Washing machine recycling

The short answer is no. If you’ve got transport and someone to help with the heavy lifting, then taking your unwanted washing machine to your nearest household waste and recycling depot is one option – but it might not be the easiest for you. Washing machines are heavy beasts, typically at least 65kg, containing a slab of concrete to stabilise them in use. So you’ll probably find it more convenient – and kinder to your back – to have your old machine collected. See below …

In your area, check with your council, charity shops or furniture reuse organisations to see if they will collect. Some local councils offer an online booking system. You may find there’s a charge for this service, but some provide it free, for example to residents receiving housing benefit. Alternatively, if you sell your old machine via peer-to-peer marketplaces such as ebay and Gumtree, or offer it free on Freecycle or Freegle, you can ask the new owner to collect.

Some charity shops welcome white goods such as washing machines in good working order – see our page on donating electricals to charity shops.

Most councils will collect bulky goods like washing machines. Some may charge for this – Westminster council, for example, will collect up to six items for £31 and aim to complete your collection within 10 working days; Hackney council charges £15 for up to five items; and in Scarborough the company that collects on behalf of the council will charge £20 to pick up a washing machine from your home.

On the government website you can enter your postcode to see if there is a collection service in your area.

A private business with a van may be a convenient arrangement. For example, if you’re having a general clear-out they might be prepared to take a wider range of waste in one collection. But be sure to check that they are licensed to dispose of it properly, and bear in mind it might cost a bit more than other options. Airtasker rates and reviews firms and individuals promoting themselves as washing machine removal experts.

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 washing machine, 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.

It depends who’s collecting. Some companies will do this for you. If you’re going to disconnect a washing machine yourself, you might find this video helpful.

When you buy a new washing machine the retailer should now take your old electrical product for recycling. Your old one doesn’t have to be the same brand as your new washing machine and it doesn’t need to have come from the same retailer.