Getting rid of old appliances in Winchester: every option compared

Your options at a glanceSection titled Your%20options%20at%20a%20glance

Working appliances can usually be sold or passed on for reuse. Broken ones go to a household waste recycling centre, a booked Winchester City Council bulky waste collection or a private collection. The right choice depends on whether the item works, whether you can lift it and how quickly it needs to go.

Sell or donate appliances that still workSection titled Sell%20or%20donate%20appliances%20that%20still%20work

Selling locallySection titled Selling%20locally

Local listing sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are the usual places to sell a working fridge, washing machine or cooker. Check similar second-hand listings nearby before setting a price, and be realistic: used white goods sell best when priced to go quickly.

Take clear photos, state the age, model and any faults honestly, and say that the buyer must collect. Buyers generally expect the appliance to be clean, empty and disconnected before they arrive, so do that beforehand.

Donating to charitySection titled Donating%20to%20charity

Winchester City Council's bulky waste page points residents to the Smart Living Reuse Directory for reuse charities, and suggests listing other items on Freecycle. Its reuse suggestion is aimed at furniture in good condition.

Charities differ on which appliances they accept and whether they collect, so contact one directly before offering an item. Ask whether they take electricals, what condition they need them in and whether they can collect, rather than assuming.

Take them to a recycling centreSection titled Take%20them%20to%20a%20recycling%20centre

According to Winchester City Council's recycling centre page, Hampshire County Council runs four household waste recycling centres in the Winchester district:

• Winchester
• Bishops Waltham
• New Alresford
• Waterlooville

White goods are on the list of items you can take to these sites, but the page does not mention fridges and freezers separately. Phone the site or check Hampshire County Council's website before you travel with one.

You must have an appointment to visit, and you can book a slot on the county council's website. The council page does not mention proof-of-address rules, so check when you book.

Book a Winchester Council bulky waste collectionSection titled Book%20a%20Winchester%20Council%20bulky%20waste%20collection

Winchester City Council arranges a chargeable bulky waste collection delivered by its contractor, Biffa. Washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, fridges, freezers and range cookers all appear in its price categories. You book and pay by calling Biffa on 01962 670 706. Items must be left inside your property boundary where the crew can easily collect them, as Biffa is not currently entering properties to remove items.

Retailer take-back when you buy newSection titled Retailer%20take-back%20when%20you%20buy%20new

Under GOV.UK guidance on retailer and distributor responsibilities, shops that sell new electrical items must give customers a free way to dispose of the old household version. That applies in store, online, by mail order or by phone, and can be an in-store service or an alternative free take-back service such as collection on delivery.

Exact terms, such as how the old item is collected, whether it must be like for like and any time limits, are set by each retailer and can vary by order type. Ask when you order a replacement, and confirm it in writing so the delivery crew expect to take the old appliance away.

Let a local team collect them for youSection titled Let%20a%20local%20team%20collect%20them%20for%20you

A private collection makes sense when an appliance is still plumbed in, sits in an upstairs flat, needs to go on a tight timescale, or when nobody in the household can lift it. Council crews collect from inside your property boundary, so you would need to move the item there yourself. Winchester Rubbish Removal handles the disconnection, carrying and licensed disposal in one visit.

Which route fits your situationSection titled Which%20route%20fits%20your%20situation

Related servicesSection titled Related%20services

• White Goods Disposal
• Furniture Removal
• Rubbish Removal