A person working to remove a toilet

What to do with bathroom suites?

12 Aug 20 1 minute read

In the excitement of planning a new bathroom you might not be thinking about what to do when you dismantle your old bathroom suite.

If you’re hiring a contractor to do the work, they may dispose of it for you but if it’s still got some life left in it then it could be reused by someone else. Sinks, toilets and baths are cracked, badly chipped or generally past their best they can be disposed of at your local household waste recycling centre.

not currently recycled

Household recycling collection

Bathroom suites can’t be recycled at home but you could check with your council to see if they provide a collection service for larger, bulky items.

Recycling facilities exist

Household waste recycling centre (HWRC)

Some recycling centres have reuse areas and will advise if your items are suitable. Some recycling centres will ask you to put these items into the Hardcore and Rubble skips, while others have skips just for ceramic items. Taps should be removed and placed in the mixed metal skip

Bathroom suites are large and bulky, so if you are using a van to transport it, check with the recycling centre whether you need any permission or ID to do so. Also check the opening hours, which can vary for cars and vans.

Recycling facilities exist

Other recycling collections

If you’re getting rid of a bathroom suite or bathroom furniture that is in good condition and could be used by someone else, consider the following options:

  • Get selling at places like eBay and Gumtree and make some money.
  • Separate the metal and valuable material from your bathroom suite and sell it to a scrap dealer. Copper pipework, radiators and taps can sell well.
  • Go online to give it away - try sites like Freecycle and Freegle.

Recycling is constantly evolving and changing so check back for updates or try our recycling locator to find out what you can recycle at home and where you can recycle or pass on unwanted items in your local area.