Victoria · Melbourne · Need it gone?
Fridge and whitegoods removal in Melbourne
In Melbourne, a fridge, washing machine or television cannot go in a kerbside bin: Victoria banned e-waste from landfill on 1 July 2019, and the ban names white goods. Take it to a council transfer station or resource recovery centre. TVs and computers are also covered by the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
Sources Victorian e-waste landfill ban (vic.gov.au)Victorian Auditor-General: council waste management servicesCouncil waste and recycling services, all 79 Victorian councils (archived Sustainability Victoria page)
What is free?
Free- A council transfer station or resource recovery centre that takes e-waste.
- A National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme point, for televisions and computers.
Disposal details: electronics & screens, batteries.
What is cheap?
Low cost- The retailer taking the old unit away when the new one is delivered.
What does paying get you?
Paid- Collected from inside the house, including the fridge nobody can lift.
Sponsored listings are paid placements. Disclosure.
Where do white goods go in Melbourne?
To an e-waste drop-off point, because since 1 July 2019 Victoria has banned from landfill any item with a plug, battery or power cord, and the government's definition names white goods explicitly. Council transfer stations and resource recovery centres are the usual sites. Ring ahead: sites set their own limits on fridges and large appliances. Check your council's website for the current list.
Does a fridge need degassing?
Yes. Fridges and air conditioners hold refrigerant gas that a licensed person has to remove before the unit is scrapped. Council e-waste sites and legitimate recyclers do this as part of the job. Do not hand a fridge to an unlicensed scrap collector, whatever they offer for it, and in Victoria the landfill ban means the fridge cannot simply be tipped anyway.
Can white goods go out with hard waste in Victoria?
It depends entirely on your council, and hard waste is not universal in Victoria: the Auditor-General found 43 of 79 councils provided it in 2019-20. Where a council does collect white goods, it still has to send them to an e-waste route rather than landfill, because of the 1 July 2019 ban. Ask your council what it takes.
Where do small appliances and phones go?
The same rule covers them: since 1 July 2019 anything with a plug, battery or power cord is banned from Victorian landfill, including kitchen appliances, battery-operated toys and mobile phones. MobileMuster takes phones, B-cycle takes loose batteries, and council e-waste drop-offs take the rest. Wipe and sign out of any phone before you hand it over.
Do you do this job in Melbourne?
Removalists, recyclers, skip operators, clearance teams and organisers can apply for a labelled sponsored listing.