Dear EarthTalk: What happens to major appliances that get carted off when new ones take their place? We have a dishwasher and a refrigerator that are both on the blink now and may need replacement. I’d rather fix them than buy new, even if it’s more expensive to do so, because I don’t want to add these big clunkers to the waste stream. What’s your take on this?
—D. M., Westport, Conn.

If you look hard enough you might be able to recycle those old appliances, and they will likely be reconditioned and find a good home in a household less privileged than yours, or broken down into their reusable parts and used to help rejuvenate other salvageable units.

The first place to check is with your utility, which would like to see you upgrade to a more energy efficient new model—an older fridge uses upwards of three times the energy of most newer models. Utilities in 10 U.S. states and in Ontario, Canada offer some kind of rebate and free pick-up if you do decide you want to upgrade in partnership with a company called Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA), which oversees the appliance recycling process. ARCA’s system can prevent up to 95 percent of the recyclable materials in old refrigerators and freezers from entering the waste stream.

Check with your utility to see if they participate in ARCA’s program or perhaps offer one of their own. For example, Puget Sound Energy in the Seattle area works with ARCA to offer customers free pick-up of old appliances for recycling and a $30 rebate on their next bill. One caveat is the appliances must be operational, even if not working at full capacity.

If your utility doesn’t participate in ARCA’s network or have its own appliance recycling program, maybe your municipality recycles appliances, although it’ll likely cost you $30 or more. Some will even send a truck for pickup for an additional fee.

But what if neither option is available in your area? Check out the non-profit website Earth911.org, a free online database of recyclers for anything imaginable across the U.S. Search for the keyword “appliance” and enter in your zip code. You will likely find more than one option within driving distance, but don’t be surprised if, like with a municipality, you have to pay not only to recycle your poor old broken down fridge but also for pickup if you need it.

If the appliance is still working, another alternative would be to donate it to a worthy cause which can either find it a good home with a needy family or sell it and put the proceeds into its programs. The housing non-profit Habitat for Humanity runs Habitat ReStores to resell donated goods in 48 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces. Appliances as well as donated furniture, home accessories and building materials are sold to the general public at a fraction of the retail price to help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes within their communities while simultaneously keeping reusable appliances and other materials out of the waste stream. The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and the American Council of the Blind also may take donated appliances in working order.

CONTACTS: ARCA Inc., www.arcainc.com; Puget Sound Energy, www.pse.com; Earth911, www.earth911.org; Habitat for Humanity, www.habitat.org; Salvation Army, www.salvationarmy.org; St. Vincent de Paul, www.svdpusa.org; American Council of the Blind, www.acb.org

8 Comments

1. 1. candide 08:43 AM 5/11/10

   "Where Do Old Appliances Go After They Die?"
   
   Of course, they go to the appliance graveyard, which is right next to the elephant graveyard.
   
   Is SciAm anthropomorphicizing refrigerators now?

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2. 2. eddiequest 11:53 AM 5/11/10

   Hmmm. Is candide oversimplifying story styles, now? [ahem!]
   The appliances that 'die' in my town usually go to a transfer station, which is ON THE WAY to the dump. But here, they are removed and taken somewhere else to be dismantled. I am glad for this; but I wish someone out there would come up with a plan to MINE the LANDFILLs after they close. I believe there is a whole lot of useful salvage in those dumps.

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3. 3. Quinn the Eskimo 12:58 AM 5/14/10

   eddiequest: the ''new'' manufacturers would never permit that. They'd hire a bigillion lobbyists to stop it.
   
   Take a look at old tires. About 1,500 uses for them, yet they lay there and rot! Why? Government wants to tax recycling to death. Why? Lobbyists from the tire companies. Lobbyists from the asphalt companies.
   
   See a pattern here? I thought you would.

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4. 4. mo98 07:16 AM 5/16/10

   Who will the next unwanted appliance recipients be? While a few may settle to inherit a less efficient appliance in a dwelling probably also not of their choosing, I speculate that subsequent recycling will not be on their agenda in the near future. Long term thinking may lag the short term will among the needy to disassociate themselves ASAP with even the good junk of our forebearers. Until the game of social status starts to change its philosophy, the environment footprint makers in America, Copenhagen or elsewhere need to see problems as they should be solved starting from their own yards first.
   

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5. 5. marbi21 10:19 AM 3/15/11

   A really well written post, thank you for your hard work, please keep it up
   
   <a href="http://www.recymobilier.com/eng/">Appliances recycling canada</a>
   

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6. 6. sabineshome 04:47 PM 4/4/11

   I am missing a comment on the reclaiming of freon gas in this article. To your lead commentator from Westport I say: be kind to the planet - replace old appliances. New appliances draw so much less electricity, do not leak freon etc. Proper disposal and replacement is definitely the right Earth Choice.www.sabineshome.com

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7. 7. paydayuk 11:45 AM 4/9/11

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8. 8. jhon12 09:58 AM 4/12/11

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