When you selected your major home appliances, you likely did so with intentionality, ensuring the manufacturing process minimally impacted the environment and that fair labor practices were employed. You may have also considered the energy and resources your new appliance required. You should take that same level of care when disposing of your old appliances.
Here are some pro tips from the experts at ADU for how to safely dispose of appliances with minimal environmental impact.
Proper Disposal Matters
Understanding why the disposal method is important is at the heart of selecting how your appliance is discarded.
As with all of Earth’s resources, there is a finite amount of space in a landfill—and finite land to be used for landfills. Disposing of large appliances in landfills takes up precious space needed for refuse for which there are no other disposal options.
Additionally, the chemical impact of haphazard disposal—particularly of older refrigerators—can take a toll on the earth due to ozone depleting substances, or ODS. Refrigeration tools, including wine coolers, freezers, dehumidifiers, and window air conditioning units made before 1995 usually contained a refrigerant known as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), a known contributor of ozone depletion. And refrigeration units manufactured before 2005 were also heavily insulated with ODS-laden foam. If not properly handled, appliances containing these and other greenhouse gas (GHG) components found in refrigeration materials could leak, contributing to the destruction of the Earth’s protective ozone layer.
Recycle with a Reputable Organization
While selling or donating still-working appliances is noble, older appliances are notoriously inefficient and may require more energy and resources than they’re worth. (If your appliance is less than seven years old and still working well, donating or reselling may be an acceptable option.) Instead of selling or donating for reuse, find a reputable recycling company that responsibly handles the hazardous ODS and GHG materials and salvages expensive metal materials for scrapping. Ideally, they will also recognize that the plastic liners, glass shelves, and other components of the discarded appliances can be recycled, not merely shredded and thrown into the landfills.
When you’ve decided to dispose of your old appliances and replace them with energy-efficient, Wi-Fi-connected premium and luxury appliances, the team at ADU welcomes you into their showroom to select the perfect pieces for your home.