What happens to an old washing machine?

Repair first, if it makes sense

A machine that is a few years old with a failed pump or door lock is usually worth fixing. If the engineer finds the repair would cost more than the machine is worth, you will hear that at the diagnosis, and you pay only the £110 visit.

Retailer take-back

Mendlow does not sell new appliances. When you buy one, GOV.UK guidance on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (UK) says the retailer must give you a way to dispose of an old appliance of the same type. It can offer free take-back in store, giving you at least 28 days to bring the old one in, or its own free collection point. A retailer that sells less than £100,000 of electrical goods a year, or sells only online, can instead use the national Distributor Take Back Scheme, which supports council recycling centres. A retailer may charge for collecting from your home.

Before buying, check how the retailer offers it, and whether there is a charge for collection with delivery.

Your council and other routes

Household recycling centres usually take large electrical appliances, and many councils collect bulky items for a fee. Check your own council’s website for what it accepts, the charges and how to book.

If someone offers to take it away for you, ask to see their waste carrier registration: in England, a business that carries waste must register with the Environment Agency.

The parts we take away

When Mendlow replaces a part, the old one leaves with the engineer and goes for recycling with the rest of the week’s scrap metal and electrical parts.

• Pumps, motors and elements
• Door seals and hoses
• Circuit boards and wiring