A broken washing machine, fridge or dryer is mostly steel, with a motor, some wiring and, in a fridge, a compressor and a refrigerant gas that must not be released. That mix decides how it is sold: the metal has scrap value, and the gas makes fridges a regulated job. This guide explains what appliances are made of, what a yard or recycler does with them, why fridges need degassing, and how to prepare and describe a lot for sale. It covers rules in Australia, which is where our evidence is, and tells you where to check yours. We give no prices, because we found no current price source, and we say where our evidence stops. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
How much demand is there?
Small, so do not expect a large market for single appliances. According to Ubersuggest data for Australia, "sell broken washing machine" is searched about 10 to 20 times a month, and "sell broken fridge" and "sell broken appliances" about 10 each. Global autocomplete suggestions for "sell broken" include washing machines, dryers, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, microwaves and air conditioners, which shows that the question is common even where the volumes are low. People usually want to get rid of a broken appliance and recover a little money, not run a business.
What is in them
Sources agree that metals dominate. White goods contain high amounts of steel, aluminium and copper, and washing machines and dryers are mostly steel. Copper and aluminium, which are found in motors, wiring and heat exchangers, are worth more per kilogram than steel, so they drive most of the value. One undated booklet we found puts steel at roughly 47 percent of a washing machine, 52 percent of a dryer and 45 percent of a fridge, but it is unsourced and contains a figure we think is wrong, so we treat the numbers as indicative at best. We found no current Australian per-tonne price for white goods, and a yard's price list is the only reliable number.
For the wider picture of how steel and non-ferrous scrap differ, see Ferrous vs Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling Explained.
What a recycler does with them
The usual sequence, according to recycler descriptions, is to remove hazardous materials first, including refrigerants, chemicals and heavy metals, then crush and shred the appliance and separate the steel, copper and plastics for reprocessing. Washing machines, dryers and ovens that contain no refrigerant are the simplest, and scrap yards in Australia accept them. We describe how a shredder separates the metals in Where an Old Car Goes When It Is Scrapped.
Fridges, freezers and air conditioners need a licensed step
Fridges, freezers and air conditioners contain refrigerant, and in Australia recovering it is a regulated job. The Australian Refrigeration Council says anyone who wants to recover fluorocarbon refrigerant from end-of-life equipment needs a Restricted Refrigerant Recoverer Licence and a Restricted Refrigerant Trading Authorisation. A 2026-dated council fact sheet notes that the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 may apply, with penalties of up to A$132,000 for individuals and A$660,000 for corporations, though figures may have been indexed since. The National EPA says recyclers often require proof that a unit has been degassed before they will take it.
What that means for a seller:
- Do not release the gas or cut the pipework to speed up the job.
- Use a licensed person, or sell to a recycler or council service that arranges it, and keep proof of degassing.
- Ask the buyer whether they take fridges and what proof they need.
We did not find a single current statement covering whether scrap yards may degas white goods themselves, or the state-level rules. Check arctick.org and your state EPA before you act, and if you are outside Australia, check your own refrigerant rules.
How to prepare an appliance for sale
- Empty and clean it. Remove food, water and any loose items.
- Keep it whole unless you are licensed to take it apart. A complete appliance is easier to describe and to collect.
- Separate by type. Washing machines and dryers, fridges and freezers, and air conditioners are different lots.
- Note the brand, type, size and condition, and whether a fridge has been degassed, with proof.
- Weigh or count the lot if you have several, and photograph it.
How to describe a lot
Buyers read quantity, type, condition, location and access. Say how many of each appliance, whether refrigerant has been recovered and by whom, whether the lot is on pallets or loose, and how it can be collected. A clear lot of refrigerant-free appliances will get replies faster than a vague one. You can list a lot on the ScrapTrade marketplace or create a free account. ScrapTrade does not take ownership of material, and buyers and sellers agree terms between themselves.
Where else to take them
Some yards pay for appliances by weight, but we found no source for typical payouts, and fridges may cost you a fee if degassing is needed. Councils and recyclers run appliance drop-offs, and a service that arranges the refrigerant step may be the simplest for a single fridge.
What we could not verify
- What yards pay for broken appliances. We found no current price source.
- The composition figures. They come from an unsourced booklet.
- The current refrigerant licence rules and penalties. We relied on summaries of Australian Refrigeration Council fact sheets, and penalties may have been indexed.
- Whether yards may degas themselves.
- Rules outside Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell a broken washing machine for scrap?
Yes, a yard will usually take it by weight. It is mostly steel, so the payout is modest. We cannot give a price.
Can I sell a broken fridge for scrap?
Yes, but the refrigerant has to be recovered by a licensed person first in Australia, and many recyclers want proof. Ask the buyer before you move it.
Which part of an appliance is most valuable?
Copper and aluminium parts, such as motors, wiring and heat exchangers, are worth more per kilogram than the steel body.
Is there a free way to get rid of a broken appliance?
Some councils and recyclers run drop-offs, and charges vary. Ask yours.
Sources
- Australian Refrigeration Council (arctick.org), fact sheets on end-of-life refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, as summarised in search results; National EPA recycler guidance, as summarised in search results.
- Recycler and council descriptions of white goods recycling, as summarised in search results; an undated e-waste booklet (unsourced composition figures).
- Ubersuggest keyword data and autocomplete suggestions, queried November 2026.
- ScrapTrade, Where an Old Car Goes When It Is Scrapped; Ferrous vs Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling Explained.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Refrigerant rules are regulated and change, so check with the relevant authority. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.