How to Get Rid of a Washing Machine or Other Appliance in Nottingham
The quick answer
- Take it to the tip yourself. Free for large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers and cookers, if you can lift and carry one.
- Book a council collection. Free or £12.50 in Nottingham City, £24 in Broxtowe, £26 in Gedling, £26.90 in Rushcliffe. Crews collect from outside only.
- Ask the shop to take the old one when they deliver your new one, often for a fee.
- Have it collected by a licensed waste company, from inside your home, often the same week. Get free quotes.
Appliances can't go in your bin. They contain metals and electronics that have to be recycled properly.
September 2026: county tips aren't taking small appliances
Nottinghamshire's 12 county recycling centres accept electrical appliances, large and small, according to the county council's website. Small appliances such as kettles and toasters have been suspended before during disruptions, so check the council's site before you go. Fridges and freezers have their own rules: see our fridge freezer guide.
A washing machine weighs about as much as an adult, it's usually wedged under a worktop, and it can't go in your bin. Dishwashers, cookers and tumble dryers aren't much easier. Here's every way to get rid of an old appliance in Nottingham, what each one costs, and which makes sense for you.
When paying for collection makes sense
A washing machine usually weighs around 60 to 90kg, because of the heavy concrete weights inside that stop it moving. Getting one out of a kitchen and into a car is a two-person job, and for a lot of people the free options just don't work:
| Your situation | Why the cheap options don't fit | Better option |
|---|---|---|
| No one to help you lift it | It's too heavy for one person, and council crews won't come inside | Rubbish removal |
| It's upstairs or in a flat | Council collections are from outside your home only | Rubbish removal |
| You need it gone this week | Council collections can take a week or more to book | Rubbish removal |
| A kitchen refit | Old units, worktops and appliances all at once | Builders' waste |
| Clearing a whole property | Several appliances plus furniture and rubbish | House clearance |
| Landlord or business | Council bulky services are for householders only | Commercial waste |
What you get for your money
- Carried out for you, from the kitchen, utility room or an upstairs flat. You don't lift a thing.
- Often collected the same week, instead of waiting for a council slot.
- No van hire, no tip run, and no risk of a bad back or a damaged doorframe.
- One visit can take several items: the washer, the old dishwasher, the microwave and anything else.
- Recycled properly, with a receipt, so you're covered if anything goes wrong.
Your options compared
| Option | Cost | Best if… | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tip (recycling centre) | Free | You have a car or van and someone to help lift | County tips aren't taking small appliances right now. Hire vans need permission. |
| Council collection | Free or £12.50 (Nottingham City) to £26.90 | You can get it outside and don't mind waiting | Crews won't come inside. Wait times vary. |
| Retailer take-back | Free to a delivery fee | You're buying a new one anyway | It usually has to be disconnected and ready on delivery day. |
| Donate or give away | Free | It still works and is clean | Someone has to want it and collect it. |
| Licensed collection | Often less than people expect | It's heavy, upstairs, or you want it gone fast | Costs more than the council, but they carry it out and can take other items too. |
What the council charges to collect an appliance (2026)
Which council collects your appliance depends on where you pay council tax. These are the prices on each council's website in September 2026:
| Council | Washing machine, dishwasher, cooker or dryer |
|---|---|
| Nottingham City | Free from 26 October 2026: two bulky collections a year, up to six items each |
| Rushcliffe (West Bridgford, Radcliffe, Bingham) | £26.90 for a washing machine, dishwasher or cooker. Microwave £25.80 |
| Broxtowe (Beeston, Stapleford, Eastwood) | £13 booking fee plus £11 per item, so £24 for one |
| Gedling (Arnold, Carlton, Mapperley, Calverton) | From £26 for the first item |
Every council's crews collect from outside only. They won't disconnect an appliance or carry it out of your kitchen. Prices usually change each April, so check before you book. See our council bulky waste guide for more.
Can't get it outside for the council?
Licensed local companies will carry it out from the kitchen or an upstairs flat, often the same week. Tell us what's going and we'll get you up to 3 free quotes.
Get appliance collection quotes →Taking a washing machine to the tip
Nottingham's tips take large household appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, cookers and tumble dryers for free. Which tip you use depends on where you live:
- Nottingham City residents: Redfield Road in Lenton. No booking needed.
- Nottinghamshire County residents: any county tip, such as West Bridgford, Beeston, Calverton or Hucknall. Your car must be registered first, and hire vans need permission at least 24 hours ahead. From 2 January 2027, every van will need a booked slot.
If an appliance is damaged or partly taken apart, ask the site staff for help when you arrive, so it can be handled safely.
Microwaves, kettles and other small appliances
Small appliances are trickier at the moment, because Nottinghamshire's county tips aren't accepting them. That covers microwaves, kettles, toasters, coffee machines, vacuum cleaners, irons, fans, hairdryers and similar items. Your other options:
- Nottingham City residents can drop small electricals that fit in a carrier bag at council recycling points, including Clifton Leisure Centre, Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Southglade Leisure Centre and Loxley House.
- Rushcliffe residents can leave small electricals such as kettles, toasters and irons on top of (never inside) their blue bin on collection day. Microwaves aren't on that list.
- Many electrical shops have in-store recycling points. You can search for one near you at recycleyourelectricals.org.uk.
- Getting rid of a few at once? A collection can take them with any bigger items in one go.
Buying a new one? Ask the shop to take the old one
When you buy a new appliance, the retailer has to offer a way to take back your old one if it's a like-for-like swap. Many will collect it when they deliver the new one, but most charge for this, and the price varies a lot. On delivery day, the old one usually has to be disconnected, drained and ready to go. Delivery drivers often won't disconnect plumbing, so if it's still connected, they may leave it behind.
Scrap collectors: what to check
Washing machines contain metal, so scrap collectors often offer to take them for free. That can be fine, but only if they're registered. Your waste is your responsibility until it's disposed of properly. If an unregistered collector dumps it, it can be traced back to you. Check anyone on the Environment Agency register before they take it. Every company we pass your details to is registered. More in our fly-tipping guide.
Several appliances to shift?
One collection can take the washer, dishwasher, microwave and anything else in one go, carried out from wherever they are. Get free quotes from licensed local companies.
Get appliance collection quotes →Getting a washing machine ready to go
- Turn off the water at the valves behind the machine, and unplug it.
- Drain it. Put towels down and empty the filter at the bottom front, as there's usually water left inside.
- Disconnect the hoses and put a bucket underneath, as they'll drip.
- Get help to move it. Slide it out carefully, and don't try to lift one on your own.
- For a gas cooker, have it disconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer before anyone moves it.
- For a council collection, put it outside on the right day. For a private collection, you can usually leave it where it is.
Questions people ask about appliance removal
How do I get rid of a washing machine in Nottingham?
Take it to the tip yourself for free, book a council collection (free or £12.50 in Nottingham City, £24 in Broxtowe, £26 in Gedling, £26.90 in Rushcliffe), ask the shop to take it when they deliver a new one, or have a licensed waste company collect it from inside your home.
Will the council collect my washing machine?
Yes. Every Nottingham council runs a bulky collection that takes washing machines, dishwashers and cookers. Nottingham City offers two free bulky collections a year from 26 October 2026, up to six items each, but lists electricals at £12.50 for the first item, so check when you book. Rushcliffe charges £26.90, Broxtowe £24 and Gedling from £26. Crews collect from outside your home only.
Can I take a washing machine to the tip?
Yes. Nottingham's tips take large household appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, cookers and tumble dryers for free. City residents use Redfield Road in Lenton, and county residents can use any Nottinghamshire recycling centre with a registered vehicle.
Can I take a microwave to the tip in Nottinghamshire?
Yes. The county council's website says electrical appliances, including microwaves, kettles, toasters and vacuum cleaners, are accepted at its recycling centres. Small appliances have been suspended before during disruptions, so check before you go. City residents can use council small electrical recycling points, and many electrical shops have in-store recycling.
Will the shop take my old washing machine?
Retailers have to offer a way to take back your old appliance when you buy a like-for-like replacement, but many charge for collecting it on delivery. The old machine usually needs to be disconnected and drained before the delivery team arrives.
How much does a washing machine weigh?
Usually around 60 to 90kg, because of the heavy weights inside that stop it moving during a spin. That's why moving one is a two-person job.
Is it safe to give my washing machine to a scrap collector?
Only if they're a registered waste carrier. Your waste is your responsibility until it's disposed of properly, so check them on the Environment Agency register and get a receipt before they take it.
How do I get rid of a gas cooker?
Have it disconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer first. After that, it can go to the tip, on a council collection, or be collected by a licensed waste company.
Prefer someone else to do the lifting?
Don't fancy wrestling a washing machine out of the kitchen? Compare Waste Nottingham connects you with up to 3 vetted, fully licensed local companies, so you can compare real collection quotes side by side, for free.
📞 Call 07348 454816 or get free quotes online here.
This is an independent guide, not run by any council. Prices and rules were checked in September 2026 and can change, so check before you book: Nottinghamshire electrical appliances, Rushcliffe charges, Broxtowe bulky waste and Nottingham City small electricals.