Washing Machine Disposal in Leeds: Shop Take Back, Council, Tip or Collection
The cheapest way to get rid of an old washing machine or tumble dryer in Leeds is to hand it back to the shop selling you the new one. By law, retailers must offer to take back an old appliance of the same type when you buy a replacement, though they can charge to collect it from your home. If you are not buying new, Leeds City Council will collect a washing machine or tumble dryer as one of the five items on its free yearly unwanted items collection. You can also take it to any Leeds recycling centre by car. A working washing machine can go to the British Heart Foundation for free, but it does not accept tumble dryers or washer dryers. When none of that fits, Kruze collects a washing machine for £45 and a tumble dryer for £54 from inside your home, as a licensed waste carrier (CBDU597687) with a waste transfer note.
Will the shop take my old washing machine away?
Usually, yes, if you are buying a new one. Under the electrical waste rules, retailers must offer to take back waste of the same type as the item they sell, in store, online or by mail order. An old washing machine for a new washing machine counts, and so does an item with the same function. You get at least 28 days to bring it back. The gov.uk take back guidance also says the in store service is free, but a retailer can charge to cover transport if it collects from your home. Checked 27/10/2026.
So ask at checkout whether they will take the old machine away on delivery, and what they charge for it. Make sure it is drained (see below) and that the route out of the kitchen is clear before the van arrives.
Will Leeds City Council collect a washing machine?
Yes. Washing machines and tumble dryers are on the list for the council’s unwanted items collection. Checked 27/10/2026.
- Free once a year. Every household gets one free collection per financial year for up to five items. Up to three more cost £30 each.
- Council tax support. Households receiving it get up to four free collections a year.
- Outside by 7am. Items must be outdoors, within your boundary, dry and easy to reach. They cannot be inside the house, in a garage or behind a car on the drive.
- Four weeks ahead. Bookings open up to four weeks in advance, so a slot is not always available straight away.
The catch is getting it outside. A washing machine has a concrete counterweight inside it, which is why it feels so heavy, and that is a two person carry down any steps.
Can I take a washing machine to the tip in Leeds?
Yes. The council’s electricals page says anything bigger than a small electrical can be recycled at a recycling centre. There are eight in Leeds, and they are for Leeds residents arriving by car or bicycle. A van or trailer needs a permit first, and staff will not lift it out for you. Checked 27/10/2026.
Lay it on a blanket in the boot rather than on its front, and bring someone to help lift.
Can I sell, donate or scrap it instead?
Donate it. The British Heart Foundation collects furniture and electrical items from your home for free, and the local store contacts you within five working days to agree a date. Items must work. Its list of items it cannot accept includes tumble dryers, washer dryers and Whirlpool washing machines from 2019 and 2020. Checked 27/10/2026.
Give it away or sell it. A working machine goes quickly on Freecycle, Leeds Freegle or a local selling group, and the person collecting it does the lifting. Leeds City Council lists Freecycle and Leeds Freegle on its unwanted items page. Be honest about faults.
Scrap it. The steel drum and casing are scrap metal. If a scrap dealer pays you, the law says it must be by a non transferable cheque or an electronic transfer, never cash, under section 12 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. Check the collector holds a waste carrier licence on the Environment Agency register before anything leaves your drive.
How do I drain a washing machine before it is collected?
Nobody wants grey water across the hall carpet. Do this the day before.
- Switch off and unplug. Turn off the hot and cold taps behind the machine, usually small levers on the pipes.
- Lay out towels and a shallow tray. A baking tray works. The filter sits low down so a bucket will not fit under it.
- Open the filter door. It is a small flap at the bottom front corner. Some machines have a thin emergency drain hose behind it. Pull the hose out, take off its cap and let the water run into the tray.
- Unscrew the filter slowly. More water will come. Expect a coin or two and some fluff.
- Drain the waste hose. Pull it out of the standpipe or sink trap and lower it into a bucket.
- Disconnect the inlet hoses from the taps and tape them to the back of the machine.
For a tumble dryer, empty the water tank on a condenser model, clean the lint filter and unclip the vent hose on a vented one. That is all it needs.
What does Kruze charge to take a washing machine?
| Item | Kruze price |
|---|---|
| Washing machine | £45 |
| Tumble dryer | £54 |
| Fridge or freezer | from £60 |
| TV | £45 |
| Single small item, minimum charge | from £24.99 |
| Quarter van load | from £50 |
Prices include two of us carrying it out from the kitchen, utility room or cellar, the disposal and the waste transfer note. If it is still plumbed in, tell us when you ask for the price.
Here is how the routes compare.
| Route | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Retailer take back | Free in store, delivery collection may be charged | Buying a new machine |
| Leeds council collection | Free once a year, then £30 | You can get it outside |
| Leeds tip | Free for residents by car | You have help to lift |
| British Heart Foundation | Free | Working washing machine, not dryers |
| Kruze | £45 washer, £54 dryer | Inside, upstairs or needed soon |
See our appliance disposal service, our guide to disposing of electricals in Leeds, or the full rubbish removal price list for Leeds. Getting rid of a fridge as well? Read fridge and freezer disposal in Leeds, because the tips are handling fridges differently at the moment.
FAQs
Can I leave a washing machine out for the bin men?
No. Leeds only collects large electricals on a booked unwanted items collection. Leaving one on the pavement without a booking can be treated as fly tipping.
Do I have to take the transit bolts back out?
Not for disposal. Transit bolts protect the drum when a machine is being moved to a new home. A machine going for recycling does not need them.
Will you disconnect the machine for me?
Tell us when you ask for a price. Draining and unplugging it yourself, as above, makes the job quicker. If the taps are seized, say so and we will tell you what we can do.
Do you collect washing machines outside Leeds?
Yes, across Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Harrogate and Barnsley at the same prices, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Kruze is a licensed waste carrier (CBDU597687) based in Leeds, serving Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Harrogate and Barnsley. Updated 27/10/2026.
Send a photo of your washing machine or dryer on WhatsApp for a fixed price, or call 07436 120271.
