a new appliance purchase, free if you're a Lowe's Pro member, and the old unit has to be unplugged, disconnected, and empty before the delivery crew shows up. Home Depot offers a similar move-or-haul-away service tied to a qualifying parts purchase, though the exact fee isn't published online, so call your local Laredo store to confirm the cost before you commit.
If the washer still works, Habitat's ReStore will take it as a donation, but only if it's under 5 years old. Anything older gets turned down at the truck, no exceptions, since it has no resale value to them. For everything else, a handful of national junk-removal outfits operate in Laredo and will schedule a pickup for a fee, though none of them publish Laredo-specific pricing, so get a quote before you book.
Common Mistakes
People set an old washer out on a normal trash day expecting the Willie Bote truck to grab it. It won't. Others assume the scrap yard takes single household units the same way it takes commercial loads, then drive out there and find the hours don't match what Google says. And more than a few skip draining the drum, which is the fastest way to get turned away at a donation pickup or charged extra by a haul-away crew.
Tex's Take
If you pay your garbage fee, the free pickup is the obvious move. Four items, twice a year, no fee, and the city does the lifting. There's no version of this where paying $15 for a single bulky item makes more sense than that, unless you've already burned both free pickups this year.
The scrap yard angle gets oversold online. Yes, a washer has real metal value. But Wilkinson's hours aren't consistent enough to drive out there on a whim, and nobody's confirmed in writing that they'll take a single loose unit instead of a commercial load. Call first or you're wasting a trip.
Free curbside pickup is the move here. Just is.
FAQ
Does the City of Laredo pick up old washing machines for free?
Yes, if you pay residential garbage fees. You get two free bulky item pickups per year, up to four items each, and washing machines are on the accepted list. Call 956-796-1098 to schedule.
What does it cost to take a washing machine to the landfill myself?
$2 on weekdays for loads under 2,000 lbs, with a valid ID and water bill matching your address. It's free on Saturdays for residential loads up to one ton.
Can I sell my old washing machine for scrap in Laredo?
Possibly. Wilkinson Gary Iron & Metal processes ferrous scrap, including appliances, but their hours aren't reliably listed and it's not confirmed whether they take single household units versus bulk loads. Call (956) 724-7183 before you load up.
Will Lowe's or Home Depot haul away my old washer for free?
Not for free. Lowe's charges $30 unless you're a Pro member, and it only applies when you buy a replacement appliance from them. Home Depot offers a similar service with a qualifying purchase, but you'll need to call your local store for the exact fee.
Can I donate a working washing machine in Laredo?
Yes, at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Warehouse Lane, but only if it's working and less than 5 years old. Older units, even working ones, are typically declined.
Data last verified June 2026 against official City of Laredo solid waste sources, Habitat for Humanity Laredo, and retailer policy pages. Hours, fees, and accepted items can change without notice. Call ahead before making a trip.
Conclusion
Most of this comes down to one phone call. Before you load anything into a truck, dial 956-796-1098 and confirm you haven't already used both free bulky pickups this year, that single call decides whether the rest of this guide costs you anything at all.
Looking for more appliance disposal guides? We covered printer recycling in Killeen, TX recently, and you can browse the full Electronics & Appliances archive on TexasRecycleGuide.com for more.
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