The time has come for you to dispose of your old appliances, but sometimes the hardest part is how to safely get rid of them. You may have some small appliances like coffee makers and larger ones like an old refrigerator that no longer works. But how do you do that in a way that’s friendly to the environment?

Sadly, too many appliances end up in landfills throughout Canada and specifically the Toronto area. This number is on the rise but there is hope if more people learn how to responsibly discard their broken or old appliances. There are several options available and we’ll walk you through the process to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment.

Environmental Benefits Of Recycling Appliances

Whether you’re getting rid of large or small appliances it’s important to find the most environmentally responsible way to do it. The good news is, there are options available in your community.

Sometimes if you keep an old appliance for too long it can end up being more harmful to the environment than simply recycling it at the end of its useful life. By keeping an old washing machine or an inefficient refrigerator, it could cause your electricity levels to increase because they’re not working properly. This could lead to the unit using too much electricity and heightening greenhouse gas emissions.

But if you don’t dispose of the appliance properly it can lead to further damage to the environment.

  • Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) can be released into the atmosphere. They can be found in most refrigerators and freezers.
  • An excess of greenhouse gas emissions can be released into the environment like methane and carbon dioxide.
  • Hazardous substances like polychlorinated biphenyls, oil, and mercury can be released into the environment.

There are numerous options available to consumers who are properly prepared to discard their old appliances. Here’s the proper way to go about the process safely and easily.

Donation or Resale

If your appliance is still in decent shape it may be a good idea to sell it second-hand or donate it. You could donate it to a local thrift shop that accepts such items or you can list them on a resale website. This can be effective for smaller appliances like microwaves or toasters. But you need to be mindful when doing this because placing an inefficient appliance back into the community could have a long-term impact on emissions and energy use.

An Appliance Swap Through A Local Retailer

Sometimes when you’re upgrading or replacing an old appliance, you may be able to get the retailer to collect the old one. If you’re in the market for a new unit you may want to specifically browse retailers who offer this service. This will ensure that the whole process will not only be streamlined, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing your old appliance was recycled properly.

Appliance Recycle Pick Up

If you’re not replacing an appliance but you still want to dispose of it, try researching appliance recycling and pick up services in your area. Check with your local energy provider to see if they offer any energy vouchers for those who schedule an appliance pick up with them.

Your local Public Works Department may have a way to offer a bulk trash pick up. There could be a small fee or you may not get charged at all. Also, check with your local scrapyard. They may offer the perfect service for the recycling of your appliances. You may want to find out where your old appliance will end up once it leaves your property. The responsible thing is for it to be recycled to its fullest extent and all hazardous materials, metals, and wiring have been removed or utilized. If you want to you may even get a certificate of sustainable disposal as proof.

Sell Appliances For Parts or Scrap

You may be able to sell your old appliances for the valuable parts inside them. In this case, you would be paid for the parts extracted from these machines. Copper wiring and other copper products have value and a substantial amount of this material is recovered from appliances all the time. They can easily be recycled and brought back into the market for reuse. Other materials like glass and plastic can also be removed and recycled from old appliances.

The EPA RAD Program

Because of all of the potentially dangerous things that can happen with improperly discarded appliances, the EPA created the Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program. This initiative lists recycling entities that are committed to specific guidelines. These types of companies handle many hazardous materials like refrigerants and foam insulation and dispose of them responsibly and safely.

Appliance Recycling Solutions

Manville Recycling’s mission is to end waste and provide the best service available. Whether your appliances are large or small there may be components inside them that can be recycled.

We’re committed to assisting the community to find recycling solutions for many of the items in their homes and businesses. We want to keep as much as possible out of landfills that hurt the environment. Creating a plan to have old appliances in your home recycled may not be at the top of your list of priorities, but with Manville Recycling on your side, we’ll do all the hard work for you.

We’ve been in the business of recycling for nearly 20 years. Our recycling professionals will help you with environmentally friendly solutions for your appliance recycling. Also, when it comes to valuable metals we’ll not only keep them out of the landfill, we’ll monitor the market values and get you the best price possible for your scrap.

If you have any questions about any of your appliances, big or small, give us a call at 416-751-4732. One of our recycling solutions experts will be happy to discuss your options. You can also reach us on our website. We’d love to hear from you!