Most appliances reach the end of their lifespan within 10 to 15 years. When that time comes, it can leave homeowners wondering what to do with their old appliances when they replace them with new ones. After all, most are far too heavy to simply leave on the curb for the regular waste management company. Below are several potential solutions that help free up space for new appliances as well as prevent environmental harm when getting rid of old junk appliances.
Donate or Sell Old Appliances
Some charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity ReStores and the Salvation Army can accept old appliance donations while other organizations such as the Goodwill cannot. A phone call or quick online inquiry to the organization in question can quickly determine whether it accepts these types of donations. Giving away the item to family or friends is another possibility. It usually only takes a quick social media post to learn if someone could use an appliance.
Selling old appliances still in good working order is another possibility. Placing a for sale ad on a local community Facebook group page or Craig’s List can provide widespread notice to anyone looking for an inexpensive appliance that’s new to them.
Check with Appliance Retailers
As a benefit to customers purchasing new appliances, some appliance retailers will pick up the old equipment at no additional charge. They then donate the item or take it to a recycling center. Homeowners who plan to buy a new appliance should check with the retailer in advance to find out if this is a possibility.
Recycle Old Appliances
Some appliances contain a lot of scrap metal that makes them valuable as recyclable items. Once a recycling center receives an old appliance, a worker takes it apart to remove the non-recyclable parts and hazardous materials from the recyclable parts. This is important because many appliances contain toxic substances and chemicals that can seep into groundwater, soil, and air if not removed first. Recycle centers will attempt to donate old appliances to needy families and individuals before taking them apart.
Check for Community Appliance Recycle Days
Although appliances are too large for local waste management companies to pick up routinely, some communities host appliance recycle days at least a few times throughout the year. For a fee, homeowners can place their unwanted appliances on the curb for pick-up. Checking with local city government is the best way to find out if they plan to host an event.
Hire a Junk Hauler
Arranging any of the above steps can be time-consuming, and there’s no guarantee of a sale or that a charitable organization will accept an old appliance. The benefit of working with a junk hauler instead is that the company comes to pick up the unwanted items and the homeowner never needs to give them a second thought. Junk hauling trucks are typically large enough to fit several items at once, and companies usually try to donate or recycle the appliances to keep them out of landfills. This saves homeowners time from having to do the same steps themselves.
People are becoming more environmentally conscious all the time. These choices honor that commitment while also preserving the environment.
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