appliances · Ontario

Where to donate appliances in Kitchener–Waterloo

4 organizations in and around Kitchener–Waterloo that take donated appliances — what each one accepts, what it turns away, and which will come and collect it.

Verified 2026-09-24 from each organization's own website. We are not affiliated with anyone listed here, nobody pays to be included, and we receive nothing if you donate to them.

Two things decide what happens when you turn up with an appliance: whether it still runs, and whether it has a sealed refrigerant system — and if it is a fridge, freezer, air conditioner, dehumidifier or heat pump that no longer runs, you are not selling it, you are paying to be rid of it.

How to tell what you have got

Before you call anyone, two minutes with the object settles most of it. None of this needs an expert — it needs a flashlight and a look at the back.

  • A working washer, dryer, dishwasher or range under about ten years oldFind the model and serial plate before you call anyone. On a washer it is usually under the lid or on the back; on a range, inside the storage drawer or along the door frame. Age is the first question you will be asked, and a guess will not do.
  • Dead appliances with no refrigerant — washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, range hoodsYour routes are municipal collection, a metal recycler, or a scrap hauler. Call three, ask each whether they charge a trip fee or pay anything for the metal, and get the answer in writing before anything moves.

What this list turns away

Counted from what each place says on its own site, not from what is generally true. Most refusals are about condition and completeness rather than category.

  • 3 of 4 will not take mattresses and box springsHabitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington ReStore, Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region ReStore, The Salvation Army Thrift Store
  • 2 of 4 will not take hazardous materialHabitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington ReStore, The Salvation Army Thrift Store
  • 2 of 4 will not take car seats and cribsHabitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington ReStore, The Salvation Army Thrift Store

Rarely worth anything

Not a rule, and not a reason to bin something without asking. These are the things people most often expect to be worth money and find are not.

  • A dead fridge or freezer
  • Any home appliance ten years old or more, as a donation
  • Window and portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers
  • Anything with mould in it
  • A single orphan appliance from a broken-up set
  • The copper and the compressor, to you
Refrigerant must be recovered before an appliance is scrapped, crushed or buried — and the rule that applies to your house is provincial, not federal Canada-wide, set province by province

The Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2022 reach only systems owned by the Crown, systems owned by a federal work or undertaking such as a railway, port authority, airport, telecommunications company or bank, and systems located on federal or Indigenous lands. An ordinary household is governed by its province's regulation instead. Do not rely on anything written for the United States: their rules, certification and disposal requirements are different.

Read the rule →
No dismantling, recycling, incinerating or landfilling until a certified person has attached a no-refrigerant notice Ontario

O. Reg. 463/10, s. 41(1). The notice required by s. 32 must carry the date, the person's name, their certificate number and expiry, their employer, and a statement that the unit no longer contains refrigerant; only a person certified under s. 34 may make that determination, and a copy must be kept for two years. "Refrigeration equipment" is defined to include air-conditioning, heat pump, refrigeration and freezer units. Note carefully what the section does not say: the duty is on whoever dismantles or buries the appliance, not on you for placing it at the curb. That is why Toronto will collect your fridge while a scrapyard may turn it away untagged.

Read the rule →

4 places in Kitchener–Waterloo that take appliances

Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington ReStore

Will collect, free
TakesClean, functional furniture, Working appliances, Kitchen and bathroom cabinets, Plumbing fixtures, Hardwood and laminate flooring (minimum 3 boxes of the same type), Tools, Doors, Windows not exceeding 10 years old or 4 feet wide, Lighting, New, unused shingles in package, Drywall and insulation, Wall art, framed mirrors and home decor, Electronic recycling
Won't takeMattresses and box springs, Pianos, Adjustable and hospital beds, Bathtubs, including corner and Jacuzzi-style tubs, Glass shower doors and shower stalls of any type, Cribs, Housewares - dishes, utensils, pots, Unframed mirrors, glass and mirrored closet doors, Flat hollow-core slab doors, Toilets with a capacity of more than 6L, Exercise equipment, Used clothing, Used blinds and blinds with cords, Non-working appliances containing Freon, Automotive parts, Pool tables, Most entertainment units, Paint (accepted from corporate partners only)
CollectionThe page is headed "Free Donation Pickup" and recommends the service for large or multi-item donations. Donations must be easily accessible and outside the home - "utilizing porches, driveways, lobbies and garages whenever possible." They request an optional monetary donation on completion to help cover costs.
WhereTwo ReStores, in Guelph and in Fergus. The address printed on the donation page is the organization's office at Suite 100B - 104 Dawson Road, Guelph ON N1H 1A6, not a ReStore receiving door. No store hours are given on this page - check habitatgw.ca for each ReStore's address and hours before going.
Visit their site →519-767-9752

Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region ReStore

Will collect, conditions apply
TakesFurniture: upholstered sofas and chairs, cabinets, dining sets, office desks under 48", bedroom furniture, home accents, Kitchen cabinets and countertops, Electrical appliances in working condition and not older than 7 years, Building materials: lumber (minimum 8'), drywall, insulation, Flooring: new, minimum 100 sq ft, Hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures, windows and doors, tools, Seasonal outdoor items (April to September)
Won't takeGas appliances, Small household appliances such as coffee makers, toasters and blenders, Mattresses, Hutches and buffets, Slab doors, Brass door hardware
CollectionRequest a pickup (garage or driveway) through their online donation form, recommended for larger or multi-item donations. Their page states: "We receive a high number of requests for donation pick-ups and therefore not all will qualify for the service." No fee is stated anywhere on their donations or salvage pages - a testimonial on the salvage page describes a removal as free of charge. Confirm cost when you book.
WhereTwo ReStores, both listed on habitatwr.ca/site/restore-locations-habitat-for-humanity-waterloo: Waterloo at 120 Northfield Drive East, Waterloo ON N2J 4G8 (519-747-0664 Ext. 221) and Cambridge at 200 Preston Parkway, Cambridge ON N3H 5N1 (519-653-5666). Both Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, closed Sunday.
Visit their site →519-747-0664

The Salvation Army Thrift Store

Drop off only
TakesAccessories, Antiques and collectibles, Books and media, Clothing and linens, Computers and electronics, Footwear, Housewares and small appliances, Toys, Valuables
Won't takeFurniture, Beds, mattresses and box springs, Large appliances, Construction materials, Automobile parts and tires, Infant equipment, Paint and hazardous materials, Pianos
Collection"We are unable to offer donation pick-up services." Everything must be dropped off in person at a Donor Welcome Centre.
WhereTheir page states they operate over 120 locations across Canada with Donor Welcome Centres for drop-offs. Use the store finder on thriftstore.ca to confirm the nearest location and its donation hours - no Kitchener-Waterloo address is published on the national donations page. Charitable tax receipts are issued for valuables with a fair market value over $500.
Visit their site →

Worth A Second Look Furniture and Housewares (The Working Centre)

Will collect, conditions apply
TakesFurniture and small appliances, Housewares, Jewelry, Electronics, Linens, Mattresses and beds, Books, Toys, Tools
Collection"If you have a large number of items and are not able to bring them to the store, please send us a photo and description of the items and we may be able to come pick them up." No fee is stated. Email wasl@theworkingcentre.org or phone the store.
Where37 Market Lane, Kitchener
Visit their site →519-569-7566

Not sure what you have got?

Photograph it and we will tell you what it is and what it is worth — including when the honest answer is that it is worth nothing.

See what it's worth Everything in Kitchener–Waterloo →

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