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Disposing of old refrigerators is a big job.
Big because the appliances are big, for one, and they have to be properly disposed of, as well, which can be a big chore in itself. And it presents a big opportunity to help the planet and reduce the impact of old refrigerators in the waste stream through refrigerator recycling.
And you may well ask, “Is refrigerator recycling really a thing?”
Well, as it turns out, yep!
Why Recycle an Old Refrigerator?
And that’s another fair question to ask: “Why recycle an old refrigerator?” The key to that question is to understand the importance of recycling a refrigerator instead of landfilling it.
Of course, we all understand that recycling is not only a good thing to do with as many waste items and materials as possible, but that it’s also good for the planet – the environment, the atmosphere, and the groundwater.
But we also know that some things seem to be difficult, if not impossible, to recycle.
Take large household appliances like refrigerators or chest freezers, for example. Surely recycling a refrigerator is not a common activity, right? And, when it comes to refrigerator recycling, you obviously can’t just put it in your household recycling bin on the curb.
In fact, most of us would even be hard pressed to get one into a recycling dumpster!
That’s because your average residential side-by-side refrigerator is almost six feet tall and over three feet wide – front to back, as well as side to side. Not to mention that it weighs up to 400 pounds, with an average weight of 250 pounds.
But this also means that, if that old fridge ends up in a local landfill – like the Otay Landfill, for example – the thing will take up an excessively large amount of space for one waste item.
The average household refrigerator takes up just over 50 cubic feet of landfill volume. Multiply that by the more than 10 million estimated units that do end up in landfills every year. Now you’re talking about 500,000,000 million cubic feet of space, or close to 17 square miles of refrigerators standing upright, side by side!
Benefits of Recycling an Old Refrigerator
There are several other benefits of recycling a refrigerator aside from reducing space used in landfills.
For example, by having your old refrigerator properly recycled, you will ensure that all the oils, refrigerants, and other dangerous compounds will be removed and recovered safely. And, depending on where you live and the age of your unit, you may also be eligible for a rebate program.
In addition, recycling benefits the economy.
As one source notes,
“On average, most cooling appliances that are at least 10 years old are made up of over 120 pounds of recyclable steel. In addition, there are many other metals and components that can be reused.”
Along with all the steel, refrigerators provide a variety of plastics and other metal. These plastics and metals are removed from the interior of the machine and can usually be fully recycled. Then there’s the glass dividers and shelving that can be crushed and shipped to glass recycling plants.
And finally, the compressor of your unit is safely removed and able to be recycled in other appliances.
How to Properly Dispose of Your Old Refrigerator
It can be tempting to forgo all the recycling efforts and simply haul your fridge somewhere outside of town and dump it.
Not a really good idea.
Not only is it highly illegal in California, but it is also dangerous and poses a very real threat to the environment. And even if you do find a landfill to dump it in legally, that is still one of the worst ways to dispose of your old refrigerator.
As one site explains,
“Disposing of your unused refrigerator or freezer unit improperly can have many dangerous repercussions on the environment. Old appliances that were built prior to 1995 contain foam insulation made with CFC-11, which is an environmentally destructive gas that contributes to the recent changes our climate is experiencing.
If these units are left to rot in landfills, they can also contribute a dangerous amount of carbon dioxide to the earth as the foam insulation begins to degrade. Landfill availability is limited, and these huge appliances can take up a great deal of precious space in an already packed area.”
In addition, most old freezers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers contain ozone-depleting chemicals used in refrigerants that are dangerous to the environment.
For example, most refrigerators manufactured prior to the mid-1990s used Freon as the main refrigerant. In 1994, the use of Freon, or R-12, was banned in new refrigerators and air-conditioning systems due to its damage to the ozone layer. Beginning in 1990, the less harmful replacement, R-134a, has been used in many old systems.
And refrigerant recovery has to be performed by a certified technician. Fortunately, most reputable recycling facilities have that covered.
So, it is pretty much a settled issue that, if you can’t or do not want to sell or donate your old refrigerator, then you will want to have it recycled.
But that begs the question as to how to recycle an old fridge?
A Guide on How to Recycle Your Old Fridge in Chula Vista
For many homeowners, renters, and others, when it comes to old refrigerator disposal, it’s common to ask, “How do you recycle a fridge?”
The good news is that old fridge recycling in Chula Vista can be easy.
In fact, it can be so easy that we’ve put together a DIY guide for preparing your old appliance for removal and recycling.
When you decide to call for a professional refrigerator removal service to haul your old fridge for you to be recycled, you don’t really have to do much of anything. However, if you like to tinker and get things ready for disposal, there are just a few simple steps you need to follow:
- Unplug your refrigerator 24 hours before it will be removed
- Turn off the water valve to the appliance
- Empty and drain the ice maker if it has one
- Remove the interior components
- Arrange for refrigerant removal
- Clean your old refrigerator
- Call for a professional junk hauling service
This last step is probably the easiest since, if you live in Chula Vista, you need simply to call Junk King San Diego Downtown.
As your local Junk King location, we can provide efficient, safe, and eco-friendly refrigerator removal service that makes the entire process easy for you. And our experienced refrigerator removal team will quickly and easily haul away your old fridge without damaging any part of your home in the process.
Oh, and we’ll do all the heavy lifting!
The Benefits and Importance of Properly Disposing an Older Refrigerator
So, to recap, there are huge benefits to properly disposing of your old refrigerator through recycling, as well as it being an important decision, as well.
Some of those benefits include:
- Helping to protect the ozone layer
- Recovery of scrap metal
- Saving natural resources
- Preventing potential environmental issues
In addition to the environmental and other “green” benefits, proper refrigerator disposal means less effort on your part.
And why is that?
Because the best option for old refrigerator removal and disposal in Chula Vista is to call a professional appliance removal firm, like Junk King San Diego Downtown. We specialize in appliance removal and refrigerator disposal and recycling, and have for years.
So, we’re really good at it! And the best part of all is that we make the entire process easy for you.
Recycling: Your Best Refrigerator Disposal Option in Chula Vista
Okay. So, you’ve decided to get rid of your old refrigerator. But how do you go about doing that?
Of course, if it’s still working and in good condition, you can certainly try to sell it. You can make that happen by asking friends and neighbors, or by posting it on an online selling site. Just make sure that it’s clean and that you make a full disclosure about any dings, scratches, or broken parts.
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Don’t want to wait around for a buyer and dealing with multiple calls or emails? Then donate that working appliance. It’s highly likely that you could successfully donate it to a local charity, or even give it to a family member or friend that needs a fridge.
Those are great options. But what if your old fridge doesn’t work any longer?
While the obvious answer might be to dump it, as we’ve pointed out here, that’s actually the worst thing you could try to do. But, since so much of what your refrigerator is made of can be efficiently recycled, getting it removed and taken to a recycling facility is really your best option.
Living in or near Chula Vista also means that getting your old refrigerator transported to a proper facility for recycling is pretty easy. In fact, the easiest way to dispose of your old refrigerator in an eco-friendly manner is to call a local and professional junk removal service.
And Junk King San Diego Downtown is your best choice for the job!
When You Need Refrigerator Removal in the Downtown San Diego Area
When you call Junk King San Diego Downtown, you can know that you’ll get prompt, courteous, and eco-friendly refrigerator recycling, and junk removal service.
The best part about calling Junk King is that you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. And that’s a good thing since – unlike your family vehicle – our junk removal trucks are designed for large loads of old appliances like refrigerators, as well as all other types of bulky junk!
Our experienced junk removal team will easily and quickly remove and haul off your old refrigerator, along with any other types of junk you have to get rid of, as well. (Anything except hazardous waste, that is!)
We are proud of the fact that Junk King San Diego Downtown is dedicated to delivering outstanding service to our residential neighbors and businesses who live and work in downtown San Diego and areas like Chula Vista.
Our professional and insured junk removal team will show up at your property and we’ll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive. Once we’re there, we’ll give you a free, no-obligation estimate based on how much space your refrigerator and other junk takes up in our truck.
You simply point, and we’ll load your appliance, rubbish, and other junk items and haul them away with no hidden fees!
Just make an appointment by booking online above, or by calling us at 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).
