How to dispose of white goods in Eastbourne: recycling, selling and collection

Your options at a glanceSection titled Your%20options%20at%20a%20glance

A working appliance is always worth trying to sell or donate first — someone locally will usually take it, and it keeps the item out of the waste stream entirely. Once something is broken, the choice is really about how much time and lifting you want to do yourself: a trip to the recycling centre or a booked council collection both work if you can move the item and wait for a slot, while a private collection is the option when the appliance is heavy, awkward to reach, or you simply need it gone this week.

Sell or donate appliances that still workSection titled Sell%20or%20donate%20appliances%20that%20still%20work

Selling locallySection titled Selling%20locally

Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are the two platforms most Eastbourne sellers reach for first, and both let you filter or search by local area, so buyers can arrange to collect rather than expecting delivery. Clear photos, an honest description of the appliance's age and condition, and the model number all help it sell faster — buyers researching a fridge or washing machine will usually look that up before messaging you.

Price realistically: a working appliance is generally worth a fraction of its original price once it's a few years old, and pricing it to move quickly (or offering it free to whoever collects fastest) is often less hassle than holding out for more. Be upfront about whether it's still plumbed in or wired up, since most buyers will expect to disconnect and carry it themselves.

Donating to charitySection titled Donating%20to%20charity

The British Heart Foundation runs a furniture and electrical store at 202 Terminus Road, Eastbourne, and offers a free home collection service for working appliances, including washing machines, fridges and microwaves. Book online and your local store will contact you within five working days to agree a date — you can also drop items off directly at the store if you'd rather not wait for a collection slot.

Appliances need to be in working order and complete, with no obvious damage, since everything donated is resold to raise funds. A small number of recalled models — certain Beko fridge/freezers and Whirlpool washing machines from 2019–2020 — can't be accepted, so it's worth checking the items they can't accept page if your appliance falls into that category.

Take them to a recycling centreSection titled Take%20them%20to%20a%20recycling%20centre

The Eastbourne household waste recycling site on St Philip's Avenue, Eastbourne, is run by East Sussex County Council and takes white goods including cookers, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers, alongside general household waste and recycling.

A few practical points to check before you go:

• All visits must now be booked in advance, either online or by calling 0345 60 80 194 — you can book for the same day or up to two weeks ahead
• Cars can visit any day the site is open; vans are only allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and are subject to weight and type limits
• Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8:30am–4pm, Friday 8:30am–3:30pm and Saturday–Sunday 8am–12pm

Since booking rules and opening hours can change, it's worth checking the official site page before you load up the car.

Book a Eastbourne Council bulky waste collectionSection titled Book%20a%20Eastbourne%20Council%20bulky%20waste%20collection

Bulky waste collection in Eastbourne is run by Eastbourne Borough Council, delivered jointly with Lewes District Council under the shared name Lewes and Eastbourne Councils. Fridges and freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, cookers, ovens, hobs and dishwashers are all eligible items, and there's no separate surcharge for white goods — they're charged the same as any other bulky item. Items must be left at the front or rear of the property, ready before 7am on collection day, since crews don't enter the property or collect from a garage. You can book a collection and check the full eligible items list on the official site.

Retailer take-back when you buy newSection titled Retailer%20take-back%20when%20you%20buy%20new

If you're replacing the appliance rather than just getting rid of it, most major retailers will take the old one away when they deliver the new one. Currys lets you add recycling to your basket when you order online, and can remove and recycle an old appliance on delivery from around £20, depending on what's being taken away — small appliances may be removed free if there's room in the van.

AO.com offers a similar Remove & Recycle service added at checkout when you buy a new appliance, with the price shown before you pay; disconnection is included free if you're also having a new appliance installed, or can be added separately from around £5. AO also runs a take-back scheme where they'll recycle an old electrical item for free if you bring it to them within 28 days of buying its replacement, receipt in hand. Terms and pricing vary by retailer and by what you're ordering, so it's worth checking the exact cost at checkout before you commit.

Let a local team collect them for youSection titled Let%20a%20local%20team%20collect%20them%20for%20you

A private collection makes the most sense when an appliance is still plumbed in, stuck up a flight of stairs or in a flat with awkward access, or when you simply need it gone faster than a recycling centre booking or council slot allows. It's also the easier route if you're clearing several appliances at once, or nobody in the household is able to lift and carry them. Eastbourne Waste Collection handles the disconnection, carrying and licensed disposal in one visit, so there's nothing left for you to do.

Which route fits your situationSection titled Which%20route%20fits%20your%20situation

Related servicesSection titled Related%20services

• White Goods Disposal
• Furniture Removal
• Rubbish Removal