Appliance recycling keeps hazardous chemicals like Freon, polychlorinated biphenyls, cadmium, and flame retardants out of landfills and the environment. It also reduces the need to exploit new raw materials that can harm the earth.
Save Energy
When you recycle your old refrigerator, you help to save energy. Refrigerators and freezers use much energy, especially older models that are less efficient than today’s ENERGY STAR(r) certified units. For instance, refrigerator recycling Sussex County, NJ, helps to avoid energy waste by ensuring that old appliances don’t end up in landfills. Additionally, disposing of your old fridge in a landfill is illegal and dangerous. Old refrigerators contain harmful substances like mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and refrigerant oils that can leach into groundwater. Many retailers that sell large appliances, such as refrigerators, offer appliance recycling services. These services may charge a small fee to dispose of your old appliance responsibly. Many local municipalities also have curbside pickup or transfer station services for large appliance recycling. This streamlines the process and saves you from dragging your old refrigerator across town.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint measures greenhouse gas emissions caused by your daily activities. Your carbon footprint’s size is influenced by the kind of car you drive, how frequently you fly, how much meat you consume, how much energy you use at home, and how much waste you generate. When you recycle your old refrigerator, it helps to reduce your carbon footprint. By not dumping it into landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to break down and leak toxic chemicals into the environment, you’re preventing more harmful emissions from entering the world.
Save Money
A large appliance like a refrigerator takes up a lot of space in your garage or basement, but you can make room and still save energy by recycling your old fridge. Your local trash service or waste management company can often recycle your old refrigerator for free or for a small fee. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling your old refrigerator helps you save money on energy costs by replacing it with an ENERGY STAR-certified model. Some electric utilities even offer rebates to customers who recycle their old appliances and purchase a new, energy-efficient model.
Save Space in Your Home
Recycling the older unit is essential if replacing an old refrigerator or freezer with a new one. Disposing of appliances improperly can negatively affect the environment, including releasing ozone-depleting chemicals.
If your refrigerator contains Freon (a refrigerant), you must find a Freon-certified recycler. Freon-free appliances can be recycled in many ways, such as repurposed as shelving or storage for food, clothing, and other items. Many of these are located through the EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal program.
Help the Environment
When you recycle your old refrigerator, it saves space in landfills and helps to protect the environment from toxic substances. For example, some older refrigerators contain the ozone-depleting chemical Freon, which must be removed before recycling. Newer refrigerators use R-134a, which does not harm the ozone layer. Recycling also reduces energy consumption by preventing the release of used oil and reducing the need to produce new materials. Before making a purchase, it’s crucial to consider how you’ll get rid of your old refrigerator. Some retailers offer a free appliance swap for their customers, and many local governments have programs that will pick up and recycle old appliances.
