We know the mantra well: “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” We often start by repairing, selling or donating our unwanted stuff but eventually, we must figure out how to recycle that old refrigerator Grandma gave you in 1980. And recycling can even be cost effective when its energy use is taken into account because outdated products are often less energy efficient than newer models — even when you include the embodied energy cost of producing the new one and disposing of the old.
Recycling certain household items may be trickier than you think. Proper recycling of appliances, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, and rechargeable batteries is a must. It reduces pollution in two important ways:
• Recyclable materials, such as glass, plastics, and metals, are kept out of landfills.
• Hazardous waste is handled appropriately.
Let’s get busy recycling the safe way!
Household appliances
Properly disposing of appliances helps keep harmful chemicals, such as refrigerants, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) out of the atmosphere and landfills. It saves energy too, because recycling existing materials to create new products uses less energy than making new products from virgin materials.
According to the Steel Recycling Association, nearly 90 percent of household appliances in the U.S. are now recycled since disposal systems have become more effective at salvaging the plastic, steel, glass, refrigerant, oil and blowing agent found in old appliances for use in new products.
Consumer Reports explains that when you buy a new large appliance, most retailers will haul away the old one. Some utilities will even pay you to dispose of an energy-wasting appliance. Find out whether your town or county government offers an appliance-recycling program or locate one on the Steel Recycling Institute’s website.
Source: Huffington Post