Replacing of an old, inefficient toilet with a new water-efficient model can help reduce the amount of water used for each flush by between 50 and 75 percent, according to the Tualatin Valley Water District. Older toilets may not only waste water but also become stained or develop cracks over time. Whether looking to upgrade your toilet to a new, water-saving one or replace a leaking, cracked one, the old one must be disposed of in some way. Once the new toilet has been installed, there are several options available to throw away a toilet, including re-purposing or recycling it.
Call or visit the website of the solid waste disposal company that services your area to see if curbside pickup is available for toilets in your municipality. Some companies will take away the old toilet if left on the curb without prior notice, while others require advanced notice before picking up the toilet from the curb. Other companies may not allow for curbside pickup of such a large item. If the service is available, place the toilet out for pickup on the day specified by the company. You may need to remove all non-porcelain items, such as a toilet seat and the inside plumbing of the tank, prior to pick up, so ask the company if such preparations are required. Before throwing your toilet away in a dumpster for an apartment complex, check with the waste disposal company to see if it allows such disposal.
Bring the toilet to your city's landfill or your solid waste disposal company's transfer station. A transfer station is a facility that is usually enclosed and sorts through waste before transferring it to landfills around the state or country. These facilities handle the drop off of larger, bulky items not allowed for curbside pickup. There may be a fee involved in dropping off the toilet at such a facility, especially if you are not a residential customer of the waste disposal company. Contact the company before dropping off the toilet to inquire about any possible fees and how to pay them.
Drop the toilet off at a local recycling center that handles porcelain. Ask your local water district or water authority for recommendations for recycling centers to bring your toilet to. Because there may be a fee involved in dropping off the toilet at certain centers, call the recyclers in your area to compare such fees before choosing a recycling center to dispose of your toilet.
List your toilet with a national group like Freecycle, an online service that provides descriptions and locations of items available for no charge from members of your local community. Specify your contact information and a description of the toilet in the listing. Once contacted by other members of the group, arrange for one of them to come and take away your toilet. Decide on a pickup time and place, such as the curb in front of your home or apartment, with the person you choose. Some waste disposal companies have partnered with groups, including Freecycle, and can give you recommendations for who to contact by phone or email with your listing, according to Waste Management of San Diego.
Contact a local charity such as Habitat for Humanity, that accepts used, working building materials, such as toilets. To get rid of your old toilet, contact your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore to find out where to drop off your old toilet. By recycling or donating your toilet to a charity, it doesn't wind up in a landfill and can be reused instead.
Instead of disposing of your old toilet, re-purpose it into something useful like a decorative planter. Both the bowl and tank can be used to plant decorative flowers and placed in a garden.
If you have employed a licensed plumber to replace your toilet, he should be able to dispose of your old toilet for you.
For large bathroom remodeling projects, contact your solid waste management company to inquire about renting a dumpster to use for a short period of time to dispose of torn out materials, including toilets, sinks and bathtubs.
Some water districts or water authorities offer rebates for households that replace existing toilets with new, water-saving ones.
Never attempt to throw your toilet away in an area not designated for dumping waste. This can result in damage to the environment and a serious fine or other legal repercussions.
Paretts, Susan. "How to Throw Away a Toilet." Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/throw-away-toilet-33918.html. 14 December 2018.