Household appliances have been recycled for many years. Household appliances include things like clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, air conditioners, ovens, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, and stoves. These items are recycled, because they contain large amounts of valuable metals.
In the 1980s, appliance recycling stopped being so straightforward because of some appliance contents, namely, polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or what we commonly call PCBs, can cause great environmental and human damage. In fact, they are so harmful to the environment, they were banned in the late 1970s. PCBs were used in the compressors, or engines, of many appliances before they were banned. The problem is, many of us still have old appliances that contain PCBs. Also, some microwave ovens and other appliances imported into the United States still illegally contain PCBs. When we recycle these old appliances, systems must be designed carefully to assure the PCBs are properly handled, so they don't damage the environment. Chlorofluorocarbons, sometimes called CFCs or freon, are used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners. Because CFCs are known to cause damage to our atmosphere, they must be handled safely, so they aren't released into the atmosphere. When appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners are recycled, systems must be set up to assure they're handled safely, just like with PCBs.
For specific information about recycling small appliances with refrigerant, see:
Disposing of Small Appliances Containing Refrigerant
What are the current options for dealing with appliances you no longer want or need? The specific way appliances are handled will depend on where you live. In some communities, the easiest option is to trade in your used appliance when you're buying a new one, assuming the appliance dealer is willing to make such arrangements. It could be as simple as asking them to take back your old appliance when they deliver the new one. Some appliance dealers will provide this as a free service. Others will charge you a nominal fee to take the appliance back. This is because it will cost them to make sure the appliance is handled safely.
In some cases, you may only want to discard an appliance that you aren't replacing. In these cases, there are several possible options that may be available. Some public utilities run special programs
where they'll buy back old appliances as a public service to make
sure they are handled safely. Watch for local announcements in the newspaper or elsewhere to learn if and when such programs are being offered. Probably the most common option is to deliver your appliance to a local disposal site, appliance dealer, or scrap metal dealer, or to ask if your local garbage hauler will pick up your appliance. Keep in mind that there may be a charge for this service. That's because it costs money to make sure appliances are recycled safely and don't harm the environment.
Old appliances should never be abandoned on your property, or on someone else's property. Not only will you risk harming the environment, but also the children who might play in discarded appliances. Children could get injured, or become trapped in them and suffocate.
For more information, contact your local Extension office. See the eXtension web site to find Local Extension offices near you.
