Hazardous

Contains refrigerant gases

Fridge or freezer

Also called: fridge, freezer, fridge freezer, refrigerator, mini fridge, wine cooler

Recycling centre

National rules. Choose your council to see its answer.

Your council's answer

The answer can differ by council. Choose your council to see its rules for this item.

How to prepare it

  1. Retailers must offer to take the old one away when you buy a new one
  2. Or ask your council about a bulky collection, or where fridges and freezers can go
  3. Don't damage the pipes at the back

National rules

The answer isn't the same in every UK nation. Choose your council to see the one that applies to you.

England and Wales

Recycling centre

Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre.

Take to the tip, book a council bulky collection, or have the retailer take the old one when buying new.

Also: Home collection, Drop-off point

Scotland

Recycling centre

Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre.

Take to a recycling centre, book a council bulky uplift, or have the retailer take the old one when buying new.

Also: Home collection, Drop-off point

Scotland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

Northern Ireland

Recycling centre

Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre.

Take to a recycling centre, or have the retailer take the old one when you buy new; council bulky collections may not take appliances.

Also: Drop-off point, Home collection

Northern Ireland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

How to recycle it

National schemes.

National scheme

Old appliance take-back when buying new

Free if you take it to the shop; home collection can be charged to cover transport · Return in store

When you buy a new fridge, washing machine, TV or other electrical item, the seller must take back your old item of the same type or function.

  1. Tell the seller when you buy that you want your old appliance taken back
  2. Take it back to the shop (you have at least 28 days), or arrange for it to be collected when the new one is delivered
  3. Empty and defrost fridges and freezers before collection

Source: gov.uk, checked 10 Oct 2026.

National scheme

BHF free furniture and electrical collection

Free · Free collection

The British Heart Foundation picks up furniture and working electricals from your home for free and sells them in its furniture stores. Put your postcode into its booking page to see if it collects near you.

  1. Enter your postcode on BHF's collection page to check it collects in your area, then fill in the form with your items, a preferred date and your address
  2. Your local BHF store gets in touch within 5 working days to agree a date. You must be over 18
  3. Sofas, mattresses and other upholstered furniture need their fire safety label attached, with no rips
  4. Items must be clean, complete and, for electricals, working, or the van crew won't take them
  5. BHF can't take washer-dryers, some washing machines, cots, prams or oil-filled heaters without a thermostat

Available in England, Wales, Scotland.

Source: bhf.org.uk, checked 24 Oct 2026.

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Recycle This isn't run by or endorsed by any council or the government. Councils change their services, so check anything important with your council.