All You Need to Know About Recycling Large Appliances
Whenever a large appliance becomes damaged or outdated, your first instinct might be to let it sit in the garage or leave it at the curb to end up in the nearest landfill. But, there is a better solution – recycling large appliances.
E-waste is the biggest growing waste stream, with less than 40% of it being recycled. Large household appliances, such as electric stoves and washing machines, are some of the most collected items, making up over 50% of the collected e-waste.
Recycling large appliances has a ton of benefits. Many of these products retain value and can come in handy for further production. If you want to know more about why and how to recycle appliances, the guide below can answer all your queries.
Benefits of Recycling Large Appliances
There are many reasons why recycling large appliances is better than storing or disposing of them.
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Recycling is environmentally friendly
- A refrigerator contains multiple dangerous chemicals, such as PUR foams, PVC, CFCs, and mercury in the light bulbs. Disposing of them in landfills can lead to these chemicals leaching into the soil and damaging the ozone layer.
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Recycling large appliances frees up space
- Large appliances like ovens, dryers, and washers are bulky and heavy. Tossing them can limit the landfill space that could be used for storing non-recyclable materials. If you don’t recycle appliances and you store them in your spaces, they can take up valuable space that you won’t be able to use.
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Recycling boosts sustainability
- Recycling large appliances is good for business. Most home appliances are made of steel, and steel can be recycled. Recycling helps use the available resources and offers manufacturers a chance to save on costs for production. This is a great way of supporting businesses and the economy.
What Can I Recycle?
Each appliance recycling process is different, and not all large appliances are recyclable. Here are some of the products that you can put to good use. These include:
- Electric water dispensers
- Trash compactors
- Dishwashers
- Freezers
- Portable air conditioners
- Beverage centers
- Wine coolers
- Refrigerators
- Clothes dryers & washers
- Portable dehumidifiers
- Food waste disposers
- Surface cooking units
- Built-in ovens
How to Go About Recycling Large Appliances
Donate or Resale
If the large appliance is old, but still works well, you can sell it second-hand or donate it to families or at local thrift stores. If you are planning to donate, there are many groups, charities, and worship centers that can make use of appliances such as these.
Sell for Scrap
You can make some cash by selling a large appliance to scrap buyers. That’s because these items often have metal components that scrap dealers can use.
Schedule a Pick-Up
A local energy provider could provide pick-up services. Depending on where you live, these pick-up services could come at a small fee or no cost. This is a great option for recycling large appliances and makes sure that everything is properly taken care of.
