Fridge-Freezers - A Guide To Disposal & Recycling

Fridge-Freezers – A Guide To Disposal & Recycling

Fridge freezer disposal: We’ll go over all the options, including repair, recycling, disposal, and reuse, so you can ensure it’s done safely and responsibly.

An old fridge or freezer is one of those bulky household waste items that you rarely have to dispose of. Unfortunately, this often leaves people confused about what to do with the appliance, as this may be the first one you have to get rid of.

Even if you’ve got a small fridge freezer, it’s not something that can be thrown out with the rest of the household rubbish as there are strict laws on how fridge disposal is handled.

We’ll explain the law, rules, and reasons behind why you must get rid of your old fridge safely, and then we’ll run through your options.

Fridge freezer disposal – what does the law say?

There are two main items you need to be aware of when it comes to old fridges and freezers. The first is that the insulation and coolant used are hazardous waste, and the second is the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE) directive.

In short, It simply means you have to dispose of your freezer using a waste carrier who is licensed to do so.

We’ve included some more detail below if you’re interested in finding out more about hazardous waste or the WEEE directive.

Hazardous waste

Generally speaking, anything that can cause harm to people or the environment is considered hazardous waste and cannot be mixed with other waste. As a result, anyone handling hazardous waste has a duty of care to process it responsibly to ensure it doesn’t end up in a tip or landfill.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

The WEEE directive is ever expanding but, in short, requires that electrical waste be recycled. It’s estimated that millions of tonnes of electrical waste are generated annually in the UK. The directive covers ten broad categories and includes fridge freezer disposal.

Fridge freezer disposal options

Swap your old fridge freezer for a new one

The chances are you’ve ordered a new fridge if you’re throwing out the old one. So the first thing to do is check if you can have the old one collected when the new one is delivered. Most companies will offer the service, so check if they will collect it and what it costs before placing your order. Some will even collect your old fridge freezer for free.

Fridge freezer collection service

There is a range of waste collection companies that offer different services. The advantage of using a professional is they will collect, remove, and recycle your waste for you. In addition, all licensed waste carriers will process your old fridge (and any other waste) following regulations, so you can rest assured everything you throw out is disposed of safely and responsibly.

Plenty of companies will come and collect your old fridge freezers for you; if that is the only item you need to get rid of, we’d recommend using AO.com.

AO.com
If it’s just the fridge freezer disposal you’re concerned with, we’d recommend ao.com. They offer all the essential features below:

• Collect and recycle your old appliance even if you haven’t purchased a new one from them.
• You can pick the date.
• You don’t even need to be home. If you’ve disconnected the fridge, they’ll come and collect it from outside your home even if you’re not there.

But if you’ve got other bulky items or waste in addition to your old fridge freezer, you might want to look at alternatives.

Can I put a fridge freezer in a skip?

At Norris, we’re happy to take your old fridge freezer for you for a small additional fee (from £45 per appliance). But not all waste removal companies will offer fridge disposal as part of their skip hire service, so check if they provide the service and, if so, what’s the cost.

A skip can be a great choice when refitting or upgrading your kitchen. You can dispose of any old kitchen units, doors, cupboards, and general waste all in one place and have it collected and recycled for you. If you’ve got a lot of waste to get rid of with your old fridge freezer, a skip is a great choice.

Man & Van

If you don’t have enough waste to fill a skip or have nowhere to put one, a man and van service is a great option. The van or cage truck will come and collect your waste for you and take it away to be recycled.

Local council bulky waste collection services

Most local councils will offer a large waste item collection service for things like sofas, furniture, and beds. Many will include fridge disposal, but you’ll need to arrange it and check the prices as they vary from region to region. You can check if your local council offers the service and “Apply for special collection of large waste items” on their website.

Sell your old fridge freezer

Depending on the age and condition of your old fridge freezer, you might be able to sell it. Modern fridges are made with different materials that are safer and more environmentally friendly. If the fridge is very old or has a plastic backing rather than metal, you’d be better off getting rid of it.

But If it’s in good working condition and you still have all the manuals and documentation, try selling it on Facebook marketplace, gumtree, or eBay.

Give it away

If you’re struggling to sell your old fridge freezer or organising disposal is proving difficult, you might be able to donate it or give it away.

Check with your friends and family to see if anyone needs it. Failing that, check with your local charities and community centres. By giving it away free locally, you can help support the community and reduce the carbon footprint as the fridge won’t have to travel far.

Can I take a fridge freezer to the tip or recycling?

If you have the means to transport it yourself, check with your local recycling centre or local tip to see if they’ll take it and, if so, what it will cost you. If you’re not sure where your local centre is, recyclenow.com have a great tool to help you find it.

Fridge Freezer Repair

Depending on the age and condition of the fridge, you can look into the cost of getting it repaired.

If the fridge freezer works, and the only issues are cosmetic or structural, check online to see if you can order replacements. Extra shelves, handles, and drawers can all be purchased online and offer a new lease of life to an otherwise perfectly functional fridge.

Two of the most common problems you can look for if the fridge freezer isn’t working are:

• Check the thermostat hasn’t been turned up or that the knob on the thermostat is still fixed. If it’s come loose and rotates on the spindle, it won’t allow you to adjust it.
  If this is the case, having a professional fix it shouldn’t cost you much.They’ll need to remove the knob, use a set of pliers to turn the spindle to its lowest setting, reattach the knob/dial set to its lowest value, and glue the dial/knob back on.
• Check the vents to ensure they aren’t blocked by food or ice, which prevents cold air from circulating. If they are blocked by ice, they can take longer to thaw than the rest of the fridge freezer when defrosting, so you may have to wait longer than expected.If you think this is the problem, ensure you allow enough time to guarantee any ice you can see and any ice you can’t see is thoroughly defrosted before turning the fridge freezer back on.The time taken will depend on ambient temperature, how much ice there is, the fridge’s size, and age, so it’s hard to estimate how long to leave it defrosting, so just leave it as long as possible before turning it back to see if that’s managed to fix the problem.

It’s always best to check with a professional if you’re unsure. The last thing you want to do is take a small problem and turn it into an irreparably big one!

Whether you’re looking to recycle, repurpose, or for fridge disposal, we hope you’ve found the article helpful and got the answers you were looking for.