Fridges and freezers: service update

Due to a national shortage of facilities able to process fridges and freezers, we cannot currently accept these items at our Recycling Centre or on bulky waste collections.

This problem affects councils and recycling centres across the country. We are working with our partners to find a solution as quickly as possible.

We'll keep you updated as soon as we can accept fridges and freezers again. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

What to do with fridges and freezers

If you are buying a new fridge or freezer, please check if the retailer can take your old appliance.

If you are able, you could also:

  • repair it
  • donate it
  • sell it

Instead of throwing unwanted items away, think about donating them to a charity shop, a furniture reuse group or using Freegle.

You can sell unwanted items on a resale site such as eBay, Gumtree, Preloved or Facebook marketplace. For help on how to reuse and recycle other unwanted items visit Recycle Devon's Recycling A to Z.

If your items are unsuitable for reuse you can take them to the recycling centre. Make sure you book a slot before you go.

Book a collection

If you are struggling to take things to the recycling centre we can collect them for you for a small fee. We have a list of what we can and cannot collect and how much it costs.

From 1 December we won't be taking cash or cheque payments. You must book your collection online using a debit or credit card.

  Book a bulky waste collection

If you need help making a booking or you can't see an item on the list of things we can collect call SWISCo on 01803 701310.

When we collect

We collect bulky waste between 6am and 4pm on:

  • Mondays and Thursdays in Torquay
  • Tuesdays and Fridays in Paignton and Brixham

About your collection

Put items where you usually leave your bins for collection or the nearest safe place a vehicle can park within your property. We will not enter your property.

We will only collect the items shown on the booked collection.

If you need to cancel or change your collection please call SWISCo on 01803 701310.

We reserve the right to refuse and cancel the collection of any items our team cannot safely handle on arrival.

We reserve the right to refuse and cancel the collection of items too large to fit within our collection vehicle. If you believe your item may not fit within a standard Luton box van, please check with us before booking.

What we collect

We can collect

  • bed bases
  • mattresses
  • household furniture including wardrobes
  • sofas
  • chairs
  • white goods e.g: fridges, freezers, washing machines, cookers, dishwashers, tumble dryers
  • electrical goods

We don't collect

  • hazardous waste (in any form including liquid)
  • asbestos
  • flat/plate glass
  • broken mirrors/mirrors from built in wardrobes*
  • oil (cooking, car, diesel)
  • paint
  • paving slabs
  • photocopiers
  • pianos

How much it costs

Collection charges
Item Charge Charge for additional items
First item £29 £10.50
All white goods £31 N/A
Refuse sacks (up to 8 bags non recyclable black bag) £29 £2 per additional bag
Commercial fridges and freezers £87 N/A

*All white goods are chargeable per item and are not covered by the £10.50 additional item.

 

Shed and carpet collection charges
Item Base charge Charge per square foot/metre
Carpet (in square metres) £10.50 £2
Shed (in square feet) £10.50 £1.50
Carpet charge example

5m x 4m = 20m2
£10.50 + (20 x £2) = £50.50

Shed charge example

6ft x 4ft = 24 ft2
£10.50 + (24 x £1.50) = £46.50