How to Recycle Your Refrigerator
Do you need to recycle your refrigerator? Over 9 million refrigerators and freezers are thrown in landfills around the world every year. 9 M-I-L-L-I-O-N. That, my friends, is an astonishing pile up of mostly pre-1995 refrigerators that use chemicals which are toxic and ozone depleting. In the United States more than 115,226,802 households have a refrigerator. Dispose of your refrigerator cautiously in order to protect the environment. While it is important that you clean your refrigerator regularly so it can be efficient. It is also important to our communities that you recycle your refrigerator or freezer at the end of its life.
How a Facility Will Recycle Your Refrigerator
I went to an appliance recycling facility that takes apart all the donated refrigerators and freezers. The Facility Manager walked me through the entire experience. Each refrigerator or freezer will have wires, Styrofoam, plastics, copper, and other metals removed. Each item experiences reconditioning after removal. This is a detailed process. Toxic materials such as refrigerant and other chemicals are sent through a special recovery and cleaning program. This program prevents environmental contamination.
How to Find a Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Facility
Please recycle your refrigerator responsibly. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it is important to be smart about the way you dispose of appliances.
Find a Retail Appliance Partner by Asking – Seek retailers that partner with the EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program. This program is a volunteer partnership between retailers and the government to help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases through recovering chemicals from older refrigerators, freezers, humidifiers, window air conditioners, and other appliances. Ozone-depleting chemicals from these appliances can harm the environment. Partner retailers will often pick up and recycle your older model appliance when you purchase a new one.
Municipal Government or Utility Companies Disposal and Recycling – Contact local government and see if they or their waste management division offer special recycling programs for appliances.
- Get Cash from a Scrap Metal Recycler – Sometimes, but not all the time, scrap metal recyclers will pay for appliances. Call local recyclers and see if you can find one that will take the appliance at no cost or even pay you for the privilege of recycling.
Remember that freezer and refrigerator recycling is important to our environment and communities. Join in to help your community by making an effort to recycle your refrigerator when it is at the end of its life.
