A broken microwave is one of the few kitchen appliances you cannot simply toss in the trash. It contains a capacitor that can hold a lethal electrical charge for weeks, a magnetron with trace beryllium oxide, and circuit boards classified as e-waste in 25+ US states. Knowing how to dispose of a microwave keeps you out of legal trouble, prevents a genuine shock risk, and in many cases costs you nothing at all. Here are the six legitimate options, ranked from easiest to most effort.
- Option 1: Retailer Take-Back When You Buy a Replacement
- Option 2: Best Buy Standalone Recycling
- Option 3: Municipal E-Waste Event
- Option 4: Scrap Metal Yard
- Option 5: Donate if Still Working
- Option 6: Curbside (With Rules)
- Safety Before Handling
- Removing an Over-the-Range Microwave
- What Happens to a Recycled Microwave
- Data Before Disposal
- When a Microwave Is Worth Repairing
- State-Specific Disposal Rules
- Packaging for Transport
- Environmental Impact
Option 1: Retailer Take-Back When You Buy a Replacement
The easiest path. Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s all offer free haul-away of your old microwave when they deliver a replacement. The service is limited to delivery days, so schedule it when you order the new unit. The retailer handles all recycling obligations on your behalf.
Option 2: Best Buy Standalone Recycling
Best Buy accepts small appliances including microwaves at most US stores for free, no purchase required. Check the Best Buy Recycling page for your specific store – a handful of states have different rules. Limits of two items per household per day apply.
Option 3: Municipal E-Waste Event
Nearly every US county runs quarterly or monthly e-waste collection events, usually at fairgrounds, transfer stations, or public works yards. Search “[your county] e-waste collection” or call 311. Most events are free for residents. Bring ID showing your address.
Option 4: Scrap Metal Yard
If you have multiple dead appliances, load them up and drive to a local scrap yard. Most accept microwaves free of charge, and some pay a small amount ($1-$4 per microwave) for the copper in the transformer and magnetron. Call ahead – policies vary by yard.
Option 5: Donate if Still Working
A microwave that works but is being replaced for cosmetic or upgrade reasons has real value to thrift stores and charitable organizations. Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and The Salvation Army all accept working small appliances. Goodwill will test it before shelving. ReStore often takes countertop models directly. Get a receipt for tax deduction purposes – working microwaves are typically valued at $15-$50 for donation.
Option 6: Curbside (With Rules)
Most municipalities allow curbside pickup of small appliances on regular or designated bulky-item trash days. Rules vary:
- Some cities: schedule a bulky pickup in advance (often free, one per month)
- Some cities: require a sticker purchased at city hall
- Some cities: prohibit microwaves at curbside entirely due to e-waste laws
California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York all have statewide e-waste laws that prohibit landfill disposal of microwaves. Putting one on the curb in those states can result in fines of $50-$500.
Safety Before Handling
The capacitor inside a microwave can hold 2,000+ volts of charge for days or weeks after being unplugged. Do not open the case or attempt to disassemble. If the exterior is damaged exposing interior components, duct-tape the opening, wear gloves, and transport the unit upright. Over-the-range microwaves require care during removal – they are heavy (45-75 pounds) and often mounted at awkward heights.
Removing an Over-the-Range Microwave
- Turn off the circuit breaker powering the microwave
- Unplug the unit from the outlet inside the cabinet above
- Open the microwave door and locate the single mounting screw through the top inside cavity
- Have a helper support the unit from below
- Remove the top mounting screw
- Lift the microwave up about 1/4 inch and pull forward off the wall mounting plate
- Lower to the floor or counter
Budget about 15 minutes. Do not try this solo – a dropped microwave from 5 feet destroys the range cooktop below.
What Happens to a Recycled Microwave
Certified e-waste recyclers disassemble the unit into four main material streams: copper (transformer, magnetron), steel (housing, chassis), plastic (control panel, internal shields), and circuit boards (control module). Copper and steel go to metal reclamation. Plastic is shredded and pelletized. Circuit boards go through specialized processors that recover gold, silver, and palladium from solder joints.
Data Before Disposal
If you own a smart microwave with Wi-Fi connectivity (GE Profile, Samsung Family Hub-integrated, LG ThinQ units), factory-reset the unit before disposal. The reset is usually in the Settings menu under Network or Wi-Fi. Leaving credentials on the unit is a minor security risk if the disposed unit ends up in unauthorized hands. Knowing how to dispose of a microwave responsibly starts with protecting your data and ends with keeping the materials out of a landfill.
When a Microwave Is Worth Repairing
Not every failed microwave is garbage. A dead lightbulb, failed door switch, or blown thermal fuse often costs $10 to $40 in parts and fixes in under an hour. Replacement magnetrons run $40 to $100. But if the cost of parts exceeds half the price of a new equivalent unit, replace rather than repair. Over-the-range models built before 2015 almost always fail catastrophically after ten years because their control boards use discontinued components.
State-Specific Disposal Rules
The US has 25 states with e-waste landfill bans as of 2026. In California, the Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Act specifically classifies microwaves as universal waste. Massachusetts and Minnesota require retailer take-back at time of sale. Illinois and Connecticut fund free drop-off centers through an Advanced Recycling Fee built into new product sales. Check your state’s DEP or DEQ website before disposal – what is legal in Tennessee may earn a fine in Vermont.
Packaging for Transport
Wrap the door in plastic wrap or secure it with tape so it does not swing open and hit you during transport. Place the unit upright in a car trunk or truck bed with the cord coiled on top, not underneath. Countertop microwaves fit in most sedan trunks. Over-the-range and built-in units require a pickup truck or SUV with fold-down seats. If you are paying a junk removal service ($50 to $125), ask whether they dispose of microwaves responsibly or just landfill them – the cheapest services often pick the illegal option.
Environmental Impact
About 40 million microwaves are disposed of annually in the US, containing roughly 120,000 tons of recoverable copper and steel. Properly recycled, a single microwave yields about 2 pounds of copper, 18 pounds of steel, and 0.003 ounces of precious metals from the circuit board. Landfilling the same unit releases trace heavy metals as the circuit board degrades over decades. Choosing recycling over trash is a small individual choice that adds up at scale.
