All items · Electrical
Oil, paraffin and petrol heaters
Also covers: oil-filled radiator, paraffin heater, kerosene heater
Why shops refuse it
Fuel-burning and oil-filled heaters carry fire risks shops can't take on.
What to do instead
Drain and take to the council recycling centre — ask staff where fuel items go.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Also includes oil-filled radiators without a thermostat, oil and gas AGAs, and storage heaters (hardwired).
Their wording
“Oil heaters (mobile)”
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Can't accept
British Red Cross
Their wording
“Oil heaters”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Also storage heaters, and oil and gas AGAs.
Their wording
“oil-filled radiators”
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Can't accept
Claire House Children's Hospice
broad category rule
Blanket exclusion of electrical items, though brand-new factory-sealed hard drives, SD cards or USB sticks are excepted.
Their wording
“Electrical items”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Paraffin stoves; oil Agas
Their wording
“Paraffin and gas stoves”
-
Can't accept
LOROS Hospice
Their wording
“Oil heaters”
-
Can't accept
Phyllis Tuckwell
broad category rule
No electrical items of any kind currently accepted
Their wording
“Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept any electrical items or suitcases.”
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Can't accept
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Includes oil lamps; oil-filled radiators excluded only if not supplied with a thermostat.
Their wording
“oil lamps”
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Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Oil heaters”
-
Can't accept
St Christopher's Hospice
Oil appliances
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Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Includes pressure stoves or lamps designed to use oil.
Their wording
“oil appliances e.g. oil or paraffin heaters, pressure stoves or lamps designed to use oil”
-
Check first
Dorothy House
Oil filled radiators only accepted if fitted with a thermostat; mobile oil heaters not accepted
Their wording
“Oil filled radiators without thermostats”
-
Check first
Overgate Hospice
Not accepted unless brand new in original packaging; includes oil-filled radiators and hard-wired storage heaters.
Their wording
“Oil heaters (mobile)”
-
Check first
Princess Alice Hospice
Oil filled radiators only accepted if supplied with a thermostat; mobile oil heaters not accepted at all
Their wording
“Oil filled radiators (not supplied with a thermostat)”
-
Check first
Save the Children
broad category rule
Exception: accepted at selected stores — donors are told to check first.
Their wording
“unable to accept electrical goods (except in selected stores - please check first)”
-
Check first
Shaw Trust
Oil-filled radiators only accepted with a working thermostat.
Their wording
“oil-filled radiators lacking thermostats”
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Check first
St Peter's Hospice
Oil filled radiators only with a thermostat; mobile oil heaters not accepted
Their wording
“Oil filled radiators (not supplied with a thermostat)”
-
Check first
The Children's Trust
Oil-filled radiators only accepted with a thermostat.
Their wording
“Oil filled radiators (not supplied with a thermostat).”
Not mentioned in 26 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned DEBRA
- Not mentioned Dogs Trust
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned FARA Charity Shops
- Not mentioned Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Samaritans
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
- Not mentioned Wales Air Ambulance
- Not mentioned Willen Hospice
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)