8 Tips For Safe & Legal Appliance Disposal
Appliance disposal shouldn’t be difficult. But most of the time, it’s a hassle. Simply removing an appliance from your home can take a lot of heavy lifting and planning. And once it’s actually out of the house, you’re faced with the question of how to actually dispose of it properly.
That’s a tougher question to answer than many homeowners realize. Most landfills refuse to accept larger appliances, making it hard to get rid of these items on your own. To make things even more complicated, certain appliances are governed by strict disposal regulations. Improper disposal of these appliances can lead to serious legal consequences.
Unsure how to dispose of your unwanted appliances? Here are 8 tips to ensure safe and legal appliance disposal.
APPLIANCE DISPOSAL SAFETY TIPS
1. Create an Appliance Disposal Plan. When you’re getting rid of household appliances, you shouldn’t be making things up as you go. Instead, you need a plan. Before you remove your appliance, you’ll need to know how you’re removing it from your home, where you’re dropping it off, and how it’s getting to the drop off point. You’ll also need to know which (if any) regulations govern its disposal.
2. Practice Safe Removal Methods. Appliance disposal can be a dangerous job, especially when you’re removing large, heavy, or cumbersome appliances. When removing these items, it’s important that you’re performing the job with someone else’s help to avoid injury or damage to your property. You also need to make sure that you’re using safety-first lifting techniques, and that you’re not overexerting yourself or putting yourself in danger.
3. Don’t Mess Around with Refrigerants. Refrigerants are some of the most dangerous and heavily regulated chemicals found in household appliances. So, if you’re planning to get rid of an old refrigerator, freezer, dehumidifier, or air conditioner, you need to be especially cautious. On top of damage to the environment, improper disposal of these items can land you with a hefty fine.
4. Recycle Electronics the Right Way. While smart appliances have made our lives less difficult, they’ve made appliance disposal more complicated. Onboard microprocessors and display panels include a range of toxic and hazardous materials. While these materials are often present in small amounts, they require special handling and disposal. This is also true if you’re disposing of home electronics, like a television set, a home printer, or a desktop computer.
5. Donate Gently Used Appliances. If an appliance has reached the end of the road, disposal is the smart option. But if you’re getting rid of a still-functioning appliance, see if you can find a second home for your item. You might find a local charity with a need for certain household appliances. Or you can call local secondhand stores to see if they accept household appliances.
6. Contact Scrap Metal Collectors. Another great way to get rid of older, broken appliances is through a scrap metal collector. Certain items — like stoves, washing machines, and dryers — are accepted by most scrap metal collectors. If you can find a scrap yard that will accept your appliance, this could be a cheap alternative to other appliance disposal options.
7. Check for a Local Transfer Station. Depending on where you live, you may be able to take advantage of a municipal recycling program. First, check if your town, city, or county offers an appliance recycling program. Next, make sure that your appliance is covered by this program. Finally, look up the address of the nearest transfer station, then drop off your appliance during business hours.
8. Make Things Easy: Call the HUNKS! If you’re looking for speed, ease, and convenience, call the experts at your local College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving®! We offer pickup and disposal of all types of appliances. That includes large appliances like stoves, washers, and dryers, as well as appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and home electronics.
Our appliance removal services make things easy for homeowners. All of our HUNKS are professionally trained, ensuring safe removal of your items. When it comes time to dispose of your appliances, we follow eco-friendly disposal practices to minimize the environmental impact of appliance disposal.
Request a free appliance disposal estimate or call 1-888-689-5999 to learn more about our services.