Recycling large household appliances like washing machines, fridges, and dishwashers can be daunting due to their size and component complexity. However, these appliances contain many valuable resources – along with harmful, long-degrading materials – making it vital for them to be disposed of in appropriate fashion.

At ETM Recycling, it is our aim to ensure every bit of waste ends up where it is meant to go. In this blog, we’ll offer a step-by-step guide to getting your large appliances recycled and give insight on locations where you can dispose of them.

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1.  Determine Whether Your Appliance Can Be Repaired or Recycled

The first step to recycling your large appliance is to determine whether or not that’s the right way to go. Many appliances will have faults that can easily be fixed, making repair a much more sustainable choice. Even if you’re personally fed up with your appliance, someone else may still be able to find value in it, repair it, or improve it, so try places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist if it’s still in working order.

If it truly is at the end of its life, recycling is the way to go. Aside from specific appliances like pre-2007 refrigerators with harmful CFC gasses, most large appliances can be recycled at your local recycling centre. Check your local council’s website for information about public recycling centres and tips you can bring your waste large appliances to, or give them a call if you’re still not sure.

For business waste, such as an office refit or waste appliances during construction or retrofitting, you may need to carry out certain processes for your appliances to be accepted. There are typically limits on these sorts of waste, after which you will have to pay.

You can make the whole process a lot more convenient by working with a trusted waste management partner. Get in touch to find out more.

 

2.  Remove Hazardous Materials Before Scrapping

As with any item you’re looking to recycle, making sure it is free of any contaminants is vital to ensuring a smooth recycling process. Scrap appliances tend to have a large number of material components, making them complex to recycle from the get-go. This is only made worse in the presence of hazardous materials, some of which could prevent it from being recycled entirely.

Here are some steps to ensuring your appliance is free from hazardous materials:

  • Clean it thoroughly, checking for any residual oil or detritus
  • Ensure gas cannisters have been appropriately handled
  • Check the product details to ensure no hazardous materials are present that would make the appliance unrecyclable
  • Work with a waste management partner to build an understanding of the relevant recycling regulations

If you follow these steps, you should be able to recycle or scrap your waste appliances without running into issues caused by hazardous materials.

 

3.  Transport the Appliance to a Recycling Centre

Now that you’ve fully prepped your appliance for recycling, the final step is to take it to the centre. Depending on the size of your appliance and the capabilities of your available transportation, this can prove quite the challenge. You’re unlikely to fit your fridge into your hatchback without some serious effort!

If you are struggling, there are a few options to choose from. These include:

For projects with a large number of scrap appliances, having a skip can help take a lot of the hassle away, leaving your waste appliances in capable hands and streamlining the process with bulk collections.

 

Locations for Recycling Large Appliances in the UK

To find locations where you can recycle large appliances in the UK, your best bet is to start with your local council’s website. Here, you should be able to find a list of the items recycled at council recycling points, along with details of where to find these stations, who can go there, what they can bring, and when they are open.

Not all recycling centres will process every type of recycled goods, so it is important to do your due diligence and ensure you don’t turn up only to be disappointed. In the case that there isn’t an appropriate centre run by your council, there may be other options like private recycling centres or waste management companies that can offer a helping hand.

 

The Scrap Value of Large Appliances: What to Expect

Scrapping your large appliances may seem like a good way to generate a profit, but the reality can be different. Generally, companies that collect scrap do so either for a fee, or for free, as they hope to turn a profit on selling-on or processing your scrap metal themselves.

That’s not to say this isn’t a viable option. In fact, many of these companies will come to you to collect your waste appliances from the kerbside, so it can save you a lot of time and effort that would be spent recycling your appliance through other means.

You can technically sell your appliance for scrap yourself, but without the right connections or volume of appliances, you’re unlikely to make consistent sales – which for single appliances from things like home renovations means it isn’t often worth the effort.

 

Recycle Your Appliances with ETM Recycling

Recycling your large appliances is vital to ensuring their resources remain in circulation, helping lower the costs of products while also feeding into a sustainable economy and society. Whether through kerbside collection, a skip, a recycling centre, or a waste management partner, there are plenty of ways to recycle your washing machine, fridge, or other large appliance, so you’re sure to find one to suit your needs.

At ETM Recycling, we help businesses and individuals to manage their waste. If you want to find out more about how we can support you with your large waste appliances, or any other kind of waste/recycling, then get in touch! We’re happy to help.

Check out our complete guide to recycling metal waste >

See our beginner’s guide to recycling construction materials >