TV & Electronics Disposal Cost in Washington, D.C.

Most people pay $70–$140. Updated for 2026.

An old television is one of the few household items you genuinely cannot put in the bin. Most states classify TVs as electronic waste, and in Washington, D.C. that means they have to go to a recycler rather than a landfill.

Older plasma and CRT sets are the awkward ones: a 55-inch plasma can weigh over 100 pounds and a tube TV contains leaded glass, which is exactly why disposal carries a fee that a flat-screen does not.

Old flat-screen televisions and obsolete electronics gathered on the floor of an empty room.

TV & Electronics Disposal in Washington: what actually moves the price

With 22% of its homes attached rather than detached, Washington prices tv disposal around the front stairs and the doorway rather than the driveway. If there is a back alley or a basement hatch, say so — it can change the bid.

With renters in 59% of Washington homes, a lot of tv disposal here happens on a deadline. If yours does not, saying you are flexible on the day is worth more than any haggling.

At roughly 11,489 residents per square mile, Washington keeps trucks busy on short routes. That density is why tv disposal quotes here tend to cluster: pros are competing on the same streets on the same day.

702,250

Residents (2024)

61

Square miles of land

11,489

People per square mile

Local figures: U.S. Census Bureau — Washington city. Checked 2026-08-21.

TV & Electronics Disposal in Washington: where the city stops and a hauler starts

The free route in Washington has hard edges, and they are the reason people end up paying: No more than seven items per appointment. More than seven means additional appointment dates.

Past those limits the city is not an option at all — not slower, not pricier, simply unavailable. That is the line a hauler exists for, and it is worth knowing exactly where it sits before you start carrying anything.

Collection in Washington is run by DC Department of Public Works (DPW). Below is what they will take, straight from their own rules — and where each route runs out.

Booked bulky pickup

Large, bulky items from households that receive DPW collection — single-family homes and residential buildings of three or fewer living units. No more than seven items per appointment. More than seven means additional appointment dates. Book through DC 311 — call 311 or use 311.dc.gov. Items go out no earlier than 6:30 p.m. the day before and no later than 6 a.m. on the appointment day. Renovation material is refused outright: bricks, concrete, ceiling tiles, construction and demolition debris and dirt. Buildings of four or more units, condominiums and co-ops must use a private licensed hauler.

Checked against the operator’s own page on 2026-09-03. Source

Taking it yourself

The public drop-off is Fort Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John McCormack Rd NE. No resident drop-off charge is published: the ID check at the gate is what qualifies you. The published fees, charged by material type and tonnage, are for licensed commercial haulers, who have to open an account with DPW on (202) 715-7570 first. Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 2 pm. Saturday, 7 am to 2 pm. Fort Totten is the only one open to residents — the Benning Road transfer station is closed until further notice. A DC driver's license. Without one, bring a photo ID from another state plus a utility bill from the last 30 days or a copy of your lease or deed, and the names on the two have to match. The load itself has to have come from inside the District, and staff can ask you to prove that as well. Passenger cars, passenger vans, SUVs, pick-up trucks, vans under 15 feet and rental vehicles within those categories are let in. Turned away at the gate: anything on commercial tags, plus sideboards, ladders, stake-bodies, cargo vans, rental trucks longer than 15 feet and tag-along trailers. No cap is published on a resident load. Tires are the exception: four at most, and only on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 10 am and 2 pm. A mattress that is not wrapped in plastic. Household hazardous waste, electronics and televisions are not taken here either — those go to DPW's special waste collection events.

Checked against the operator’s own page on 2026-09-09. Source

Why electronics cost more to get rid of

The price is not truck space, it is the recycling gate fee. Screens contain lead, mercury and flame retardants that have to be separated under state e-waste rules, and the recycler charges per unit or per pound to accept them. That fee is passed on to you, which is why a small TV and a small chair cost different amounts to remove.

What changes the price

Screen size and type do most of the work. A modern LED under 40 inches is light and cheap to process; a CRT or plasma is heavy, needs two people and costs the recycler more. Adding a few smaller items — a printer, a monitor, a stack of cables — usually costs far less than booking a second pickup later.

Typical tv disposal cost

$70 – $140

A national range, not a quote. Your actual prices come from local pros bidding on your job.

How JunkerClub works in Washington

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TV & Electronics Disposal pricing breakdown

Service Typical market price JunkerClub estimate
Flat-screen TV (up to 42") $85 – $140 $70 – $115
Large or CRT/plasma TV $120 – $200 $100 – $165
TV plus assorted electronics $160 – $260 $130 – $210

Estimates only. The final price depends on how much there is, how easy it is to reach, and what the pro quotes.

How we build these ranges — and why a real quote can land outside them →

FAQ

TV & Electronics Disposal in Washington — common questions

How much does TV disposal cost in Washington?

Most people pay $70–$140. That is a national range for TV disposal, not a quote — your real price comes from local pros bidding on your photos, and it moves with volume, stairs and how far the item has to travel to the truck.

Can I put an old TV out with the trash in Washington?

Almost certainly not. Televisions are classed as electronic waste in most states and collection crews are instructed to leave them, so the set sits at the curb until someone books a proper pickup. Some retailers take a screen back when you buy a new one — worth asking before you pay for removal.

Is a tube TV really more expensive than a flat screen?

Yes, and by a noticeable margin. CRT sets contain several pounds of leaded glass that recyclers charge extra to handle, and their weight usually turns a one-person job into a two-person one. Mention the type when you post the job so the quotes come back accurate.

What happens to the TV after pickup?

It goes to a certified e-waste processor where the glass, metals and circuit boards are separated for reuse. Working sets are sometimes donated instead. What a reputable pro will not do is put it in a landfill, because in most states that is illegal.

How quickly can it be picked up?

It depends on how many pros cover your area. On our first jobs the first quote arrived within one to three days, and we email you the moment one comes in. Once you pick a pro you choose the date and time window; same-day or next-day pickup is possible when a crew has room on the truck.

What does JunkerClub charge me?

Nothing. Posting a job and collecting quotes is free, and you pay your pro directly when the work is done. The pro pays the platform a small fee only when they win the job — it never gets added to your price.

Do I have to carry it outside myself in Washington?

No — the crew does the lifting and loading, and that labour is most of what you are paying for. In Washington about 22% of homes are attached rather than detached, so a straight internal staircase and a narrow front door tend to set the limits instead of a driveway. The median home here was built around 1957; single-width staircases are common in that stock and lifts are rare. Say which floor it is on and whether there is a lift when you post the job; that is the part that moves the quote. Housing figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

What makes a junk removal quote in Washington different from the national average?

Access and housing type, mostly. In Washington, 11% of homes are detached and the city runs at about 11,489 residents per square mile — most homes here are attached rather than detached, so the front staircase and the doorway set the limits rather than a driveway. Renters occupy 59% of occupied homes here, which also shapes when the work happens. The prices on this site are national ranges; the number you actually pay comes from local pros bidding on your photos. Housing figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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