When buying new appliances, we often face the question of what to do with our old ones. It’s important to handle outdated appliances responsibly. There are several options for dealing with old appliances, including recycling, donating, or selling them.
Old appliances can take up space and use energy inefficiently. Getting rid of them in the right way helps the environment and can even save money. We’ll explore the best ways to handle your old appliances when upgrading to new ones.
Proper disposal of old appliances is easier than you might think. Many stores offer pickup services when you buy new items. We’ll cover this and other handy tips to make the process smooth and eco-friendly.
Understanding Appliance Disposal Options
When replacing old appliances, we have several ways to get rid of them responsibly. These options can help us avoid waste and even earn some money back.
Appliance Recycling Programs
Many cities and towns offer appliance recycling programs. These programs take old fridges, washers, and other large items. They break them down and reuse the materials.
We can often find these programs through our local government websites. Some even offer pickup services right from our homes. This makes recycling easy and convenient.
Recycling appliances helps save energy and resources. It keeps harmful materials out of landfills too. Many programs will even pay us for our old appliances.
Selling Your Old Appliances
If our old appliances still work, we might be able to sell them. This can put some extra money in our pockets.
We can list appliances on online marketplaces or in local classifieds. It’s important to be honest about the condition and age of the items.
Some secondhand stores also buy used appliances. The Salvation Army often takes working appliances as donations. They resell them to support their programs.
Before selling, we should clean the appliances and make sure they work well. This can help us get a better price.
Haul Away Services
Many stores that sell new appliances offer haul away services. When they deliver our new items, they’ll take the old ones away.
These services are often free or low-cost with the purchase of a new appliance. It’s a simple way to get rid of old items without extra work.
Some haul away services recycle the appliances they collect. Others may resell working items. We can ask the store about what happens to the appliances they take.
If we don’t buy from a store with this service, we can hire an appliance removal company. They specialize in taking away large items we no longer need.
Preparing for New Appliance Installation
Getting ready for new appliances involves removing old ones and choosing energy-efficient replacements. We’ll cover key steps to make the process smooth and eco-friendly.
Removing Old Appliances
We need to get rid of old appliances before new ones arrive. First, unplug the old appliance and clean up any spills or debris. For big items like fridges, we should empty them out a day before.
Measure doorways to make sure we can get the old appliance out. We might need to remove doors or handles for a tight fit. It’s smart to have help for heavy lifting to avoid injuries.
We can’t just dump old appliances on the curb. Many cities offer appliance recycling programs. Some retailers also take old appliances when delivering new ones. Recycling keeps harmful materials out of landfills and saves energy.
Selecting Energy-Efficient Appliances
Picking energy-efficient appliances saves money and helps the planet. We should look for the ENERGY STAR label when shopping. These appliances use less power and water than standard models.
Compare the yellow EnergyGuide labels to see yearly energy use and costs. A higher upfront price often leads to long-term savings on utility bills.
Size matters too. We shouldn’t buy a bigger appliance than we need. A right-sized fridge or washer uses less energy. Some smart appliances can even adjust their energy use based on peak hours.
Before buying, we should check if our local utility offers rebates for energy-efficient appliances. This can make the switch more affordable.
Responsible Appliance Disposal
Getting rid of old appliances can be tricky. We’ll explore eco-friendly options and ways to help others through donation. These methods keep appliances out of landfills and benefit the community.
Donation Opportunities
Many charities accept working appliances. We can drop off items at Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Some groups pick up donations for free. Local shelters or community centers often need appliances too.
Before donating, we should clean the appliance well. Make sure it works properly. Remove any personal items inside. Keep the manual if we still have it.
Donating helps people in need. It also keeps usable items out of the trash. Plus, we might get a tax deduction for our generosity.
Eco-Friendly Disposal Methods
When appliances don’t work, recycling is best. Many cities have special pickup days for large items. We can call our local waste management to find out.
Some stores take old appliances when we buy new ones. They might even give us a discount. Utility companies sometimes offer appliance recycling programs too.
We can search Earth911’s website to find nearby recycling centers. For a fee, we can rent a dumpster for big clean-outs.
Proper disposal keeps harmful materials out of landfills. It also saves energy by reusing metals and plastics.