How to Get Rid of a Refrigerator
Storing an old refrigerator can be quite a dilemma. It's too large to discard, too cumbersome to move, and takes up valuable space. Every time you see it, it prompts a resigned shrug and a deep sigh, along with the question, "What am I going to do with that?"
Disposing of the old fridge will significantly enhance your life. New, energy-efficient refrigerators are constantly entering the market, rendering our old ones obsolete and inefficient. If you still have a refrigerator from the 1990s, it's time to act. Continuing to use it means wasting money on electricity for a refrigerator that does only half the work of a new, energy-efficient model. It's time to embrace the modern era.
After we've swapped them out for the latest Energy Star model, our old clunkers languish in our garages or on our back porch. There's always the lingering thought that one day we might convert it into a beer fridge. Yet every time we consider it, we remember that we're not in college anymore, and having a beer fridge when you're over thirty is considered uncool. Who am I kidding? I still want one. Maybe we'll just stock it with a few sodas and call it a drink fridge. That's much less embarrassing. But if a year has passed and we still haven't found a good use for our old fridge, then it's time to let it go.
Recycling Your Old Refridgerator
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that over 9 million refrigerators are discarded annually in the United States. Proper recycling of these refrigerators is crucial due to the presence of ozone-depleting chemicals and other substances that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Freon is a refrigerant that can have detrimental effects on the environment if not disposed of correctly. When released into the air, it rises up into the atmosphere and contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. It is important for us to take the necessary steps to prevent this damage and protect our ozone shield to avoid potential consequences such as extreme heat and harm to our environment.
Ensuring proper recycling of refrigerators offers several benefits, including a significant reduction in emissions, the safe disposal of oil, mercury, and other contaminants, as well as the preservation of valuable landfill space. Consider the impact of 9 million old refrigerators on our waste management system and the environment. The potential harm from these refrigerators, filled with harmful substances, being improperly disposed of, could have devastating effects on our atmosphere. It is important to note that this is an annual occurrence, with another 9 million refrigerators expected to be discarded next year. To provide perspective, the environmental impact of 1,000 refrigerators is comparable to that of 1,500 cars in a year. Therefore, the environmental damage caused by 9 million refrigerators equates to that of 13.5 million cars.
Out of the hundreds of pounds of metal plastic and glass that make up a fridge over 95% of it can be recycled. On average an old fridge can be stripped down to about 150 pounds of metal, 75 pounds of plastic, over 10 pounds of glass and at least 1 pound of insulating foam, all which can be recycled and made into brand new products. Think about it, your fridge might one day be the right arm of Robocop, or maybe just a new tire rim. It's not just your run of the mill recyclables either, sure there is metal, but there is also plastic, glass, compressors, motors, thermostats, and polyurethane foam. There is a lot of metal in there. Any fridge older than 10 years has about 120 pounds of recyclable steel. That's enough to make Iron Maiden jealous, so don't let it go to waste.
If you get lucky you might even make a few bucks depending on how much metal a recycle center can get out of it.
Either way, you can make something cool with your broken box, so don’t just dump that old fridge.
How To Get Rid of a Refrigerator Near Me?
You can do a little research to find the right option for you or you can go the easy route and call Fusion Waste. Unlike some of the other programs, we will pick up the fridge and dispose of it properly ourselves - leaving you absolutely zero work to do. We do not take them to the dump, but instead, we see to it that every refrigerator is recycled according to state and federal law. You can rest assured we are doing our part to provide responsible appliance disposal services.
City of Los Angeles Resources
Here’s a quick look at local city trash pickup days:
City of Long Beach: https://www.longbeach.gov/
City of Santa Monica: https://www.santamonica.gov/
City of Hollywood: https://www.weho.org/
City of Los Angeles: https://lacity.gov/
City of Pasadena: https: //www.cityofpasadena.net/
City of Anaheim: https: //www.anaheim.net/
City of Riverside: https: //riversideca.gov/
In Los Angeles, the city will pick up refrigerators for free if you give them a one day notice before your regular trash pick up day.
Conclusion
Exciting news! Recycling your old fridge is now easier than ever before! With a little bit of effort, you could even make some money by finding the perfect way to get rid of it.
Many companies are offering incentives for recycling your old appliances. Contact your electric company to see if they have a program that rewards you with cash or a credit on your next bill. They'll even haul it away for you - talk about easy money!
Remember, they manufacture new energy efficient refrigerators for a reason — they're better for the environment and your wallet. Once you have a sparkling new fridge in your kitchen, send off your old one with a modern day Viking Funeral, where instead of being set on fire, it'll be torn apart and sold for scraps.
