How Much is Fridge & Freezer Worth?

Fridges must have refrigerant gases safely removed before scrapping. Certified yards can handle this.

Fridges and freezers are WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and require specialist disposal due to the refrigerant gases inside. You cannot simply take a fridge to a standard scrap yard — it must be handled by an authorised facility.

What Are They Worth?

In most cases, fridges and freezers have minimal scrap value as whole units. The cost of safe refrigerant removal often offsets the metal value:

- The steel casing (30–45kg) is worth £5–£10 at steel rates once stripped

- The aluminium evaporator and condenser coils can be worth £2–£5 if removed cleanly

- The copper compressor motor has £3–£8 in copper content

A whole fridge is therefore worth approximately £0–£5 as scrap — yards may take them for free or charge a small fee for disposal.

Legal Disposal Requirements

Fridges contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or older CFCs as refrigerants. These are controlled gases — it is illegal to release them into the atmosphere. Only WEEE-certified facilities can legally depollute a fridge before scrapping.

How to Dispose of a Fridge

1. Council collection: Most councils offer free or low-cost collection of large kitchen appliances — check your local authority's website

2. Retailer take-back: When buying a new fridge, retailers are legally required to take back the old one

3. Licensed recycler: WEEE-certified recyclers will collect or accept your fridge

Do not take a fridge to a general scrap yard that is not WEEE-certified — they may refuse it or be unable to process it legally.