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Yes, can you recycle appliances? It’s simple to recycle televisions and aluminum cans, but it requires a little more effort to get rid of large appliances before they are taken to the recycling center. Copper, steel, and even ozone are extracted by trained professionals to comply with EPA Section 608 guidelines.
The difference between a stove and a dishwasher, or a humidifier and a dehumidifier, this list will tell you what happens to your old appliances after they leave your house through appliance removal services. What can and can’t be reused, and what can’t be thrown away despite your best efforts.
Understanding What “Recyclable” Actually Means for Appliances
Not all categories of home appliances may be recycled in the same manner, as is commonly believed. Home appliances may generally be divided into two categories based on the nature of their recycling: home appliances with closed refrigerant systems (typically Fridges, Freezers, Window Air-Conditioners, Dehumidifiers) and home appliances without closed refrigerant systems (typically Stoves, Dishwashers, Washers, and Dryers).
When it comes to EPA regulations regarding the proper disposal of the coolant, any appliance with a closed system that requires the removal of that coolant must be done so before being crushed, even if your local transfer station tells you otherwise.
Case A: Refrigerant appliances.
A fridge that has been sitting in the garage in Dorchester or Roxbury for 10 years has a gas in its coils. This gas must be removed, according to the EPA’s Section 608 rules, before the metal can be baled and sent to the scrapyard.
Case B: Non-refrigerant appliances.
Ranges, dishwashers, and most washer/dryer combos don’t require this step. After making sure that the appliance is empty and unplugged, most junk appliance recyclers will take the steel and aluminum to the shredder without any additional permits.
What Can and Can’t Be Recycled: A Category Breakdown
A single-family dwelling in the greater Boston region, on average, includes 6-7 categories of major appliances to recycle, which are disposed of differently based on the materials and potential hazards they possess. Local scrapyards classify the recyclables based on their content rather than the brand or age.
| Appliance Type | Recyclable? | Special Handling Needed | Common Materials Recovered |
| Refrigerator / Freezer | Yes | Refrigerant recovery (EPA Section 608) | Steel, copper, aluminum |
| Window AC Unit | Yes | Refrigerant recovery | Steel, copper coils, plastic housing |
| Dehumidifier | Yes | Refrigerant recovery | Steel, copper, plastic |
| Washer / Dryer | Yes | None (drain hoses, remove lint) | Steel, motors, wiring |
| Range / Oven | Yes | Gas line disconnection if applicable | Steel, cast iron, wiring |
| Dishwasher | Yes | None | Steel, plastic, motor components |
| Microwave | Partial | Capacitor discharge (technician only) | Steel, copper wiring, circuit boards |
A dishwasher and a dehumidifier both count as recycle old appliances candidates. But only one of them requires the involvement of a certified technician before it can be processed. That difference is crucial to remember when deciding between getting something picked up yourself or paying for a company to do it for you.
Hidden Factors That Change the Outcome
Age and condition play an enormous role in the value of your old appliances. A fridge bought before the mid-1990s will most likely have CFC refrigerants, which require a different set of equipment to be removed than the HFCs found in modern fridges, a fact the recycling yard will happily remind you.
Weather considerations are also important; appliances left out on a New England winter usually report for recycling with their casings pitted with rust, substantially reducing the value of the steel. Some municipal programs, including those within the Massachusetts programs, will take a functioning refrigerator for free.
They figure that they would rather have a new fridge than have an old one still draining energy after twenty years in a basement.
Safety and Compliance Guidelines Homeowners Should Know
Refrigerant is not something to fool around with. Per EPA regulation 608 of the Clean Air Act, it is illegal to knowingly vent refrigerant into the atmosphere during disposal. And that goes for homeowners and haulers, too – not just certified technicians.
Local building and health departments in many Massachusetts communities also require that doors be removed from refrigerators and freezers placed at the curb for pickup.
This is for the purpose of child safety to prevent them from being enclosed within the product. So, if in doubt, call your local public works department to confirm.
Recycling an Old Appliance: Step by Step
- Identify the appliance type: Determine whether the unit is self-contained (refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers) or not.
- Empty and unplug it: Remove food, ice, and any water lines. Disconnect any gas lines on a range if necessary.
- Contact a certified recovery service: For any appliance that requires it, have a technician remove refrigerant; some municipal and utility pickup programs require this service by law.
- Remove doors on refrigeration units: This is often a local safety ordinance, not optional.
- Schedule pickup or drop-off: Your options may include municipal bulk-item pickup, utility organization haul-away programs, or a scrap-metal yard that buys home appliances.
- Confirm documentation if required: Some recyclers require a signed statement that Freon has been properly removed, especially if the unit was not purchased by the homeowner.
- Recycle the parts: Shredders process the metal casings for reuse, and wiring and circuit boards from newer models are often pulled out for specialized recycling.
Bonus Tip: Before getting rid of your fridge, take a picture of the data plate, typically located on the door frame or back panel. This will provide the serial number as well as the month and year when the unit was manufactured, which is usually needed by most junkyards.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The first rule is that when you throw away your fridge, don’t put the “refrigerant” where your hauler can “take care of it.” Depending on your jurisdiction, that could cost you a fine.
Another common mistake is attempting to junk your own microwave. Inside your air conditioner, there is a device called a capacitor that stores electricity.
The high-voltage capacitor of the unit holds the charge even when the unit is turned off. Homeowners often mistakenly sort the disposal of home appliances into bag-and-tag garbage collection.
The disposal of large home appliances typically requires the intervention of the sanitation department and recycling agencies.
Things to Consider Before Making a Decision
- Refrigerant type matters: Older units might require recovery equipment not available at some shops, so that could limit your options if you’re trying to get rid of it.
- Pickup vs. drop-off logistics: It is also essential to note that working machines are generally heavy, so you should think about whether you can carry your fridge away or if you will need to call a specialized service to do it for you.
- Utility and municipal programs: Some Massachusetts utilities offer no-cost pickup programs for old refrigerators and freezers to help manage the load on the electrical grid caused by energy-intensive appliances; programs recommended by ENERGY STAR can help ensure proper recycling and disposal of your old fridge or freezer.
- Documentation requirements: If your local junkyard requires you to show them that you’ve removed the refrigerants from your appliance, be sure to do that first.
- Replacement timing: Ask the company that will be installing your new appliance if they will remove your old refrigerator or freezer during the installation process.
Answers to Common Questions
Can you recycle a refrigerator that still works?
Yes, because many utility-run recycling programs are interested in obtaining functioning units so that they can be taken off the grid and not put back into use, as they draw down extra power.
What happens to the refrigerant after it’s removed?
The certified recovery process takes out the refrigerant gas into a sealed container to either be reused or destroyed according to EPA regulations, depending on what kind of gas it is and if the recycling facility has the equipment to do so.
Can you recycle old appliances that are rusted or broken?
In most instances, then, the value of the item for recycling purposes is indeed derived from the metals contained within, and a broken or rusty appliance is acceptable as long as any refrigerant has been extracted beforehand.
Do all appliances need special handling before recycling?
No, however ranges, dishwashers, washer-dryer combinations, and other non-refrigerant appliances are simply disconnected and any liquids removed.
Is it illegal to put a refrigerator on the curb without removing the doors?
In some Massachusetts towns, it is a local law that requires that your unit be serviced by a private company to remove the refrigerant, so you should contact your local board of assessors to determine if you need to have your system serviced by a particular company.
Expert Advice for Homeowners
The most critical aspect of the recycling process is ascertaining whether your appliance requires refrigerant recovery; all the following details regarding the paperwork and pickup logistics stem from this particular determination. The units that do not utilize a sealed cooling system are relatively hassle-free, whereas the ones that utilize compressors and coils require an extra step of purification before heading to the junkyard.
This step, if done correctly, prevents such inconveniences as denied pickups, additional fees, and even unnecessary transportation fees because the refrigerator was initially refused by the recycling facility.
Expert Support for Your Project
Clearing out old appliances can be an issue during a bigger renovation or remodeling, which is why J&S Hauling and Junk Removal offers to orchestrate both removals and other projects, such as kitchen, basement, or room renovations, to avoid having to deal with multiple contractors and schedules.
Get in touch with us via email at jshauling@proton.me or call us at (618) 310-6823 to set up an appointment. We have extensive experience working in the greater Boston area, helping people with renovations while avoiding the burden of having to deal with old appliances, so we know what it takes to make sure nothing unnecessary gets in the way of finishing the project on time.
