Can I throw away a broken garbage disposal?

You can throw away a broken garbage disposal, but you should not simply put it in your regular household trash bin without checking local regulations and preparing it properly. Garbage disposals are considered small appliances and contain metal, copper wiring, and electrical components that are better handled through scrap metal recycling or appliance recycling programs rather than landfill. Many municipalities allow you to place a disposal in regular trash if it is disconnected and drained, but because it is heavy and contains sharp grinding plates, trash collectors may not take it or may require it to be bagged. A better option is to take it to a local scrap metal recycler, where the stainless steel and metal housing have scrap value and you may even get a few dollars. Some home improvement stores and municipal hazardous waste or e-waste collection events accept small appliances. Before disposal, ensure power is disconnected at the breaker, remove it completely from the sink mount, disconnect the dishwasher hose and drain tube, and cap the wires if hardwired. Drain all water from the unit. If the disposal has a lot of food waste inside, rinse it out. Do not throw it away with food still inside. Check with your city sanitation department for appliance pickup days or drop-off locations for proper environmentally responsible disposal.