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Disposing of fridges, freezers and whitegoods

Disposing of things · 7 minute read

Whitegoods are heavy, valuable as scrap, and — in the case of anything with a refrigeration circuit — subject to environmental handling requirements.

Fridges and freezers: the degassing requirement

Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners contain refrigerant gases that are potent greenhouse gases and, in older units, ozone-depleting. Australian law restricts the handling and release of these gases. In practice this means a fridge should be degassed by someone appropriately licensed before it's dismantled or crushed.

You don't need to arrange this personally in most cases — transfer stations, scrap metal yards and legitimate removal operators handle degassing as part of their process. What matters is that the unit goes to somewhere equipped to do it, rather than being abandoned or broken up in a backyard.

The safety step everyone forgets

Remove the door, or at minimum remove the seal and secure the door open, on any fridge or freezer that will sit unattended even briefly. Children have died in disused fridges. Many councils will refuse to collect a fridge with an intact door, and this is why.

Options for disposal

• Retailer takeback — most major appliance retailers will remove the old unit when delivering a replacement, often for a small fee.
• Scrap metal yards — whitegoods have genuine scrap value. Some yards pay for washing machines, dryers and dishwashers; fridges are often accepted free rather than paid for, because of the degassing cost.
• Council hard rubbish — widely accepted, with the door-removal rule enforced.
• Transfer station — accepted everywhere, sometimes free for scrap metal, sometimes with a fee for refrigerated units.
• Removal service — the practical choice for upstairs units, multiple appliances, or when you can't safely move something that heavy.

If it still works

A working appliance under about ten years old has real value. Charities including major second-hand retailers accept working whitegoods, though most require them to be in genuinely serviceable condition and some won't take fridges at all. Selling privately is straightforward for washing machines and fridges in good order.

Moving them safely

Whitegoods regularly cause back injuries and crushed fingers. Use a trolley, keep the load low, and never attempt stairs alone. Fridges should be transported upright where possible; if laid down, they need to stand upright for several hours before being switched on again.