Having a broken washing machine or dryer is inconvenient and can become an eyesore if left sitting around your house or apartment. Unfortunately, these appliances are some of the biggest waste producers out there. Knowing what to do with old washers and dryers requires understanding your options for recycling, disposal, repurposing, and more. Keep reading to determine the best way to get rid of your household appliance while benefitting the environment:
Before considering dumping your old washer or dryer, explore ways to keep these large appliances out of the landfill through recycling programs and manufacturer take-back options. Recycling washers, dryers, and other household appliances help conserve natural resources while reducing environmental impact.
Scrap metals make up a significant portion of bulk in old washing machines. Many recycling centres and scrap yards accept scrap appliances, either for free or for a small drop-off fee. Contact your local recycling centre to ask about scrap appliance recycling. Some haul-away services or junk removal companies also provide appliance recycling and disposal assistance. Before setting appliances on the curb for pick-up, always check your municipal garbage collection policies.
Many home appliance manufacturers and retailers offer appliance take-back programs and recycling services. When buying a new washer or dryer, ask the retailer if it collects old appliances. Major brands like LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, GE, etc., recycle washers, dryers, and other large appliances. They properly collect and dispose of hazardous components. Then, the scrap metals and plastics get recycled. This gives your old machines new life while keeping them out of landfills.
Refurbishing and repurposing household appliances prevents wasting useful resources and money on replacements. Everything from the drum to the motor or control timer knobs on old washing machines may be salvageable for repair persons. If the machine is unfixable but still functioning, give it another life as a laundry bin, toolbox or storage shelf. Some creative DIYers even convert old appliances into quirky furnishings.
In some municipalities, residents can schedule a bulky goods pick-up for large household item disposal, including appliances. But in many areas, simply leaving an unwanted washer or dryer on the curb violates local ordinances. Dumping comes with fines or fees. Before placing any household appliances curbside, always check with waste management authorities. Leaving hazardous machines accessible puts neighbourhoods at risk. Instead, take advantage of recycling programs and authorized collectors.
Safely getting rid of old appliances requires disposing of hazardous components like chemicals, gases, and oils. It also means keeping recyclable and non-recyclable materials out of landfills when possible. Follow these tips for eco-friendly and proper washer and dryer disposal:
All household washers and dryers contain some hazardous substances requiring special handling. These include chemical detergent and water softener residues, CFC refrigerant gases for dryers, mercury in switches, and other corrosive or flammable lubrication oils. Improper disposal of these toxic substances poses contamination risks and pollutes groundwater. Always use extra caution when handling old appliances.
Once cleared of hazardous components, recyclers and collectors dismantle and sort appliance parts. Metals like steel and copper get melted down and reused. Plastics may get shredded, pelletized, and remanufactured. But some small parts remain unrecyclable. Check local regulations for proper disposal protocols on discarded appliance leftovers. In certain areas, these get specially designated as e-waste for solid waste removal.
Trying to sort out washer and dryer disposal on your own takes time and effort. Save yourself headaches by hiring professional junk hauling services to handle the entire process. Appliance removal companies properly extract and remediate hazardous materials before recycling and disposing of washers, dryers or other household appliances.
Junk removal services like Super Junk offer end-to-end pick-up and eco-friendly disposal assistance. Its trained technicians carefully dismantle and dispatch all recyclable and non-recyclable materials to approved centres and landfills. Super Junk handles all the hassle of appliance disposal for you.
So don’t let a broken washing machine, dryer or outdated appliance clutter up your home. Call Super Junk today to conveniently schedule an appliance removal and recycling pick-up. Its junk removal teams properly dispose of washers, dryers, refrigerators, and any household appliance in an environmentally responsible manner. Stop waste overflowing and do something good for the planet. Hire Super Junk for all your appliance disposal and junk removal needs today!
