Scrap4Free

Scrap4Free: an online booking layer for scrap metal and appliance pickups across the UK

Scrap4Free operates as an intermediary rather than a collection firm itself. Customers submit a request through the website and the platform matches them with a licensed scrap metal collector working in their area. The company describes its network as covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and states that most pickups take place within 24 hours of a request being submitted.

The service is presented as free for the customer, with no fees or hidden charges for the standard collection of scrap metal and most appliances. Collectors are described as licensed and vetted for reliability.

What can be booked for collection

The request form groups accepted items into several categories, and users tick everything that applies:

• Free appliance collection: washing machines and dryers, electric cookers and ovens, boilers and water tanks, dishwashers, air conditioning units and computer towers (PC).
• Scrap metal: copper (dry bright copper wire, clean copper tube, heavy copper and braziery copper), other non-ferrous metals (mixed brass, lead, aluminium sections, alloy wheels and stainless steel), cables (high grade and household), and iron and steel (heavy, light and mixed).
• Car batteries, listed among the recyclable items in the booking flow.

For metals, the form asks for a rough weight and offers size shortcuts for users who are unsure, on the basis that a clearer estimate helps a collector accept the job faster.

Fridges, freezers and general waste

Refrigeration units sit outside the free tier. The site states that fridges and freezers can be collected but that a small fee applies, and the form quotes charges of £40 to £100 depending on the type of unit, covering mini fridges, medium fridges, American-style fridges, freezers and fridge-freezer combinations. The stated reason is disposal regulations.

General household waste is handled as an optional paid add-on that can be combined with a scrap collection at a discount. The site lists indicative prices of £65 for a small load (1–2 cubic yards or 10–15 bin bags), £99 for a medium load (3–4 cubic yards, about a quarter van) and £145 for a large load (5–8 cubic yards, about half a van), noting that final quotes are confirmed on site.

How a request is processed

Booking is done entirely online and the company says it takes about two minutes. The flow runs through contact details, the items being discarded, photographs and collection preferences. Users indicate a preferred time window — morning (8am–12pm), afternoon (12pm–4pm), evening (4pm–8pm) or flexible — and describe the condition of the items: mostly working, mostly not working, mixed or parts only.

Photographs are strongly encouraged, with suggested shots of everything together, a close-up of any metal or heavy item, and the location such as driveway, garage or back garden. The site notes that jobs with a photo are picked up faster. Once submitted, a licensed collector confirms the collection date and then arrives to remove the items.

Two additional audiences: collectors and scrap yards

Beyond household bookings, Scrap4Free runs a collector network. Joining is free and gives members access to job leads from local customers, with simple sign-up and what the company describes as exclusive rewards. Registered collectors can log in to view available scrap metal and waste jobs.

For scrap yard operators, the platform offers a reporting tool for loads received. Yards can report every load to Defra from a single login, and loads arriving from Scrap4Free collectors come pre-filled, while other loads can be added in about a minute. Yard access is offered free for 30 days.

Company figures and customer feedback

The site presents several operating figures: more than 1,000 collections completed, more than 50 licensed collectors and 95% five-star reviews. It also displays a set of customer comments attributed to Trustpilot, dated December 2024, describing the service as efficient and reliable.

Support and coverage

Scrap4Free describes itself as UK focused, with a UK support team handling enquiries from customers, collectors and businesses, including commercial, yard and partnership matters. The company also publishes guidance material on scrap metal types and their value, collector salaries and scrap metal collection licensing.