Everything you need to know about recycling white goods
WARNING! Old fridges and freezers must be disposed of correctly so they can be degassed to prevent harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Recycling White Goods includes: DishwashersWhitegoodsLarge household appliancesAir conditionersFridgesFreezerDryersBar fridgesWashing machines
21 Hammond Rd. (access from gate off Spencer St), Cockburn Central
Tidy Up offers a collection service through our fleet of 8 cubic metre trucks for all sorts of waste materials to be transported to either a resource recyclers, a licensed disposal site, our Cockburn Central holding yard, or our salvage store.
We offer an alternative to hiring bins or trailers for your rubbish removal needs.
All Fridge / Freezer / Air conditioning systems.
De Gas and safe disposal for end of life appliances.
All work done to EPA and Government Standards.
Mobile On - Site Services,
No drop off service.
Call to discuss your requirements.
NR Metal Recycling is a cash for scrap metal recycling business, specialising in recycling and processing scrap metal; from aluminium, brass, batteries, copper, e-waste and steel. We provide pick up services for large quantities of scrap metal for businesses and residential locations.
We are built upon the foundation of value and service, and are experts when it comes to recycling scrap metal and have been for over 10 years.
Based in Wangara, we are conveniently located 28km from the Perth CBD and are easily accessible from the Mitchell Freeway. We are here to assist you for all your scrap metal needs, come in today and get your cash for scrap!
Phone: (08) 9302 5658
www.nrmetalrecycling.com.au
There are lots of ways to recycle your old white goods or even pass them on to be used again if they are still working. Many commercial recyclers will recycle your old white goods. There are also lots of options for reuse and refurbishment.
The best options for disposing of your white goods include:
Reuse and refurbishment: If they are still in good working condition, you can take your old appliances to second-hand dealers or reuse centres (use the search bar above). You can also donate or sell them on online marketplaces likes Gumtree. This ensures the materials and resources used to make the appliances are kept in use for as long as possible.
Company take-back schemes: Some companies offer take-back schemes, or they may offer to take the old goods when they deliver or install the new appliance. The costs of such services are often included in the original purchase price, so do your research to see if your goods are made by a company that will take them back at the ‘end of life’ and if they recycle them.
Commercial recyclers: Booking an independent recycler to pick up your old white goods may incur a fee, but it is a hassle-free way to be sure your old appliance won't end up in landfill. Some recyclers will also allow you to drop off your old white goods. Use the search bar above to find a recycler near you.
Council disposal: You can also register with your local council to have your white goods picked up, but not all councils will recycle them. Check with your council first to see if they send old white goods to a recycler or landfill.
What are white goods?
White goods are large domestic appliances that are generally not easy to transport, which separates them from appliances like toasters and kettles. Examples of a common white goods include fridges, freezers, microwave ovens, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers and air conditioners.
Why recycle?
White goods contain significant amounts of metal, plastic, insulating material, refrigerant (gases) and other non-renewable and valuable materials. Recycling keeps these materials in use and out of landfills. It also helps prevent toxic substances such as flame-retardants from entering the environment.
Fridges and freezers must be degassed at their end of life because they contain a refrigerant that is a very harmful greenhouse gas.
What happens them?
Reuse – White goods sent to reuse centres or second-hand dealers may be donated to someone in need, refurbished for reuse or resold.
Refurbishing – Still-working but unwanted white goods are collected and where needed refurbished such as fitting new doors or seals.
Recycle – Safely recycling white goods involves firstly removing any hazardous materials such as gases, chemicals or heavy metals from the appliance. White goods are then crushed and shredded for recycling. Copper, steel and plastics are recovered and reprocessed into new metal and plastic products.
To safely recycle a fridge, dishwasher, dryer or other appliances, the hazardous materials inside them such as gases, chemicals or heavy metals need to be removed. The appliance is then crushed or shredded for recycling. Steel, copper and plastics are recovered and reprocessed into new products.
Recycling large quantities
Businesses and workplaces with large quantities of white goods to recycle can use a commercial recycler, which often have drop-off and pick-up services. To find a commercial white goods recycling service, visit thewhite goods page for businesses.
Recycling other e-waste
Batteries
Batteries can be recycled for free through Australia's national product stewardship scheme for batteries, B-cycle.
Home appliances such as whitegoods are made from a mix of materials, including multiple types of metal and plastic. Although many plastics can be recycled with the right infrastructure, it is hard to separate the different types of plastics within white goods, meaning it is more often the scrap metals from whitegoods that are successfully recycled. However, technologies are emerging which make it easier to separate out the different plastic components so they can be efficiently recycled.
