Landfills take up space, add
to the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and they smell
awful. Plus, they will only get bigger if your old refrigerator, oven or washer
get sent there when you upgrade to a new one. Thankfully, you can recycle these
big appliances instead, and all it takes is a phone call or two.
The easiest way to recycle your old
appliance is by buying your new one from a store that offers recycling
services. Best
Buy, for example, has a program that picks up the old appliance when
the new one is delivered for a small fee.
If shopping at major appliance chains
isn't your thing, or you're not buying a new appliance, go small. Many small
appliance companies also offer this service, even if you don't buy a new
appliance from them. I've found that small appliance repair shops are the best
places to call. Since picking up an old unit is a great way to get free parts
for repairing newer units, and it builds a rapport with the community, many
shops are more than happy to help if you ask. Some also advertise pickup
services in the local newspaper or phonebook, so keep an eye out there, too.
Some utility providers also offer
recycling programs. They pickup your old unit and some even put a credit on
your account just for doing this.
A few companies that participate in
recycling programs are Consumers
Energy, Focus
on Energy (a
partnership with several different Wisconsin utility companies), DTE
Energy and Idaho
Power. The EPA has a list of providers that offer recycling services here.
If you don't want to hunt for a program
near you, nonprofits like Earth911 and Call 2 Recycle have
nifty search tools that can make finding one quick and easy.
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