Pulling out an old toilet is the easy part. Figuring out where it can legally go next is what trips people up. Drop whole porcelain into a standard trash bin and most haulers will refuse it, and a fixture that reaches a landfill sits there for good while taking up real space.
You have better options than the dump. This guide covers eight ways to get rid of an old toilet, from donating a working one to crushing the porcelain for recycling, then finishes with how to remove the toilet cleanly in the first place.
Key Takeaways
- Donate: A clean, working toilet can go to a reuse store like Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Call the location first to confirm they take fixtures.
- Curbside or haul-away: Disassemble the toilet for bulk waste pickup, or let a new-toilet installer haul the old one away.
- Recycle: A porcelain recycler crushes the bowl and tank into road base or concrete aggregate.
- Repurpose: Turn the old bowl into a garden planter or bird bath to keep it out of the trash.
Can I Put a Toilet in My Garbage?
No, most trash programs will not take a whole toilet in a standard bin, and rules vary by town. Check with your local municipality before you drag it to the curb, since there are usually rules about how it has to be broken down first.
Most programs want the seat and tank lid off and the bolts removed, and many only collect bulky items on set dates. A quick call to your waste department tells you what your town allows and when to put it out, so it is not left behind at the curb.
How to Dispose of an Old Toilet
So the new fixture is in and you are left with the old commode. Here are eight ways to get rid of it safely and legally, running roughly from greenest to last resort.
If you swapped in a modern model, the upgrade earns its keep. Toilets made before 1994 use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush, while a WaterSense-labeled toilet uses 1.28 gallons or less, which the EPA estimates saves the average household nearly 13,000 gallons and more than $170 a year (1). Getting the old one out responsibly is the final step.
Donate the Toilet
Some charities take old plumbing and give it a second life. Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a non-profit that resells donated bathroom fittings and other gently used building materials to fund local housing projects. Reuse stores will often take sinks, tubs, and toilets that are still in good shape, though you should call the specific store first, since not every location accepts fixtures.
If your toilet is sanitary, crack-free, and flushes properly, load it in the trunk and drop it at a donation center. You keep a usable fixture out of the landfill and help fund community work.
Curbside Pickup
Most local waste services offer bulk curbside pickup, but check the rules before you haul heavy porcelain to the street. Many require the toilet taken apart, with the tank lid and toilet seat removed, the mounting bolts out, and the bowl drained completely dry. Calling ahead means they will not reject the item on collection day, and it gives you an accurate pickup date.
Disassemble or Break It Down
Toilets are heavy and awkward, which makes them hard to move in one piece. Splitting the core parts is often easier. Do not drop a whole toilet in your household waste bin; it makes the bin too heavy, and the garbage crew will likely leave it behind.
Follow the guidelines below:
- Separate the tank and bowl: Unscrew the bolts connecting the tank to the bowl to make two lighter pieces.
- Break it up: If your local laws allow it, use a sledgehammer to smash the porcelain into small shards. Warning: Porcelain shards are razor-sharp. Wear heavy protective eyewear, gloves, and thick clothing.
- Box it up: Place the broken pieces into a sturdy box or heavy-duty trash bag before putting it in the bin.
Landfill or Transfer Station
This is not the greenest route, but it is the most common one. A transfer station is a holding facility that sorts large trash items before they move on to their final destination.
A landfill may be your only option if you have no recycling center nearby. Some transfer stations charge a fee, especially for non-residents, and a toilet often counts as construction debris, which carries its own charge. Always call ahead to confirm the fee and how they take payment.
Rent a Dumpster
If you are doing a full bathroom remodel, renting a dumpster makes sense. You can pile up all the waste as you work, and the company carts it off when you finish.
Look up dumpster companies online, read reviews, and compare quotes. It helps to talk to them about the right dumpster size and rental length for your project.
Take Note
If you are only removing a single toilet, a dumpster is likely too expensive. Save this option for a full renovation.
Recycle the Toilet
If you hate the idea of tossing your toilet in a landfill, recycle it instead. Porcelain can be crushed and reused as concrete aggregate or road base. Search “porcelain recycling near me” to find a center that takes it.
Your local garbage collector or water authority can often point you to a company that accepts old toilets. Shop around, because you may still pay a small drop-off fee for the material.
Sell or Give the Toilet Away
Selling the fixture yourself can recoup some cost if it is a high-end model or a desirable vintage color. You also get the satisfaction of knowing it found a new home instead of the garbage.
Scrub it clean and make it presentable first. If you doubt it will sell, give it away: a local “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook is a fast way to find a neighbor who wants it.
Freecycle is another well-known platform for giving items away. Once you connect with someone, arrange a simple porch pickup.
Repurpose the Toilet
Why not turn the old commode into a conversation starter? Gardeners often plant them up as novelty “potty planters.”
You can also fill the bowl to make a miniature pond that draws frogs and insects, or reuse the seat as a quirky photo frame, though that look is not for everyone. If you are handy, the tank lid works as a small shelf or a stepping stone in a garden path.
Toilet Disposal Fees
Getting rid of a bulky item almost always costs something, because whoever hauls it takes on the labor and the transport. Your local waste department can quote the fee for bulk curbside collection.
Drive it to a landfill or transfer station yourself and expect a tipping fee of roughly $10 to $50 depending on where you live, since a toilet often counts as construction debris. If you are paying for a new toilet to be installed, that job usually folds the old one’s removal into the price, since the installer takes the old fixture away when the new one is delivered (2). Always call ahead to confirm fees and how they take payment.
How to Remove a Toilet
Before you can dispose of your old toilet, you have to get it off the floor without flooding the bathroom. Here is a quick guide.
What You Will Need
Gather these tools before you start:
- Putty knife
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Hacksaw
- Adjustable wrench
- Penetrating oil
- Bucket
- Rags
- Rubber gloves
- Old towels
- Sponge
- Wire brush
1. Isolate Water and Drain
Turn off the water at the supply valve on the wall behind the toilet. Flush to drain the tank. Lay old towels around the base to catch drips, then use a sponge to soak up any water left in the tank and the bowl.
2. Remove the Tank
Disconnect the water supply pipe with your adjustable wrench. Locate the bolts beneath the tank that connect it to the bowl.
Use the wrench and pliers to loosen these nuts. Once free, gently lift the tank and set it aside. If you have a one-piece toilet, such as this Swiss Madison model, you only need to disconnect the water supply line.
Top Tip
After years of use, bolts often rust. Spray WD-40 on them a few minutes before you start to help loosen stuck nuts.
3. Remove the Bowl
Pop the plastic caps covering the floor bolts at the base of the toilet. Unscrew the nuts with your wrench. If they just spin or are stripped, cut them off with a hacksaw.
Use a utility knife to slice through the caulk seal around the base. Gently rock the toilet side to side to break the wax seal. Lift the toilet straight up and carry it out of the room.
4. Clean the Flange
Use a putty knife to scrape the old wax ring off the floor flange, and remove any old caulk from the floor. This is a good moment to inspect the flange; if it is cracked or broken, replace it now before setting the new toilet.
5. Plug the Drain
Immediately stuff an old rag into the open drain pipe. This blocks sewer gases from rising into your home and stops a dropped tool from falling down the hole.
FAQs
To Dump or Not to Dump
Recycling or donating the old fixture is the better call if you want to keep it out of the landfill. Between reuse stores, porcelain recyclers, and curbside bulk pickup, the dump rarely has to be your first stop.
If none of those fit, get creative and turn the bowl into a garden planter or a bird bath. The planet, and your local wildlife, will thank you for it.
