How to Dispose of a Toilet

Curbside Trash Pickup

See if curbside pickup is available for toilets in your area. Call or visit the website of your local solid waste disposal company to determine if they accept toilets left on the curb. Certain companies require prior notice before hauling away an old toilet; others will simply take it away if it’s left out during trash day. Check to see if your city has an exchange program that allows you to trade out your older, inefficient toilet for a newer, high-efficiency toilet. Some cities also offer rebates to incentivize a swap.

Remove all non-porcelain parts, if required. Some services ask that you remove all metal and plastic parts from your toilet. Check with the company beforehand to see if that is necessary in your area. If so, these non-porcelain parts include the toilet seat and cover, the interior plumbing in the tank, the handle, and any bolts or screws. To separate the toilet seat, flip open the bolt covers at the back of the seat. Using a wide slot-head screwdriver, unscrew the plastic bolts. You may need to use a wrench to loosen the nut holding the bolt in place on the underside of the toilet. To remove the flush handle, use an adjustable wrench to loosen the lever nut inside the tank that's holding it in place.

Place the toilet outside on pickup day. Many municipalities accept toilets and other large items only on bulk collection days, which happen infrequently. Make sure you’ve checked the official calendar before carrying the toilet to the curb.

Transport the toilet to a landfill if your city doesn’t offer curbside pickup. You may also be asked to bring it to a transfer station—a facility that sorts trash before transferring it to landfills and often handles large and unwieldy items that don’t get picked up curbside. These facilities may charge a fee for drop off. Contact them beforehand about potential costs and methods of payment.

Recycling Options

Prepare the toilet to be recycled by removing non-porcelain parts. These include the toilet seat, interior plumbing in the tank, the handle, and any metal bolts or screws. These parts can often be recycled separately. Cast iron plumbing fixtures, for example, can be recycled with scrap metal. Consider saving parts like the handle and flapper, which you could re-use for future toilet repairs.

Find out if your local recycling center accepts porcelain toilets. Search online to find the recycling center’s website—many list directions on how to recycle specific items. If the information isn’t online, call your local water authority and ask for details. Certain centers charge a drop-off fee, so call multiple recyclers in your area to compare prices and get the best deal.

Place your toilet outside for curbside pickup. Some local facilities will arrange to pick up your unwanted toilet from outside your home or apartment. Ensure that it is on the curb by the city's designated set-out time.

Take your toilet to the recycling center if curbside pickup isn’t offered. You may be required to transport your old toilet to the center yourself. Call beforehand to check hours and fees. Do not break your old toilet to make it easier to transport. Broken porcelain can have razor-sharp edges and is very dangerous.

Donating or Selling

Try selling your toilet online. If your toilet is still functional, there may be someone willing to buy it. List it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Older toilets are often in surprisingly high demand. To improve your chances of attracting buyers, include quality photos of the toilet and provide an accurate description of the item, including manufacturer and model number.

Donate your toilet to a local charity that accepts salvage materials. One option is Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which accepts used, functioning building materials. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, contact your local branch to see if they will take your old toilet. Check online or in the yellow pages for other building supply stores in your community that accept salvaged building supplies.

Give your working toilet away to someone else. List your toilet online with Freecycle, a platform where people can offer items for free to other members of their community. Once someone has shown interest in your toilet, determine a place and time for pickup. Try listing the toilet on multiple sites for better exposure. Other options include the “free” section of Craigslist and Buy Nothing.