When your aging refrigerator heaves a final stuttering rattle and stops cooling, you don’t just have to think about getting a new one, but how to get rid of the old one. Dumping the retired appliance at a landfill is bad for the environment as it contains refrigerant gas, which, if released in an uncontrolled manner, harms the ozone layer and contributes to climate change.
So when thinking about environmentally responsible ways to dispose of your fridge you have a few options. Perhaps the easiest way to get rid of the old appliance is to call up a company that offers to pick it and recycle it when you buy a new one from them.
However, there are other environmentally friendly ways to dispose of a refrigerator. Taking a little time to separate the different metals and plastics in your old fridge will get you a little pocket money from the local scrap dealer and recognize you as a worthy member of the responsible recycling club. If you like to get creative you can also repurpose it into something new and useful. Let’s have a look.
Recycle It and Sell Scrap Metal
Recovering Refrigerant Gases
An essential element of responsible recycling is ensuring that no harmful gases are released during the process. The removal and storage of refrigerant gas requires specialized equipment and professional expertise. It’s typically the first step of the recycling process. The gas is removed from the system and properly stored to be cleaned and reused in the future.
Recyclable Parts of a Fridge that have Value
The compressor is the heart of a fridge as it powers the refrigeration process, making it the most valuable part. If the compressor is still functioning, the first prize is to remove it as a complete unit, as it could be used as a replacement part for another refrigerator.
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If the compressor is no longer working, stripping it will give you access to copper wiring, which is always worth recycling as metal is a valuable thing to recycle, and copper is one of the most valuable metals. Copper or aluminum piping is also a valuable recycling product, while the steel casing of the refrigerator may add a few bucks profit to the exercise. Some refrigerators have a brushed stainless steel or aluminum outer body, which, although the metal is very thin, is worth separating from the rest of the refrigerator and recycling it.
You can sell the above-mentioned parts to your local salvage company. We maintain a partial list of salvage companies in Canada on this page.
While recycling the glass shelves has little monetary value, the glass should be recycled to avoid leaving it lying around or ending up in a landfill. The metal shelves have some value and can be sold with the other ferrous metal sections of the refrigerator.
Repurpose and Reuse
As an alternative to recycling you can repurpose it. Once the gas has been removed from the refrigerator, you can let your imaginative skills take over and remodel it to take on a new role with style. All those food products that need to be stored in a cool, dark place will find a perfect new home in your old fridge. Wine is a good example of this. Add a few shelves to lay your bottles down, and your wine will stay cool and ready to gently develop to its full potential. But it doesn’t have to stop at storing food. Fitting some shelves can also make a great storage cupboard for crockery and kitchen gadgets.
Here’s another idea. Take the old refrigerator body outside and transform it into a raised bed to grow herbs to enhance your culinary offerings. All you need to do is remove the door, drill a couple of drain holes in the back, and fill it with potting soil enriched with compost to make an ideal home for herbs.
Feel like getting creative? Using your unmatched sense of style and colour, paint your old refrigerator to suit your study space. With the addition of a couple of shelves, it becomes a perfect bookcase.
What to Look for in Your Replacement Refrigerator
Once you’ve earned your stars for recycling responsibly, the next step is to ensure the replacement is an Eco-friendly unit that will be kind to the environment and save you money. A+++ Energy Star rated appliances are leaders in energy efficiency.. Not only will they reduce your energy bill, but their extended service life will ensure years of service without the need for replacement.
Make Your Mark to End the ‘Throw-away’ Society
We live in a world where it’s all too easy to discard obsolete appliances without considering the potential damage they may cause to the environment. Here’s your chance to contribute positively to the environment by responsibly recycling or repurposing your old refrigerator. I hope you will find a way to recycle the bits and pieces that can be reused or to repurpose the unit, making it a shining example of your imaginative skills.
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