Quick answer
If an appliance still works, selling or donating it is usually free and best. If it is broken, a recycling centre or council collection suits a wait-and-carry job, while a private team is easier when the item is heavy, plumbed in, upstairs or needed gone fast in Eastleigh.
Your options at a glanceSection titled Your%20options%20at%20a%20glance
If your fridge, washing machine or cooker still works, selling or donating it is the best outcome — someone gets a working appliance and you avoid a collection fee. If it's broken, you're choosing between a trip to the recycling centre, a booked Eastleigh Borough Council collection, or a private team that does the lifting and disconnecting for you.
Sell or donate
Best for: Working appliances in decent condition.
- Cost
- Free — or money back in your pocket
- Timing
- Depends on finding a buyer or charity slot
- Best environmental outcome — the appliance keeps working
- British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical in Eastleigh runs a free home collection for working fridges, washing machines and other appliances
- You handle listing, buyers and handover yourself
Eastleigh Council / recycling centre
Best for: Broken appliances when you can wait or transport them yourself.
- Cost
- From £45 per item, less on qualifying means-tested benefits
- Timing
- Booked collection slot, or a booked appointment at the recycling centre
- Eastleigh Borough Council collects from outside your property once you’ve booked
- Eastleigh’s recycling centre in Chandler’s Ford takes fridges and freezers year-round
- You do the disconnecting, lifting and carrying
Private collection with Eastleigh Rubbish Removal
Best for: Heavy items still plumbed in, upstairs or needed gone fast.
- Cost
- Priced by item and access
- Timing
- Same-day and next-day slots available
- We disconnect, carry and load — from anywhere in the property
- Old appliances go for recycling or reuse, not landfill
- Take several items or a whole kitchen in one visit
Sell or donate appliances that still workSection titled Sell%20or%20donate%20appliances%20that%20still%20work
Selling locallySection titled Selling%20locally
Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are the two most active places to sell a working appliance in Eastleigh — both let you set a local pickup-only listing so you're not arranging delivery. Price it against similar listings rather than what you originally paid; a working washing machine or fridge freezer a few years old typically sells for a fraction of its new price, and clear photos of the energy rating label and any visible wear help it move faster.
Be upfront that the buyer collects, and agree a firm collection window so the appliance isn't left blocking a hallway for weeks. Most sellers ask for cash on collection or a bank transfer confirmed before the buyer takes it away.
Donating to charitySection titled Donating%20to%20charity
British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical has a home store at 26 Southampton Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FJ, and accepts large electricals including fridges and washing machines alongside furniture. You can book a free home collection online and the store will contact you to agree a date.
Appliances need to be in good working order and meet safety standards — BHF cannot accept certain recalled models, including some Beko fridge/freezers and 2019–2020 Whirlpool washing machines, so it's worth checking their donation guidance if your appliance falls into either range before booking a collection.
Take them to a recycling centreSection titled Take%20them%20to%20a%20recycling%20centre
Eastleigh residents are served by the Eastleigh Household Waste Recycling Centre on Stoney Croft Rise, Chandler's Ford, SO53 3YU, run by Hampshire County Council. It's open seven days a week (closed only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day), with shorter winter hours.
Fridges, freezers and other white goods are accepted for recycling — bring the appliance whole with no parts removed, and site staff will direct you to the right point on arrival.
- Everyone now needs to book a free appointment in advance, whether arriving by car or van
- If you're bringing a van, pick-up or trailer, you'll also need a permit (a £20 admin fee applies, and permits are only issued to Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth residents)
- Book using the registration number of the vehicle you'll be driving on the day
Book a Eastleigh Council bulky waste collectionSection titled Book%20a%20Eastleigh%20Council%20bulky%20waste%20collection
Eastleigh Borough Council's bulky waste collection service covers fridge freezers and other white goods, though it cannot take large American-style fridge freezers — those need a recycling centre visit instead. Book online or through customer services on 023 8068 8440 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm), and leave items easily accessible at the front of the property, or wherever your usual refuse is collected from, on the day of collection.
Eastleigh Council collection costs for appliances
Eastleigh Borough Council's kerbside bulky waste collection service
First item
Standard rate
£45
First item (means-tested benefits)
Needs your 9-digit housing benefit or council tax support reference to book
£27
Each additional item
Added to the same booking
£24 (£15 on qualifying benefits)
Council prices and rules change. Recheck the official Eastleigh Council page before booking.
Retailer take-back when you buy newSection titled Retailer%20take-back%20when%20you%20buy%20new
Currys can take your old appliance away when they deliver a replacement, with recycling collection typically added from around £20 at checkout. You can also drop off old tech and small appliances for free recycling at any Currys store, whether or not you bought it there.
AO.com offers a Remove & Recycle service that takes your old appliance away on delivery day — this is free for AO members and chargeable otherwise — while their separate Collect & Recycle service, for recycling an old appliance without buying a new one, starts from around £30. Either way, the old appliance needs to be disconnected, emptied and reasonably clean before collection. Terms and costs vary by retailer and order type, so check the current price at checkout before you commit.
Let a local team collect them for youSection titled Let%20a%20local%20team%20collect%20them%20for%20you
A private collection makes most sense when the appliance is still plumbed in, stuck up a flight of stairs or in an upstairs flat, you need it gone on a tight timescale, or there's simply nobody around to lift it. Eastleigh Rubbish Removal handles the disconnection, carrying and licensed disposal, so you don't have to arrange any of it yourself.
Old appliance in the way?
We collect fridges, freezers, washing machines and cookers across Eastleigh — disconnection, lifting and recycling included.
Which route fits your situationSection titled Which%20route%20fits%20your%20situation
Match your situation
The appliance still works
Sell or donateReuse beats recycling — and collection is often free.
You have a car or van and the item is portable
Recycling centreEastleigh’s Chandler’s Ford centre takes fridges and freezers free of charge once you’ve booked a slot.
You’d rather not transport it yourself
Eastleigh Council collectionBook online and the council collects from outside your property for a set fee.
It is heavy, plumbed in, or needs to go quickly
Private collectionOne visit covers disconnection, lifting and disposal.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
Want it gone without the lifting?
Tell us what needs to go and we will give you a free, no-obligation quote for Eastleigh and nearby areas.