The short answer
Air conditioners contain refrigerant, so in California they have to go somewhere that recovers it properly before scrapping. Check whether your city's bulky program accepts them, ask your HVAC installer to haul away a replaced condenser, or book a flat pickup: $85 for a portable unit, $87 for a small window unit, $109 for a large window unit and $115 for an outdoor condenser or heat pump.
Why ACs need special handling
Every air conditioner, from a small window unit to a central condenser, contains refrigerant in a sealed system. Federal rules under the EPA's section 608 program require that refrigerant to be recovered by a certified technician before the appliance is scrapped. California's major-appliance rules point the same way.
That means an AC is not ordinary bulky waste. It cannot ride in a compactor truck, and it should never be dumped with a 'free' sign in a Japantown alley or beside an apartment dumpster.
The other parts are recyclable once the refrigerant is out. The coils are copper and aluminum, the housing is steel, and the compressor is heavy metal. That is why scrap collectors are interested in them, and why the refrigerant step matters so much. Never cut a line to make a unit lighter or to sell it for scrap. That releases exactly what the rule is designed to capture.
Window and portable units
Window units are common in San José's older rental stock: 1960s and 70s apartments on the east side, rooms in older homes near SJSU, and converted garages that were never ducted. Portable units on wheels are common in newer apartments and in Eichlers, where the open plan and glass walls can make cooling a challenge.
To remove a window unit, support it from inside before you unscrew the brackets. Even a small one is awkward when you are leaning out a window, and a large one can weigh more than one person should hold at arm's length. On an upper floor, never work alone.
Drain portable units before they move. They collect condensate in an internal tank, and it will end up on your floor or in your car.
If you have one small unit, the order minimum applies. A small window unit is $87 on the list and bills at $100 on its own. Two units together clear it: $87 + $109 = $196.
Central AC condensers and heat pumps
When a central AC system is replaced, the outdoor condenser comes out. Many homeowners are also swapping old systems for heat pumps, which leave an old condenser and sometimes an old furnace behind.
In most cases, the HVAC contractor recovers the refrigerant as part of the job and may haul the old unit away. Ask before work starts. If the contractor leaves the old condenser on the side-yard pad, that is when you need another route.
A disconnected condenser or heat pump is $115 as a flat pickup. The old furnace, often in the garage or a hall closet in slab-built South Bay homes, is $131. Together they come to $115 + $131 = $246.
The condenser has to be fully disconnected from power and the refrigerant lines before pickup. A removal crew carries it out of the side yard. It does not do electrical or refrigerant work.
City and neighbor-city options
In San José, the City's Junk Pickup is free for owners and renters and takes up to 12 items per request at the curb on your garbage day. Check its accepted-items list on the City's page to see whether AC units are included before you book through 311.
In Santa Clara, the Annual Cleanup Campaign accepts appliances, residents only. It runs once a year in spring. In 2026 it ran April 27 to May 22.
Mountain View residents get two Recology cleanups a year, each with up to three bulky items alongside a bagged pile.
Elsewhere, including Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell and Milpitas, check your own city's bulky-item page. For self-hauling, call Zanker Recycling or the SMaRT Station first and ask whether they take refrigerant appliances from residents and what it costs.
Flat AC and climate appliance prices
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Portable AC Unit | $85 |
| Window AC Unit (Small, under 8k BTU) | $87 |
| Window AC Unit (Large, 8k+ BTU) | $109 |
| AC Condenser / Heat Pump (Outdoor Unit) | $115 |
| Dehumidifier | $77 |
| Space Heater | $33 |
| Furnace | $131 |
| Ceiling Fan | $41 |
A landlord clearing three small window units from a fourplex pays $87 + $87 + $87 = $261. A portable AC and a dehumidifier from a condo storage closet are $85 + $77 = $162.
Every price includes carry-out from any floor and disposal. There is no stairs fee.
Booking an AC pickup
Photograph the unit and where it sits: in the window, on a closet floor or on a side-yard pad. Then get your price on the instant quote page. The total is shown before you book and only changes if you approve.
Take window units out of the window yourself if you can do it safely, or leave them in their brackets and tell us. Drain portable units. Make sure condensers are disconnected.
Crews work seven days a week, 8am to midnight, and you choose a two-hour arrival window. Book by 4 PM for same-day pickup. Pair the AC with anything else that is leaving, such as an old fan, a space heater or a box of cords, to make the most of the $100 minimum. We recycle whatever we can, and the metal in an AC unit is worth recovering.
Frequently asked questions
Can I throw a window AC in the trash in San Jose?
No. Air conditioners contain refrigerant that has to be recovered by a certified technician before scrapping. Check the City's Junk Pickup accepted list, use a facility that takes refrigerant appliances, or book a pickup.
How much is AC unit removal?
A portable AC is $85, a small window unit $87, a large window unit $109 and an outdoor condenser or heat pump $115. The order minimum is $100.
Will my HVAC contractor take the old condenser?
Often, yes. Ask before the job starts. If they leave it behind, a disconnected condenser is a $115 pickup.
Do you remove the AC from the window?
Tell us if it is still mounted and we will plan for it. Units already out of the window and drained are the fastest pickups.
Is there a fee for an upstairs window unit?
No. Crews carry items from any floor at the same flat price, with no stairs fee or walk-up fee.