Two things worth knowing before your old windows come out. First, on a fully-fitted job you should not be paying separately for disposal; it belongs in the price. Second, uPVC does not have to go to landfill, because a deglazed frame is fully recyclable. Both points come down to who does the work and how, which is why removal and disposal deserve a line in your written quotes rather than being left vague.
On a fully-fitted job, removal and disposal is included
When you buy windows on a fully-fitted basis, taking out the old ones and getting rid of them is part of what you are paying for. A reputable installer prices this in and does not hand you a separate disposal bill. The catch is that 'included' needs to be in writing, so check the quote spells out removal and disposal of the old units. This is the same like-for-like discipline that stops one quote looking cheaper than another only because it quietly leaves work out. If you are still deciding whether to replace at all or fix what you have, our repair versus replace comparison is the place to start.
I have never sent a customer a bill for taking their old windows away, and neither should anyone else fitting on a supply-and-fit basis. If you see a separate disposal charge on a fully-fitted quote, ask what it is really for. Nine times out of ten it should already be in the number.
Tom Bradley, FENSA-registered installer
What actually happens to uPVC frames
A uPVC frame is not rubbish. Once the glass is taken out, the plastic profile can be recycled and turned back into new window profile. This is an established trade route: some uPVC recyclers will collect 4 or more frames free of charge, which means a busy installer has no reason to pay for a skip in the first place. The alternative, a trip to the household waste centre, is usually the poorer outcome. Many councils direct uPVC frames straight to general waste, which is landfill, and route the glass to the metal or hardcore skip. Because policy varies from one authority to the next, the tip is a lottery rather than a guarantee of recycling.
| Route | What happens to the old windows |
|---|---|
| Fully-fitted installer (included) | Removed and disposed of as part of the job, ideally to a uPVC recycler |
| Trade uPVC recycler | Frames deglazed and turned into new profile; some collect 4 or more free |
| DIY trip to the tip | Councils often send uPVC to general waste and glass to the metal skip |
Check your local council waste service before assuming the tip will recycle uPVC.
The glass is recyclable too, but only once separated
The sealed glass unit is recyclable in its own right, but it has to be separated from the frame first. Glass and uPVC are different materials, and a mixed unit dumped as one lump is usually rejected at the kerbside or at the tip. Separating the two is routine work for a trade recycler, which is another reason the installer route beats the DIY one: the people set up to deglaze frames are also set up to recycle the glass properly rather than landfill the whole thing.
If you are doing it yourself
If you are removing windows on a supply-only or DIY basis, the disposal problem lands on you. Before you drive to the tip, check your local council's waste service to see whether it accepts uPVC frames for recycling at all, and whether the glass needs to go separately. If it does not, a specialist uPVC recycler is the greener option, and it may cost nothing if you have several frames to hand over. Either way, plan disposal before the windows come out, not after they are stacked in the garden. If that hassle is tipping your decision, price a fully-fitted job that handles it for you in the uPVC window calculator, and see our installation day guide for how the removal fits into the day.
The landfill outcome is almost always a default, not a decision. Nobody chooses to bin recyclable plastic; it just happens when old frames get thrown in general waste at the tip. Hand them to someone who recycles uPVC and that same frame comes back as new profile.
Tom Bradley, FENSA-registered installer
Frequently asked questions
On a fully-fitted job, a reputable installer removes and disposes of the old windows as part of the price. It is not a separate line you should be charged for. Just make sure the quote actually says removal and disposal are included before you sign.
Yes. Once the glass is taken out (deglazed), a uPVC frame can be recycled and turned back into new window profile. Some trade recyclers will even collect 4 or more frames free of charge, which is why a good installer does not need to pay for a skip.
You can, but it is usually the worse outcome. Councils often direct uPVC frames to general waste, which means landfill, and send the glass to the metal skip. Policy varies by authority, so check your local waste service before you load the car.
Yes, but the sealed unit has to be separated from the frame first. Glass and uPVC are different materials, and mixed units are usually rejected at the kerbside or the tip. Separating them is exactly the kind of work a trade recycler is set up to do.
Not on a fully-fitted job. Removal and disposal of the old windows should be baked into the fitted price. If a quote adds a separate disposal charge, question it, and compare it against the other quotes on a like-for-like basis.
No. uPVC does not have to go to landfill at all. Deglazed frames are recyclable into new profile and the glass is recyclable once separated. The landfill outcome usually happens by default at the tip, not because it is the only option.