Disposal of Old Washing Machine

Grenage

At our last place I would leave scrap out on bin day, I'm pretty sure scrap guys get tipped off by them.  It was always gone by the end of the day.

Chomeur

Section62 said:

Chomeur said:

Still there after a day. The problem is I live in a block of flats and the only place to leave it is at the top of the entrance steps. I think my neighbours are probably getting very frustrated with it by now....

Did you try Freecycle/Freegle ?

Some scrappers monitor that and will ask for anything they think has scrap value. (unfortunately sometimes stuff which still has life left in it, or historic interest/value)

Just posting "Washing machine available for scrap outside entrance of [building address].  First come can have it." would normally be enough... no need to enter into any lengthy communications about pickup arrangements.

Yes, I have done. One person has asked if it's still available so maybe they'll come round.

ic

FreeBear said:

Are you purchasing a replacement ?

If so, the retailer you are buying from has an obligation under the WEEE regulations to collect and dispose of the appliance on your behalf. There may be a cost associated with this (I think the likes of PC World/Currys charge about £20). The alternative is to hire a man-with-a-van for an hour or so and get it taken to the local recycling centre.

I'm always surprised how people skip over this part of the purchase when buying new appliances.  I always take them up for the large appliances, and include its cost when shopping around between suppliers - some will take items for free.  This is especially true of fridge freezers which carry extra costs to process, so scrap companies won't take them as there's no money to be made from them.

Section62

Grenage said:

At our last place I would leave scrap out on bin day, I'm pretty sure scrap guys get tipped off by them.  It was always gone by the end of the day.

I'm not sure there is any systematic tipping off (at least it isn't something I've come across).

Rather I think it more likely that the scrappers are very aware that people put stuff out on bin day without a clue (or care?) whether or not it is 'acceptable' waste, and the scrappers also know that the kind of stuff they are normally interested in won't be taken away by the council's operatives.

Hence bin day in an area is likely to be the most productive day of the week/fortnight - the most collected for the least amount of driving.

TELLIT01

Scrappers may not be free for a washing machine because it has a large amount of concrete in it.  Required for stability in use but of absolutely no use to scrappers who will then probably have to pay for its disposal themselves.

Chomeur

ic said:

FreeBear said:

Are you purchasing a replacement ?

If so, the retailer you are buying from has an obligation under the WEEE regulations to collect and dispose of the appliance on your behalf. There may be a cost associated with this (I think the likes of PC World/Currys charge about £20). The alternative is to hire a man-with-a-van for an hour or so and get it taken to the local recycling centre.

I'm always surprised how people skip over this part of the purchase when buying new appliances.  I always take them up for the large appliances, and include its cost when shopping around between suppliers - some will take items for free.  This is especially true of fridge freezers which carry extra costs to process, so scrap companies won't take them as there's no money to be made from them.

Before buying I checked Camden's website and they said that you could get a free collection from Clearabee. I visited their site and it looked fine. So I didn't take my supplier up on their offer to take it away for £20. I then went to book a collection on Clearabee only to find that it doesn't appear that they really offer this service at all - they just seem to want to direct you to their more expensive services. Very annoying.

Section62

TELLIT01 said:

Scrappers may not be free for a washing machine because it has a large amount of concrete in it.  Required for stability in use but of absolutely no use to scrappers who will then probably have to pay for its disposal themselves.

They are relatively sough after because they contain a powerful motor with a decent quantity of copper in it.

The 'collectors' will very often sell to a dealer by the load, rather than by individual items, and the odds are the washing machine will end up going through a fragmenter which will make easy work of the concrete (and plastic) which may then get sold on to another recycler for further processing.

Aggregate tax means lumps of concrete now have a value to some people, if the quality and quantities are right.

Chomeur

The neighbours are indeed complaining now.

TELLIT01

Chomeur said:

The neighbours are indeed complaining now.

In that case it would seem you will have to find somebody to take it away quickly even if that is at cost to you.