Covers: Window AC units, dehumidifiers and water coolers
Usually not
Short answer: No, not with refrigerant in them. The same refrigerant-recovery rule as fridges applies.
Window AC units usually reach disposal with their refrigerant charge intact, so the Section 608 safe-disposal rule applies: the final disposer must make sure the refrigerant is recovered or get a signed recovery statement. Dumpsters.com lists air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water coolers and ice makers as appliances to clear with the hauler first.
Use a city white-goods pickup or drop-off, retailer take-back, a utility recycling program, or an appliance recycler that does refrigerant recovery.
NERC 2020 state tables show white-goods (major appliance) disposal bans or restrictions in:
| State | Detail |
|---|---|
| CA | all facilities |
| FL | landfills |
| HI | LF, WTE |
| IL | with mercury switches, CFC refrigerant or PCBs |
| IN | containing refrigerant |
| IA | must be demanufactured before landfilling |
| LA | landfills |
| ME | landfills |
| MA | all facilities |
| MN | major appliances |
| MO | landfills |
| NE | all facilities |
| NY | landfills |
| NC | all facilities |
| ND | all facilities |
| OR | large home and industrial appliances |
| PA | incinerators only |
| SC | LF, TS |
| SD | landfills |
| VT | refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, water heaters, dishwashers, freezers |
| VA | CFCs/HCFCs and PCBs must be removed first |
| WI | major appliances (microwaves OK if capacitor removed) |
State lists are state-reported to the Northeast Recycling Council as of July 2020. Check your state's current rules.
Checked October 2026. Rules change; your hauler's prohibited-items list is the final word.