How to dispose of a lawn mower
An old lawn mower is mostly scrap metal, and plenty of drop-offs take it — once the gas and oil are out. Drain it first, then take it to scrap metal, bulky waste or a landfill that accepts small engines.
Short answer
- Drain the gas and oil first. Some sites require it.
- Scrap metal is the usual destination for a push mower.
- Riding mowers are harder: some sites refuse them or charge more.
- The fluids go to a drop-off for gasoline and used oil.
Where mowers go
- Olmsted County, Minnesota: lawn mowers, drained.
- Winchester, Virginia: lawn equipment with the fluids drained.
- Anchorage: with separated metals such as stoves, grills and lawn mowers.
- Bismarck, North Dakota: push mowers, with grills and propane tanks.
- Chesterfield County, Virginia: lawnmowers $9 each, with no extra fee in a household trash load.
- Riding mowers: Manassas, Virginia's bulk collection won't take them, and South Portland, Maine charges for them as a separate item.
The gas and oil
Drained fuel and oil don't go in the trash. Our guides to gasoline and motor oil cover where they go.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites, then check each site's page for lawn equipment and scrap metal.
Common questions
How do you dispose of an old lawn mower?
Drain the gas and oil, then take it to scrap metal or a drop-off that accepts lawn equipment. Many sites, such as Olmsted County, Minnesota, take mowers only when drained.
Can I put a lawn mower in the trash?
Not in a curbside cart. It goes to scrap metal or a bulky-item drop-off, drained of fuel and oil.
What about a riding mower?
Some programs refuse them, such as Manassas, Virginia's bulk collection, and others charge extra. Check your site's page or a scrap metal dealer.