How do you get rid of an old appliance in Singapore?

How to dispose of an old fridge in Singapore

If you are buying a new fridge, ask the retailer to take the old one away on delivery. If you are not, use bulky items removal, doorstep collection or a depot. NEA's guide to where to recycle e-waste lists these routes for regulated consumer products: free one-for-one takeback of the unwanted product of the same type when the retailer delivers a new one, bulky items removal by Town Councils, doorstep collection (fees apply), drop-off at the depot and collection drives.

1. Check whether you are buying a replacement. If a new fridge is on the way, the retailer takeback is the simplest route.
2. Ask the delivering retailer for the takeback. When you order, ask the retailer to take the old fridge away when the new one arrives. NEA lists this as free and one-for-one for the same type, so a fridge for a fridge.
3. Book bulky items removal if you are not replacing it. Contact your Town Council to ask how to arrange collection.
4. Or use doorstep collection or a depot. Book a doorstep e-waste collection, which carries a fee, or drop the fridge off at the e-waste depot if you have suitable transport.
5. Empty, defrost and dry the fridge. Take out all food. Switch it off and unplug it while the floor is dry, let the freezer defrost with towels underneath, then wipe it dry.

The free retailer takeback

Singapore has run a regulated e-waste management system since 2021. NEA's page on e-waste management explains that it is based on Extended Producer Responsibility, where producers bear responsibility for collecting and treating their products at the end of their life.

The takeback rule is set out on the Climate Friendly Households Programme's page on eligible products: under the Resource Sustainability Act, the retailer that delivers a regulated product must take away your old appliance of the same type for free on request. Two parts of that rule matter in practice. "Same type" means the old item matches what you bought, such as a washing machine for a washing machine. "On request" means you need to ask.

Before delivery day:

• Ask for the takeback when you order, and check that it appears on the order or invoice.
• Empty the old appliance and clear a path from it to your front door.

Old aircons and washing machines

The indoor and outdoor units are fixed in place and joined by refrigerant pipes, so taking them down is a job for an aircon installer. If you are replacing the system, ask for the old units to be removed as part of the aircon installation. Ask the installer how they will handle the refrigerant. It should be recovered by trained technicians, and NEA's page on refrigerants in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector covers refrigerant recovery and technician training.

If you are still deciding whether to change an ageing unit, the post on whether to repair or replace an old aircon can help. For older systems, the guide to R22 aircon in older units is worth reading before you get quotes.

For a washing machine, the retailer takeback is usually the simplest route: ask for it when you order the new machine. Ask too whether the delivery team will disconnect the old machine and connect the new one.

Small e-waste, bulbs and batteries

Small items have their own bins. NEA says the 3-in-1 bins take information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, batteries and lamps only, so other small appliances do not belong in them. Bulbs are accepted if their circumference is no more than 100mm, but long fluorescent or LED tubes are not accepted in the bins. For long tubes and anything else the bins do not take, check the other routes on the same NEA page.

Larger batteries need extra care. If you own a personal mobility device (PMD), read the guide to PMD battery fire safety before you store, charge or dispose of it.

What not to do

Avoid these mistakes:

• Leaving it in the corridor. Do not put an old appliance in the corridor or at the void deck, even for a short time. Keep it inside your flat until it is collected, and see the guide to corridor rules for what applies outside your door.
• Taking down an aircon yourself. Leave the units and the refrigerant to an installer, as explained above.
• Using the rubbish chute. Small appliances, batteries and bulbs do not belong in the chute. Use the routes in the section above.
• Leaving it to the last minute when you move. Add old appliances to your moving house checklist so the takeback or collection is arranged in time.

Questions