Get That New Energy-Saving Appliance! But First - What Are You Doing With Your Old One?

Appliances seem to be getting smarter, sleeker and more energy-efficient with every trip to the store. Now that refrigerators can connect to the Internet (LG’s  Smart Refrigerator) and thermostats can be controlled by your iPhone (Honeywell’s Prestige 2.0 Comfort System), there’s even more incentive to upgrade.

But what happens when you need to get rid of an old appliance? You know, the one that doesn’t remind you when you left the freezer door ajar.  

Unfortunately, that old refrigerator usually ends up on the curb for the garbage collectors to take to the landfill, where it can impact the environment for years to come. That’s where appliance recycling comes in, and its benefits can help the environment and put money in your wallet.

Get Paid to Recycle!

Appliance recycling programs are saving energy and money across the country. For instance, Southern California Edison (SCE)’s Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program saved enough energy over the last 15 years by plugging in more efficient replacements to power more than 1 million homes.  What’s more, the program actually pays participants up to $100 to recycle their energy-hogging fridge or freezer and replace it with an ENERGY STAR qualified one.

Another campaign, New York’s Keep Cool (Air Conditioner Recycling) Program, saved nearly 40 gWh of electricity over four years while paying consumers more than $15.9 million in rebates and incentives.

Aside from these examples, many municipalities offer appliance and electronic recycling programs and curbside pick-ups. In fact, your new, energy-efficient appliance manufacturer may offer recycling rebates and free pick-up of your used appliance.  If it’s still in good condition, you can also consider donating it to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local women’s shelter.  See below for more info to find out what the best options are for donating and recycling appliances in your area.

Photo: Explaining how pieces of refrigerator equipment are broken-down and recycled, Georgia Power Director of Energy & Environmental Programs Michael Dunham demonstrates how the new refrigerator recycling process is being offered throughout the Southeast United States at an event on April 25th at an Atlanta recycling facility. According to Southern Company’s Georgia Power, by recycling your old working refrigerator or freezer, you'll see up to $150 a year in energy savings, or as much as $1,000 in energy over its remaining life.

Why Should I Recycle My Appliance?

Aside from the monetary benefits of recycling, appliances are filled with hazardous elements, oils and metals, and too often end up in landfills where they rust and expel harmful waste into the ground and water. Refrigerators and freezers made before 1995 contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and most dehumidifiers and air-conditioning units contain hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) – all of which damage the ozone layer and environment.

Table  1. Appliance Ingredients

Checklist for Getting Rid of Old Appliances

To take advantage of any available appliance rebates/incentives and to keep pesky former appliances out of the landfill and away from damaging your local environment, consider the following steps first:

• Read
  • Visit Energy Star’s recycle resources to learn how you can save energy and money by purchasing an Energy Star appliance, and how to recycle your old appliance safely.
  • Check the rules and regulations on appliance recycling in your area at the National Recycling Coalition’s State Recycling Resources or the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Office's State Agency Waste Management Program Links.

• Consider Donating
  • Call your favorite local charity, school, church or hospital to ask if it is in need of your appliance.
  • Visit donationtown.org and excessaccess.com to find a local group or government organization in need of your hefty appliance – they’ll pick it up right from your home.
  • Contact a national organization that accepts appliance donations.
• Recycle
  • Call the manufacturer or store where you purchased your fancy new energy-efficient appliance and ask if they offer rebates for recycling your old appliance and/or offer curbside pick-ups. But make sure to check that they actually operate a recycling program and don’t ship it to a landfill.
  • Check out the Appliance Recycling Centers of America, a pioneer in disposing appliances environmentally, to see if its recycling services are offered in your area. They may even PAY YOU to recycle your appliance.
  • Visit Earth 911 or 1800recycling for a directory of companies, organizations and recycling facilities that accept large appliances and recycle environmentally. Or, you may be able to find an appliance recycling facility using the Steel Recycling Institute’s recycling locator.
• Get Rebates
  • Ask your local utility provider if it offers one of those bounty or rebate programs, and you may get PAID to get rid of your appliance. Most local cities and towns also have pick-up services or hold curbside pick-up days.
  • Pay attention to local regulations on how appliances are supposed to be recycled; many local curbside recycling programs require doors and latches to be removed from appliances to prevent injuries to over-curious children.