How to dispose of energy appliances

You need to dispose of any electrical items correctly, as they contain hazardous substances.

Appliances with an image of a wheelie bin with a cross through it must not be thrown away in your regular rubbish bin. These appliances could include anything from a fridge to lightbulbs.

If you are buying a new appliance, the company may offer to take away your old one free of charge. You should ask if they offer free collection of your old appliance when you buy a new one.

Alternatively, you should take your unwanted appliances to your local recycling centre. You may also be able to arrange for your local council to collect the item. You should check your local council's website to find out whether this is a service that they offer.

You must not dispose of any appliances in an area that is not approved by your local council. This includes leaving your appliances in the street. Dumping rubbish in this way is known as fly-tipping and is  illegal.

The punishment for fly-tipping includes imprisonment, unlimited fines and the loss of your right to drive any vehicle used to dump the rubbish.

Fly-tipping costs councils over £58 million per year. This is money which could otherwise be spent on other things in your community.