Freezers are decent for scrap if you have a truck or trailer to haul them, generally yielding ** $ 10 to $ 25 ** as a whole unit at a scrapyard. They contain heavy steel, aluminum, and a valuable copper compressor, though some yards charge a disposal fee for the refrigerant.
Refrigerators and freezers contain some of the most valuable scrap metals. However, they require special handling due to refrigerants that must be properly removed before recycling. Many scrap yards require refrigerants to be professionally removed before they accept refrigerators or freezers for recycling.
Talk to Your Local Scrap Metal Recycler.
Thousands of local scrap metal recyclers can recycle old fridges and freezers. Ask your scrap metal recycler for assurance that your old unit will be properly recycled.
Fridges and freezers can be salvaged for their steel, aluminium, copper, and other materials which typically make up around half of the total weight of the fridge/freezer. Many fridges and freezers contain hazardous materials as well as foam insulation and gasses that make them challenging to dispose of, however.
Fridge Freezers are NOT items that get collected with kerbside refuse collection or by scrap merchants. The compressor might be taken, leaking hazardous refrigerants into the environment, but the rest of the fridge will be left.
Contact your council, or charities or social enterprises in the area to see if they provide a collection service. If you're buying a fridge or freezer, the retailer should take your old one away. Find your nearest drop-off or collection point for electricals by entering your postcode in our recycling locator.
If your freezer still works but is just no longer needed, you can donate it or sell it online! But if it's broken and you're tired of searching for freezer disposal online, you can dispose of your ice box or deep freezer responsibly through recycling.
To make $100 from scrap aluminum, you need anywhere from 55 to 200 pounds, depending on your local scrap yard’s payout rate.
How much is a refrigerator worth in scrap? A typical refrigerator weighs 150-250 lbs and contains mostly steel. At current scrap prices, expect $8-20 for the steel alone. However, the compressor contains copper worth $3-8 extra, and if you separate the copper tubing, you can add another $2-5.
Copper is the leading choice in scrap metal values today. In early 2026, current prices for premium grades have surged well past $4 per pound, making it highly lucrative for waste management operations.
Top Electronics with the Most Gold Content
Desktop and Laptop Computers: Motherboards, CPUs, and RAM modules in older computers (especially pre-2000s) contain significant amounts of gold. A typical desktop computer can have up to 0.2 grams of gold, primarily in connectors and circuit boards.
Misconception #1: Scrap Yards Won't Accept Appliances
Every scrap yard is different, but many do accept common household appliances such as refrigerators or microwaves. If you have an old appliance and you're not sure what to do with it, contact your local scrap yard.
Air conditioners and heat pumps contain the most copper of any household appliances. A standard residential unit contains between 4 kg and 23 kg (999 to 50 lbs) of copper, primarily located in the condenser, evaporator coils, and compressor motors.
Scrap aluminum typically ranges from $0.45 to over $1.00 per pound. If you're a buyer, seller, or recycler, understanding aluminum pricing will help you make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Types of Common Freezer Problems
The average lifespan of a standalone freezer is 10 to 20 years, with most lasting about 16 years. Chest freezers tend to last the longest, often reaching 20 years, while upright freezers and compact units usually have a slightly shorter lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
It is generally worth repairing a freezer if it is less than 5–7 years old, the repair cost is under 50% of a new unit, or the issue is minor (e.g., faulty seals or thermostat). For older units, particularly budget models over 10 years old or those with broken compressors, replacement is usually more cost-effective.
As a general rule, don't crush cans before tossing them in the bin because crushing can make it harder for recycling facilities to sort. If your local recycling facility uses a multi- or dual-stream collection (meaning you separate your recyclables by material), it's probably okay to crush your cans.
6 Best Items To Recycle For Money: Trash For Cash
Several common household and commercial items are not recyclable through standard collection programs, despite appearing to be made of recyclable materials. The most frequent offenders include greasy pizza boxes, disposable coffee cups, plastic-coated paper, bubble wrap, and small electronics.
They're hard to scrap down or dispose of. Not a chance, they'll rip the compressor off and leave the rest. I have seen fridges standing outside in front gardens for weeks, and scrap metal people are really active in my area so they take away everything at most within a day. So I would say no.
Putting a penny (or any coin) in the freezer is an easy trick used to check if your freezer lost power while you were away, and whether your frozen food is still safe to eat.
Freezers contain valuable recyclable metals including steel, copper, and aluminium. Even older or broken machines are packed with parts that can be recovered and repurposed.