The short answer
Old appliances should not go in household waste or be left on the street. When you buy a replacement, ask the shop whether they take the old one away. If you can transport it, WasteServ civic amenity sites accept household appliances. Your local council's bulky refuse collection may take large items. A collection service is easiest when the appliance is heavy, upstairs or one of several.
Why appliances need a proper route
Old fridges, freezers, washing machines, cookers, microwaves, TVs and air conditioners contain metals, plastics, electronics and, in fridges and air conditioners, refrigerant gases. They need to go to facilities that can handle them, not into a black bag or onto the pavement. Large appliances left in the street also block pavements and are a nuisance for neighbours.
This guide sets out the practical options. For the rules that apply to businesses or particular items, ask WasteServ or your local council. We do not give guidance on waste law.
Before you start: could it be used?
If the appliance still works, someone may want it: a relative setting up a flat, a neighbour, a student or a friend with a holiday home. Working appliances are often worth offering before you look at disposal.
Option 1: The shop that sells your new one
If you are replacing the appliance, ask the retailer before you buy whether they take the old one away when they deliver the new one. Many shops in Malta offer this for large items. Ask:
- whether there is a charge,
- whether the old appliance must be disconnected, emptied and defrosted,
- whether they take it from upper floors,
- whether they take other items too, or only the one being replaced.
Option 2: WasteServ civic amenity sites
If you can transport the appliance yourself, WasteServ civic amenity sites in Malta and Gozo accept many household appliances from residents. Check with WasteServ which items your nearest site takes and when it is open before you go.
Before you take it
- Fridges and freezers: switch off, empty, defrost and dry them a day or two before. Tape the door shut for the journey.
- Washing machines and dishwashers: drain the water and disconnect the hoses.
- Cookers: have gas or hard-wired cookers disconnected by a qualified person.
- Electronics: remove batteries where you can, and wipe any personal data from smart TVs and devices.
- Lifting: appliances are heavy and awkward. Get help and use a trolley.
Option 3: Your local council’s bulky refuse collection
Local councils arrange collections of bulky household items, which can include large appliances. Book in advance, ask which items they take and leave them out only at the time and place they tell you. Arrangements differ between councils. See how to get rid of old furniture in Malta for how council collections usually work.
Option 4: A collection service
A collection is easiest when:
- the appliance is on an upper floor, down a narrow Maltese staircase or in a roof washroom,
- you have several items, or appliances alongside furniture and boxes,
- you do not have a vehicle or help to lift,
- it needs to go on a particular day, for example before a sale or a new tenant.
Our junk removal service collects old fridges, freezers, washing machines, cookers, TVs and other appliances along with furniture and general clutter, and takes everything to the right facilities. We cannot disconnect gas or hard-wired appliances, so please have that done first.
Choosing the right route
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Buying a replacement | Ask the shop to take the old one |
| One item, you have a vehicle | WasteServ civic amenity site |
| One large item, you can get it to the street | Council bulky refuse collection |
| Upstairs, heavy, several items or tight timing | Collection service |
| Still works | Offer it to someone who can use it |
Clearing more than appliances
Appliances often go out as part of a bigger job: a kitchen renovation, moving house, clearing a rental between tenants or emptying a garage. See garage and roof washroom clear-outs, decluttering before moving house and hazardous household waste for the items that need separate handling.
Booking a collection
We collect appliances across Malta and Gozo as part of junk removal and house clearance. Get a quote and tell us what the items are, which floor they are on and how the stairs or lift are.