Recycle fridges and freezers

When you send your old fridge or freezer for recycling it will be assessed to see if it can be repaired or spruced up and reused. If not, it will be broken down at a specialist recycling plant. Valuable materials that it contains will be extracted and processed to be used again.

Refrigerators contain valuable materials such as aluminium, copper, steel and plastics. These can be extracted and used again. Reusing them saves precious resources. Fridges also contain a motor and compressor, which must be handled carefully. The coolants they contain are a greenhouse gas which must be captured to avoid polluting the environment. Finally, foam insulating materials such as polyurethane and polystyrene must also be disposed of properly to avoid releasing harmful gases. Since 2002, by the law, old fridges must be disposed of through approved contractors.

Some charities welcome goods such as fridges and freezers if they are in good working order or can be refurbished. See our page on donating electricals to charity shops.

The only time you should do this is by arrangement with your local council or collection service so that they can make a pick-up from a designated spot at a certain time and dispose of the machine properly. Simply leaving white goods on the pavement is against the law – it creates an obstruction and can lead to valuable and hazardous materials not being managed properly. Contact your council, or charities or social enterprises in the area to see if they provide a collection service. If you’re buying a fridge or freezer, the retailer should take your old one away. Find your nearest drop-off or collection point for electricals by entering your postcode in our recycling locator.

When you buy a new fridge or freezer the retailer should now take your old electrical product from you for recycling. Your old one doesn’t have to be the same brand as your new fridge or freezer. It doesn’t even need to have been bought from the same retailer. Check out the retailer take-back scheme.

If you have transport and can lift the appliance safely then taking your unwanted fridge to your nearest household waste and recycling centre is an option. (Check ahead for opening times and rules.) If this isn’t convenient, check your options below for having it collected.

Your council, charities and reuse organisations might collect from your doorstep or a designated spot near your home. Some councils charge for this service, but some provide it free, for example to residents receiving housing benefit. A survey of London councils in 2021 found the charge ranged from £15 to more than £60. In most cases collection will be from outside your property, although for an additional fee some will collect from inside. You’ll probably need to defrost your appliance before having it collected – but check details with the council or charity first. You can find out here what bulky waste collection service your local authority provides.

Another option is to hire a licensed waste disposal firm to take your appliance away. This might be an economical option if you’re having a general clear-out. 

If selling your old fridge or freezer via peer-to-peer marketplaces such as eBay and Gumtree, you can ask the buyer to collect. Similarly when offering it free on Freecycle or Freegle.

Councils, charities and reuse organisations might collect. Some councils charge for this service but some provide it free. In most cases collection will be from outside your property, although for an additional fee some will collect from inside. You can find out here what bulky waste collection service your local authority provides. If selling your old fridge or freezer via marketplaces such as eBay and Gumtree, you can ask the buyer to collect. Similarly when offering it free on Freecycle or Freegle.