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Everything you need to know about recycling whitegoods
Whitegoods includes:
Dishwashers
Whitegoods
Large household appliances
Air conditioners
Fridges
Freezer
Dryers
Bar fridges
Washing machines
FIND A RECYCLER
Learn more about recycling whitegoods
How to recycle whitegoods
A number of commercial recyclers and scrap metal yards will accept whitegoods for recycling. This may be through a pick-up or drop-off service. Additionally, there are organisations and second-hand dealers that will accept whitegoods for refurbishing and/or resale.
Businesses and workplaces with large quantities or whitegoods to recycle can use the directory on this page to find a recycling service.
What are whitegoods?
Whitegoods are large domestic appliances that are generally not easy to transport, which separates them from appliances like toasters and kettles. Examples of a common whitegoods include fridges, freezers, microwave ovens, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers and air conditioners.
Why recycle?
Whitegoods 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.
Recycling whitegoods can offer costs savings by avoiding landfill fees for these heavy waste items and reducing energy bills through removal of old efficient appliances. Refurbishing whitegoods also provides affordable home wares for resale through charitable organisations or second-hand dealers.
What happens to them?
Reuse – Whitegoods 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 whitegoods 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. Whitegoods 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 other e-waste?
Batteries
Batteries can be recycled for free through Australia’s national product stewardship scheme for batteries, B-cycle.
Computers
Computers and their accessories can be recycled for free through the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones can be recycled for free through MobileMuster’s recycling program.
Printer cartridges
Printer and toner cartridges can be recycled for free through the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark recycling program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can plastics in whitegoods be recycled?
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.
