We put so much trust in our home appliances. When they stop working, it impacts our daily lives. This disruption, along with having to buy a new appliance, can make the hassle of getting rid of the old appliance even more frustrating.

The next time your old refrigerator or dishwasher needs replaced or you decide to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model, dispose of them properly. There are many resources we have in Northeast Ohio to help you recycle old appliances:

Why Recycle Old Appliances?

There is no question that updating any old appliance (broken or not) to a newer, energy-efficient one is better for the environment. But did you know that you can save money just by recycling your old appliances?

First, every energy-burning large appliance that you replace with an energy-efficient one can save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs over the course of a couple of years. Imagine how much you could save in energy costs alone when switching out old energy hog appliances to energy-optimized ones. On top of that, some energy-efficient appliances even offer money-back through the
ENERGY STAR® Rebate Program.

Responsible Appliance Disposal Isn't Hard Work

When we throw away old appliances without practicing safe appliance disposal methods, it can have grave consequences for our environment and, ultimately, for us. Some substances found in appliances (like insulating foam) contribute to ozone depletion when disposed of improperly. And others, like refrigerant and mercury, can leach into our groundwater and even our drinking water.

But recycling appliances isn’t hard. It doesn’t mean you have to disassemble your old fridge, drain the refrigerant, and then recycle the metal, glass, and plastic all by yourself. Fortunately, the EPA has a RAD program that helps consumers find trained professional partners who practice responsible appliance disposal.

Can You Get Paid to Recycle an Appliance?

In some cases, you can get paid to recycle an old appliance in Northeast Ohio. Certain utilities partner with the EPA to offer up to $75 for the proper disposal of a refrigerator or freezer.

For example, AEP and First Energy both have programs for customers that reward them for recycling their older, working appliances. Each utility will pick up the appliance for free, follow EPA’s
Responsible Appliance Disposal recycling guidelines for disposal and then pay you for it!

Who Will Recycle Large Appliances?

It might seem that finding a company that will recycle your large appliance in Northeast Ohio is a difficult task. However, because of the EPA’s RAD program partnership for Ohio, there are many
choices for disposing of your appliance in an environmentally-responsible way.

And if there are additional questions about local large appliance recycling pick-up, be sure to also check out the Ohio EPA’s online recycling directory for more information on who will pick up your old appliances and recycle them properly.

Of course, each partnership has its own set of program requirements that need to be followed, but recycling appliances near you has never been safer or easier. And considering that most refuse
companies will add a hefty charge to pick up an old appliance and throw it in a dump, recycling your appliances in Northeast Ohio is a no-brainer.

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Tags: NOPEC, Energy Efficiency, Recycling, Appliances
Categories: Energy Efficiency