Many household appliances can be recycled to reduce your carbon footprint. While you cannot put these appliances out on the curb along with glass bottles and aluminum cans on trash day, there are numerous metal recycling options to select from. Learn more about refrigerator recycling and why disposing of the sizable appliance correctly is so important to environmental health below.

What Do I Need To Know About Refrigerator Recycling?

The Reasons To Recycle

Refrigerators contain refrigerants and oils that must be properly disposed of per federal law. Older models often contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and other ozone-harming chemicals. Newer refrigerators pose fewer environmental threats; however, they may still contain greenhouse gases. Responsible disposal ensures these chemicals are sold for reuse or burned at temperatures so high they cannot off-gas.

Fridge recycling doesn’t just concern safe chemical disposal. The major appliances also consist of large amounts of plastic and metal such as steel, aluminum, and copper. The average 10-year-old refrigerator, for example, contains over 120 pounds of recyclable steel according to EnergyStar.gov. Plastic and metal recycling subsequently keeps refrigerators out of landfills.

How To Recycle Your Refrigerator

If it’s time to recycle your old refrigerator, contact your local municipality or utility company about any recycling programs in place. Stores that sell appliances may be willing to buy old ones, while metal recycling companies also pay for junk refrigerators and adhere to federal guidelines.

Arrange appliance pickup services and prepare the fridge for transport by unscrewing the door and removing all pull-out shelves. Keep the screws and shelves together since they are also recyclable. Should you decide to work with a metal recycling company, they will weigh the metal scrap and pay you cash.
 

Recycle your refrigerator at Metalico Rochester, the metal recycling center serving the Greater Rochester, NY, area. Offering three convenient locations, the company accepts scrap metal in all forms, including rusted pieces. Call (585) 436-0713 today to schedule a pickup or learn more about metal recycling services online. Get additional recycling facts and reuse ideas on Facebook.