Rachel writes practical guides on skip hire, waste removal, and responsible disposal in the UK. She explains what you can legally put in a skip, how to handle restricted waste, and what it really costs. Her goal is to give clear, up-to-date advice so households and trades stay compliant and avoid fines.
Reviewed by: Skip Hire Team Waste Compliance Manager | Upper Tier Waste Broker Licence CBDU596771
What you should do instead:
Therefore, it’s essential to follow the correct procedure for fridge freezer disposal to remove hazardous components, ensuring that all valuable materials inside are repurposed or reused.
We’ll break down each option, what it costs, and what happens to the appliance after collection.
Fly-tipping a fridge freezer, or dumping it on the street without arranging a proper pickup, can lead to fines. You are still responsible for where it ends up, so always use a licensed carrier and get a transfer note or receipt.
In the UK it’s illegal to leave a fridge on the pavement, fly-tip it, or just send it to landfill. Fridges/freezers contain refrigerants and heavy metals. If those leak, they’re bad for the environment and can fall under hazardous waste. That’s why councils and licensed carriers treat them separately, not as normal household junk.
So the goal is:
Choosing the wrong route (unlicensed van, “free collection” Facebook guy, etc.), you’re still responsible if it gets fly-tipped. Councils can and do fine the original owner.
Most of the local councils offer a paid bulky waste pickup for items like fridges, fridge freezers and washing machines.
What to expect:
Typical cost: It costs you around £20 to £40 for a single fridge/freezer collection and may charge higher for American-style double door / large chest freezers because of size and handling.
Good if:
Watch out for:
Councils don’t usually take the rest of your renovation waste at the same time. This is appliance-only.
Tip: If you’re not sure where to book, put your postcode into your council’s bulky waste page (via GOV.UK). You’ll see price and pickup rules for your area.
Most tips / recycling centres will take domestic fridges and freezers for free, as long as they’re from a household and not a business.
Good if:
Important:
Commercial or shop fridges are treated as business waste. You can’t just turn up at the tip with a commercial unit. That has to go through a licensed carrier.
Tip: For more details on appliance recycling, you can check our post on how to dispose of electronic waste.
Before buying a new fridge or freezer, check with retailers if they offer a takeback or disposal service for your old appliances. Many retailers offer take-back service.
Always ask at checkout:
This is usually the easiest option if you’re swapping like-for-like and don’t want the old unit sitting in the hallway for a week.
If you need it gone quickly, you can book a licensed carrier to collect it.
What a proper carrier should do:
What you should avoid:
In Kent, Medway and the surrounding area we treat fridge/freezer pickups as a separate WEEE collection. You get proof that it was handled correctly, so you’re covered.
Typical private collection cost: roughly £50 to £100 for a normal domestic fridge freezer. Access (loft flat, tight stairs), size and urgency can push it up.
If your fridge freezer still works and is in decent working condition, you can easily donate to charity organizations and resell it. Many people are looking to buy secondhand electronic appliances especially used fridges and freezers for their garages, apartments, or as backups.
Reach out to local charity organizations like Habitat for Humanity or local shelters may accept working fridges and freezers.
Options:
Why this is good:
Be honest about condition. Donating a broken fridge just turns it into someone else’s disposal problem.
After collecting your old appliances or fridge freezer go through various steps to make sure that all the hazardous materials are removed and reusable components are repurposed:
Do these before collection to make life easier (and sometimes cheaper):
If you’re moving it yourself in a van, lift safely, keep it upright, and secure it so it doesn’t tip.
The cost of disposing of a fridge freezer can vary depending on the method you choose:
Tip: If you’re already booking a skip for a kitchen rip-out, we normally handle the cabinets, tiles, and general waste in the skip, and then schedule the fridge freezer as a separate WEEE pickup. That keeps everything compliant and keeps you away from fines.
Getting rid of an old fridge freezer isn’t just about getting it out of your kitchen. It’s about doing it legally and keeping yourself out of trouble.
You can book council collection, take it to the tip, use a retailer take-back service, or ask a licensed carrier to remove it and give you paperwork. If it still works, pass it on to someone who can use it.
Recycling your old fridge freezer reduces waste, recovers useful materials, and prevents hazardous gases and oils from entering the environment. If you’re already undertaking a larger clear-out, speak to us about skip hire and WEEE pickup so everything is handled properly.
