Can you throw away a microwave?
What each state's own agency says about microwaves: the page it was read from, the date it was read, and where that state takes it.
Trash
Recycle
Special drop-off
Whether it's trash, recycling, or a special drop-off depends on your state — find yours in the table below.
Do not throw electronic devices in the trash — electronic devices often have hazardous waste, and CalRecycle lists microwave ovens among them (CalRecycle).
The federal baseline
Federal law does not decide this one for you. EPA's hazardous waste rules say that wastes from normal household activities — routine house and yard maintenance — "are excluded from the definition of hazardous waste," so what happens to your old microwave is set by your state and your local program, not by Washington. EPA still asks households not to lean on that exclusion: "Many communities have collection programs for HHW to reduce potential harm posed by these chemicals." Its instruction is the same one the state pages repeat — "Contact your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency to learn about permanent or periodic HHW collections near you."
Read from EPA.
What happens to it
- Iowa requires that all discarded appliances be demanufactured by a permitted appliance demanufacturer prior to disposal (Iowa DNR).
- Demanufacturers remove the hazardous components — PCB capacitors, mercury switches and relays, refrigerants, used oil — and dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner.
- The metal is then recycled: by weight, the typical home appliance consists of about 75 percent steel.
- Scrap steel can be processed and re-melted repeatedly to manufacture new products, and new steel made from scrap is equivalent in every way to that made from virgin iron ore.
- More than half of all steel produced in the U.S. today is made using recycled material.
Steps read from Iowa DNR.
All 50 states
One row per state, with the sentence its agency page states, the page itself, the date it was read, and where that state says to take it. A state whose name links has a page of its own; for the rest, this row is everything that state says.
| State | Verdict | The rule | Source | Where to take it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Trash | ADEM counts microwave ovens among the electronic devices that can contain toxic metals, and says household waste is exempt from hazardous waste regulation in Alabama and a municipal landfill is an acceptable method of disposal — but many landfills will no longer accept electronic devices, so call yours first. | Alabama Department of Environmental Management checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Alaska | No statewide rule | Alaska has no statewide microwave rule — DEC's household disposal guidance is landfill-based; ask your borough, city landfill, or local scrap metal yard what it takes. | Alaska DEC checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Arizona | No statewide rule | Arizona has no statewide microwave rule — ADEQ says to contact your local town, city, or county environmental, health, or solid waste agency, and lists waste transfer stations by county. | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Arkansas | No statewide rule | Arkansas has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ's recycling pages route households to their regional solid waste district; ask yours where appliances go. | Arkansas DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| California | Special drop-off | California bans electronic devices from the trash and CalRecycle lists microwave ovens among them — take yours to an e-waste or household hazardous waste drop-off. | CalRecycle checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| Colorado | No statewide rule | Colorado's landfill ban covers waste electronic devices — CDPHE says computers and other electronic equipment are prohibited from disposal in a landfill, but names no covered device list and never names microwaves, so check with your local government or an electronics recycler. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Connecticut | No statewide rule | Connecticut has no statewide microwave rule — DEEP's What Do I Do With…? guide has no microwave entry and sends appliances to your municipal recycling coordinator. | Connecticut DEEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Delaware | No statewide rule | Delaware has no statewide microwave rule — DNREC's recycling pages cover the state's universal recycling program and send bulky items to the Delaware Solid Waste Authority's sites; check what yours takes. | Delaware DNREC checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Florida | No statewide rule | Florida has no statewide microwave rule — DEP's recycling pages leave collection to counties, and every Florida county runs its own program; check your county's bulky waste and scrap metal options. | Florida DEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Georgia | No statewide rule | Georgia has no statewide microwave rule — EPD's Solid Waste Management Program permits and inspects the facilities that handle solid waste and leaves collection to local government; ask your city or county what it takes. | Georgia EPD checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Hawaii | No statewide rule | Hawaii has no statewide microwave rule — the Health Department's Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch leaves household collection to the counties; check your county's bulky item or scrap metal program. | Hawaii Department of Health checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Idaho | No statewide rule | Idaho has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ says you may be able to dispose of old equipment in local landfills with the landfill's permission; contact your county, public health district, or landfill operator. | Idaho DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Illinois | No statewide rule | Illinois has no statewide microwave rule — the landfill ban covers white goods whose mercury switches, refrigerant and PCBs have not been removed, and the electronics law covers computers and TVs; Illinois EPA suggests a scrap yard for metal reclamation. | Illinois EPA checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Indiana | No statewide rule | Indiana has no statewide microwave rule — IDEM's E-Cycle program covers video display devices, and your solid waste management district is the authority for everything else; ask yours. | Indiana Department of Environmental Management checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Iowa | Special drop-off | Iowa requires that all discarded appliances be demanufactured by a permitted appliance demanufacturer before disposal — DNR's page does not name microwaves, so contact your local municipality about cleanup events or curbside pickup, or call your local landfill about appliance collection. | Iowa DNR checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| Kansas | No statewide rule | Kansas has no statewide microwave rule — KDHE's Solid Waste Section permits the facilities and leaves household collection to county programs; use the county contact list to find yours. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Kentucky | No statewide rule | Kentucky has no statewide microwave rule — the Energy and Environment Cabinet works through county recycling and local assistance programs; call your county solid waste coordinator. | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Louisiana | No statewide rule | Louisiana has no statewide microwave rule — LDEQ lists recycling collection centers and material recovery facilities parish by parish; check which one near you takes appliances or scrap metal. | Louisiana DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| Maine | No statewide rule | Maine has no statewide microwave rule — DEP's product stewardship laws cover electronics like TVs and monitors, not appliances; ask your town transfer station what it takes. | Maine DEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Maryland | No statewide rule | Maryland has no statewide microwave rule — MDE's recycling program sets county recycling plans and leaves collection to them; ask your county what it takes. | Maryland Department of the Environment checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Massachusetts | No statewide rule | Massachusetts has no statewide microwave rule on record here — MassDEP runs the state's waste bans and lists the municipal collection programs; check your city or town's schedule. | Massachusetts DEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Michigan | No statewide rule | Michigan has no statewide microwave rule — EGLE's recycling pages point to local programs, and EGLE keeps a county-by-county list of household collection contacts. | Michigan EGLE checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Minnesota | Special drop-off | Minnesota law requires all major appliances to be recycled, and the MPCA's list of major appliances includes microwave ovens — a microwave may not go in your trash. | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Mississippi | No statewide rule | Mississippi has no statewide microwave rule — MDEQ leaves household collection to county and municipal programs; ask yours about appliances and scrap metal. | Mississippi DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Missouri | Trash | Missouri's landfill ban on major appliances no longer covers microwaves — DNR says the law was changed in 2002 to remove them, so a microwave may go in a sanitary landfill, though DNR asks you to recycle it if you can. | Missouri DNR checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| Montana | No statewide rule | Montana has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ's recycling resources list the collection sites and scrap metal buyers community by community; check what yours accepts. | Montana DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Nebraska | No statewide rule | Nebraska bans household appliances from its landfills, but NDEE's list — washers, dryers, water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves and wood stoves — does not name microwaves; ask your local program. | Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Nevada | No statewide rule | Nevada has no statewide microwave rule — NDEP's county-by-county recycling guide says appliances can be dropped off at most transfer stations, usually free unless they contain refrigerant. | Nevada Division of Environmental Protection checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| New Hampshire | No statewide rule | New Hampshire has no statewide microwave rule on record here — NHDES supports municipal collection programs across the state; check what your town transfer station takes. | New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| New Jersey | No statewide rule | New Jersey has no statewide microwave rule on reachable NJDEP pages — recycling programs are run county by county; check your county recycling coordinator. | New Jersey DEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| New Mexico | No statewide rule | New Mexico has no statewide microwave rule — the Environment Department counts white goods in the municipal waste stream it measures but leaves collection to local programs; check your county's list. | New Mexico Environment Department checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| New York | No statewide rule | New York's electronics disposal ban does not reach microwaves — DEC lists microwave ovens among the household appliances its Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act does not cover; ask your town or county where appliances go. | New York State DEC checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| North Carolina | No statewide rule | North Carolina bans white goods, TVs and computer equipment from its landfills — microwaves are on neither list, so ask your county solid waste program where to take one. | North Carolina DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| North Dakota | No statewide rule | North Dakota has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ's Solid Waste Program works with the owners and operators of land disposal facilities and certifies landfill operators, leaving collection to cities and counties; ask your local program or landfill about appliances and scrap metal. | North Dakota DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Ohio | No statewide rule | Ohio has no statewide ban on trashing microwaves — Ohio EPA says most appliances can be easily recycled at a scrap yard, and tells you to contact your solid waste management district or check its recycling directory. | Ohio EPA checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| Oklahoma | No statewide rule | Oklahoma has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ regulates the disposal facilities and leaves household collection to cities and counties; ask yours about appliances and scrap metal. | Oklahoma DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Oregon | No statewide rule | Oregon has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ's Oregon E-Cycles program covers computers, monitors, printers and TVs, not appliances; ask your local recycler or transfer station. | Oregon DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide rule | Pennsylvania has no statewide microwave rule — DEP's Covered Device Recycling Act covers computers, TVs and monitors, and everything else goes through county and municipal programs; check yours. | Pennsylvania DEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Rhode Island | No statewide rule | Rhode Island's e-waste law does not reach microwaves — DEM says display devices built into home appliances are exempt; take yours to the Resource Recovery Corporation's site or a scrap metal recycler. | Rhode Island DEM checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| South Carolina | No statewide rule | South Carolina's white goods rule bars refrigerators, ranges, water heaters, freezers, dishwashers, trash compactors, washers, dryers, air conditioners and commercial large appliances from municipal solid waste — microwaves are not on that list, so ask your county collection center. | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| South Dakota | No statewide rule | South Dakota has no statewide microwave rule — DANR regulates the disposal facilities and leaves collection to cities and counties; ask your landfill or recycling program what it takes. | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Tennessee | No statewide rule | Tennessee has no statewide microwave rule — TDEC's household program covers batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and electronics, and the certified recyclers it lists take appliances; check the one nearest you. | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Texas | No statewide rule | Texas has no statewide microwave rule — TCEQ leaves household collection to cities and counties and keeps the local contact list; ask yours about appliances and scrap metal. | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Utah | No statewide rule | Utah has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ points households to county programs, and the counties that run facilities set their own rules; call your local health department if yours does not. | Utah DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Vermont | No statewide rule | Vermont bans white goods — large appliances — and covered electronic devices from household trash under 10 V.S.A. § 6621a, but DEC names neither microwaves nor small appliances on that list; find your transfer station on DEC's Materials Management Map. | Vermont DEC checked 2026-08-19 | Drop-off finder |
| Virginia | No statewide rule | Virginia has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ says household items are collected at county landfills, transfer stations and local collection days; check with your Public Works office. | Virginia DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Washington | No statewide rule | Washington has no statewide microwave rule — Ecology's E-Cycle program covers computers, monitors, TVs and portable devices, not appliances; ask your county transfer station or a scrap metal recycler. | Washington Department of Ecology checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| West Virginia | No statewide rule | West Virginia has no statewide microwave rule — WVDEP's electronics takeback covers devices with screens four inches or larger and excludes household appliances; use the state recycling directory to find a scrap metal or appliance recycler. | West Virginia DEP checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Wisconsin | Special drop-off | Wisconsin bans major household appliances from its landfills and the DNR's list of large appliances includes microwaves — reuse or recycle yours; appliances are not picked up at the curb with other recyclables. | Wisconsin DNR checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |
| Wyoming | No statewide rule | Wyoming has no statewide microwave rule — DEQ's solid waste program leaves collection to approved local facilities and governments; ask yours about appliances and scrap metal. | Wyoming DEQ checked 2026-08-19 | County programs |