It’s always a hassle when an appliance quits running. Not only do you have to spend the money to replace it, you also have to deal with its disposal. If you are doing a big remodel job on your kitchen, you may end up with several appliances to get rid of.
Removing an appliance and managing its disposal doesn’t have to be hard. The key is knowing the best way to get rid of your old appliances, whether that is recycling, donating, or disposing. If you have a dumpster outside your home during your remodel process, make sure you’re allowed to use it for your old appliance in before tossing it.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 5 million tons of major appliances are discarded in municipal solid waste landfills each year. This represents almost 2% of total landfill waste. This type of trash includes refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers.
The amount of landfill space these bulky items use is increasing each year. The EPA explains, “While the number of units of appliances is higher than previous years, the average weight per unit is lower.” This means that the 5 million tons of large appliances that will be trashed this year represents a larger number of units than in previous years.
In many cases, you can arrange for the service that is delivering your new appliance to also haul away the old one. If not, you’ll need to arrange for disposal yourself.
It is important to know whether your trash is safe to put into a rental dumpster. If it is illegal in your area or prohibited by the landfill or dumpster company, you risk paying fines for improper disposal. Tossing several large appliances into your rental dumpster could cause you to exceed the weight limit for the dumpster container, which could also lead to more charges.
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Typically, a large refrigerator or freezer can be tossed into your dumpster. There are some steps you have to take to do this safely. First, you must empty the unit and remove the doors or seal them closed before disposal. This is a requirement of the Refrigerator Safety Act. Removing the doors helps with landfill overcrowding and protects children from accidental entrapment. If you can’t remove the doors, you should close it with strong tape or rope.
If your refrigerator or freezer runs on freon, the freon compartment should be removed before disposal. However, many places prohibit the disposal of an appliance containing freon and some outright ban the disposal of refrigerators and freezers, so check local regulations first.
You can dispose of your old broken microwave in a landfill, so tossing it into your dumpster is fine. However, in some cases, landfills have special areas or bins or electronics and small appliances. Check before disposing of your microwave to make sure it won’t need special handling in the disposal process.
You can place your old oven, stove, or range in a dumpster for disposal. There is an exception in some cases for very old appliances. Some gas stoves were manufactured using mercury and other metals that are now banned in landfills. If you have an older appliance, check with us first before tossing.
Before tossing these large units in your dumpster, make sure that you won’t exceed the weight limit for the container. If you are unsure about this, call us to determine if you’re good to put the appliances in the dumpster or if you need any special handling or a larger dumpster container.
As with freezers, many air conditioning units contain freon or other hazardous materials. Before tossing, the refrigerant must be properly removed. You may need the assistance of a certified technician for this. After the refrigerant is removed, the lines should be sealed to prevent any residual gas from escaping.
In most cases, you are permitted to dispose of a water heater in a residential rental dumpster. Before tossing it, you should empty it completely. If your water heater is old, it could contain asbestos or other hazardous materials that are banned from landfills. Check with us before you put an older water heater in your rental dumpster.
Instead of putting your old and broken appliances into a dumpster, consider other methods of disposal. Most communities offer recycling services that accept large appliances. These recyclers break down the units into salvageable materials. This helps preserve landfill space and is safer for the environment.
If your old appliance still has some life in it, you can sell or donate it. Check with your local thrift store donation center to see if they will accept it or offer it up for sale or free on a neighborhood group.
We make it easy to dispose of your old appliances. Whether you are replacing one appliance or remodeling your whole kitchen, we’ll take care of all your disposal needs at a price you can afford. Call Discount Dumpster today to discuss all your options, get a free quote, and set up fast delivery.
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