Choose the option that will genuinely get the old appliance out of your home: collection when your new appliance is delivered, if confirmed for your order; a home collection, if your area is covered; or drop-off, if you can arrange transport. According to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme applies when you buy a product of the same type. Delivery to a specific room and installation are separate services that you should check independently.
If a floor, stairs or narrow doorways make it difficult to replace a fridge or washing machine, ask the retailer to confirm the delivery location and the conditions for taking away your old appliance. Boulanger and Darty describe services specific to their businesses, so check what applies to your order.
If your old appliance needs to be taken away separately from buying a new one, ecosystem offers a collection appointment to residents in areas it covers. Your address must be eligible, and the appliance must be unplugged and accessible.
If you can move your old appliance with help or arrange transport, find a location that accepts this type of equipment. ADEME lists options including handing it over to the retailer or delivery team when replacing it, and taking it to a recycling centre. You’ll need to arrange transport yourself.
When replacing a large appliance, first decide who will take the old one away. Buying a refurbished appliance is a choice of product, but you’ll still need to select and confirm a separate take-back option.
Consider this: if you want your new appliance delivered and your old one taken away at the same appointment.
Check first: the retailer must confirm the take-back conditions and the services available at your address.
Consider this: if you need your old appliance collected separately from the delivery of your new one.
Limit: ecosystem collections depend on whether your area is covered and don’t include buying or installing a new appliance.
Consider this: if you can transport the appliance to a location that accepts it.
Limit: getting the appliance out of your home and transporting it are separate arrangements.
| What matters to you | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinated take-back | Check that take-back is included in your order and covers the appliance you want to hand over. | I want to avoid being left with two large appliances after delivery. Around 34% of consumers would prioritise this coordination. |
| Access and handling | Tell the retailer which floor you’re on, describe the access routes and say where the old appliance is; check how far the service provider will go. | If there are stairs or narrow doorways, I need to know whether the old appliance can actually be removed from my home. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Local collection or drop-off | Confirm that your address is eligible for collection, or that the drop-off location accepts your appliance. | If take-back at delivery isn’t suitable, I need an accessible option near me and a way to get the appliance there. This local solution would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Buying refurbished | For the product you choose, check delivery and take-back of your old appliance separately. | I want to buy a refurbished appliance without later discovering that replacing it involves two separate arrangements. Around 13% of consumers would put this choice first. |
The ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme described by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition applies to an old product of the same type. It doesn’t, by itself, confirm delivery to a specific room, installation or the removal of several appliances.
Before paying, check which services you’ve selected, which appliance will be taken away, the address, the floor and the time slot shown for your order.
ecosystem’s home collection is available to residents in areas it covers. The appliance must be unplugged and accessible, in line with the service’s instructions.
Check whether your address is eligible before arranging the replacement, then make sure the appliance is accessible for the confirmed appointment.
A collection point or recycling centre won’t, on its own, solve the problem of moving a heavy appliance down from an upper floor.
Confirm that the location accepts your appliance and plan how you’ll move it. If that isn’t possible, look into take-back at delivery or an eligible home collection.
You may need a suitable vehicle or help from someone else to transport it.
The fact that an appliance is refurbished doesn’t tell you how the old one will be taken away or where the new one will be delivered.
Check the delivery and take-back terms for the specific offer, or arrange a separate collection.
A home collection service by appointment for certain large household appliances.
A retailer that describes a large-appliance delivery service with take-back of your old appliance.
A retailer that offers delivery, installation and take-back services on selected products.
A source of guidance on handing over, dropping off and reusing large household appliances.
Yes. A 2023 FAQ published by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes a ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme linked to buying a product of the same type. Ask the retailer how to hand over your old appliance as part of your order.
No. These services aren’t automatically included when your old appliance is taken away. Boulanger describes services linked to its delivery, while Darty refers customers to the terms on the product page. Check separately whether your order includes delivery upstairs, installation and take-back.
ecosystem’s collection service is available to residents in areas it covers. Check your address and the type of appliance accepted, then follow the preparation instructions. The appliance must be unplugged and accessible.
Look for a home collection service available at your address or a suitable drop-off location, then check who can get the appliance out of your home and transport it. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists options including collection points and recycling centres. ADEME also outlines ways to hand over or donate an appliance, depending on your circumstances.