A washing machine is one of the heaviest things in a house and one of the easiest to get rid of, because it is dense steel with a motor and a concrete or cast counterweight. Scrap yards want it, and there is no refrigerant to complicate matters.
Where to take an old washing machine
A scrap metal dealer. The chassis, drum and motor are all recoverable, and yards accept washing machines without special handling. Some pay a small amount by weight. Delivering it yourself is worth more than asking for collection.
Haul-away when the new machine arrives. Appliance retailers take the old one on delivery of the replacement, free or for a small fee, booked with the order. This is by far the least effort, because they are already moving one heavy machine and will disconnect the old one.
Municipal bulky waste collection. Cities collect large appliances by appointment or on scheduled days, sometimes with a per-item charge and sometimes free within an annual quota.
Donation, if it works. Reuse charities take working machines, and a machine that will not spin is often a broken belt or a blocked pump rather than a dead one. A repair quote is worth getting on anything under about eight years old.
What it costs
| Route | Typical cost |
|---|
| Scrap metal dealer | Free, sometimes a small payment by weight |
| Retailer haul-away with a new delivery | Free to modest |
| Municipal bulky collection | Free to moderate |
| Junk removal service | Highest, priced per load |
Moving it without damage
Drain the machine before it moves. There is always water left in the pump and hose, and it will find the floor otherwise. If you still have the transit bolts, fit them, because they lock the drum and stop the suspension being wrecked in transit. A machine moved without them can arrive at a reuse charity already broken.
What comes out of one
Steel dominates, with copper in the motor and an aluminium or plastic pump housing. The counterweight is concrete or cast iron and is usually separated and crushed for aggregate rather than recycled as metal.
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