Appliance and Electronics Recycling Guide

Over the years, we tend to give a lot of thought and research into purchasing new appliances and electronics. However when it comes to disposing of these products, these non-biodegradable materials usually end up in landfills. You can do your part to keep recyclable electronics, such as air conditioners, cell phones, clothes washers and dryers, computers, microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, and televisions, from becoming buried in the earth. By taking the time to recycle, you can help to conserve national resources, such as water, timber, and minerals and protect the environment for future generations. There are several things that we can do to reduce the amount of waste that is generated and sent to landfills. Families can challenge themselves by limiting the amount of recyclable appliances and electronics put on the curb and put effort towards sustaining our environment.

Air Conditioners

• Ozone Layer Protection: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduces a frequently asked question page about safe disposal of refrigerated household appliances.
• Energy Star Recycling: Find information on how to save energy at home, as well as how to recycle refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and other appliances such as air conditioners.
• Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provides a guide to the disposal of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and motor vehicle air conditioners.

Cell Phones

• Electronics Recycling: The Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling provide several different ways to reuse, sell, or dispose of unused cell phones.
• Recycling Wireless Telephones: Find statistics and general information on how to recycle wireless telephones and the results of improper waste disposal.
• Recycle Electronics: Learn about the benefits of electronic recycling and the methods of recycling used electronics, such as cell phones.

Clothes Washer

• Clothes Washer Disposal and Recycling: Take action to prevent appliances, such as clothes washers, from piling in landfills and participate in an appliance recycling program. 
• Repair, Replace, or Recycle: Guide to help determine whether you should repair, replace or recycle a broken appliance, such as a washing machine.
• Energy Efficient Products: Learn about the importance of recycling your old clothes washer and replacing it with an energy efficient brand.

Clothes Dryer

• Panasonic Recycling: Revisions to the Home Appliance Recycling Law and Panasonic provide a guide to the recycling of flat screen TVs and clothes dryers.
• Recycling of Clothes Dryers: Find various options to get rid of your used or non-working clothes dryer.
• Appliance Recycling: Learn about the concerns about the ozone layer and how recycling appliances, such as clothes dryers, can help to protect it.

Computers

• Pointless PC Pollution: The World Watch Institute provides statistics and information on computer pollution and recycling.
• Computer Recycling Center: Donate old or un-used computers to the Computer Recycle Center (CRC) to be re-used first, and then recycled.
• Recycling of TVs and Computers: Learn about the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, and the legality of recycling computers the proper way.

Microwaves

• Disposal of Microwaves: Look up your item to see whether it’s best to sell or recycle your used or non-working microwave.
• Green Guide to Recycling: Find information on recycling appliances and electronics, such as a microwave.
• Recycling Council: Here you will find general information on places to bring a microwave for recycling purposes.

Refrigerators

• Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling; Schedule a fridge pickup and learn about how much your old fridge or freezer may be costing you to maintain.
• Power Saver Refrigerator Recycling: Learn why it’s important to recycle old refrigerators and freezers.
• Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program: Here you will find answers to common recycling questions, such as why you should recycle, facts about older refrigerators and freezers, and what happens to old refrigerators.

Stoves

• Recycling and Solid Waste Center: Here you will find a chart that shows which appliances fit in what category and how to prepare these appliances for recycling.
• City Recycling Program: Find information on what types of appliances, electronics, and materials are acceptable to recycle and which are not.
• Materials Accepted for Recycling: Find materials, descriptions, and preparation notes for items that can be recycled, such as scrap metal from a stove.

Televisions

• Electronic Waste: Learn about ways to recycle electronics, such as computers and televisions, and the importance of banning landfills.
• Recycle Your Old Television: Here you will find information and resources on how to dispose of your old or non-working TV sets.
• Earth 911: Find recycling centers in your area to properly dispose of old appliances and electronics, such as TVs, computers, and refrigerators.

General Recycling Resources

• Commonly Recycled Materials: Here you will find a guide to all types of recycled materials, including plastic, glass, aluminum, steel, and paper.
• Waste and Recycling: This electronics recycling page educates families about electronics recycling and donations, reuse, drop-off, and mail-in program options.
• How to Recycle Common Materials: List of commonly used materials and how to dispose of them the proper way.
• Recycling Tips and Programs: Learn about the importance of recycling and the curbside single steam recycling program.
• What Do I Do with Appliances: Follow the steps to find a list of businesses and organizations that will accept and recycle your unwanted appliances and electronics.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Environmental Health and Safety organization provides green tips on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials and save money.
• Recycling and Garbage: Learn about what to do about appliances and electronics that are difficult to recycle and why.
• FAQ on Recycling and Contamination: Read through these frequently asked questions about what residents can and cannot recycle.
• Where Old Appliances Go to Die: Find statistics, information on landfills, and what happens when you recycle appliances.
• Material Recycling Questions and Answers: Learn how to properly dispose of many materials, including gasoline, antifreeze, large appliances, tires, paint, pesticides, and more.