It is very common that at home we have any appliance that we no longer use due to its age, functionality or simply because we have seen a more modern one with more functions and we would like to renew it. For example, if we have a humidifier at home and we have seen a better humidifier elsewhere, with better functions and a much more beautiful design than the one you had, it is normal that you want to buy a new one and discard the old one.
This is when we have to think about where we can dispose of these types of devices. Electronic equipment should not be disposed of with normal garbage, as this is horrible for the planet and is also illegal in most countries.
Many electronic devices contain toxic chemicals that can leak from the landfill into groundwater and into the ground, polluting our ecosystem. It is recommended that you recycle them properly in premises specifically designed for these appliances.
How to recycle household appliances
You are unlikely to be able to put small appliances in the recycling bin on the sidewalk for recycling. However, you may be able take them to a recycling center. Any community with a permanent electronics recycling collection center can bring small appliances for recycling.
You can think of these centers as the place to carry goods like computers, printers, and televisions. However, most can carry almost anything that is battery operated or has a power cord.
Check with the e-waste recycling center from your locality for more details.
If your city does not have an e-waste collection center, you can take advantage of other e-waste recycling solutions. Many solid waste districts special collection events are scheduled at various times of the year. Nonprofits like churches and schools can sponsor e-waste collection days.
You can also check with private companies to see if they offer electronic recycling services. If not, you can increase your ability to recycle some small appliances, that is, you can break them down into small pieces and recycle them separately. Electric cables are fairly easy to recycle if you can find a place to take them (like a local metal recycler). They are also fairly easy to remove.
If your appliance has parts that are mostly metal, you can check with your local recycling company and see if you can put them in your metal recycling container.
Know the appliances that can go to the trash and those that can't
Non-working and hazardous waste items
These items cannot go in the normal trash.
- Televisions: tubes, flat screens, plasmas or projectors.
- Computers: monitors, keyboards, mice and their peripherals.
- Telephones and answering machines
- Stereo equipment, radios, tape players, VCRs, CD / DVD players, and phonographs
- Microwave ovens.
- Thermostats
- Ballasts for fluorescent lamps.
- Digital clocks and MP3 music players.
- Digital cameras and video cameras.
- Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Cathode ray tubes and CRT-containing devices.
- String lights.
Items that don't work and can go in the trash
These items are electrical, but are not electronic waste, including:
- Lamps and lighting fixtures.
- Hair dryers and curlers.
- Pumps.
- Vacuum cleaners.
- Toasters.
How to reuse small appliances
If your small appliances are still working, consider donating them to a thrift store or selling them at a garage sale.
Many people are looking for great deals on small appliances and are happy to buy second hand. That's especially true if you have a high-value item like an expensive brand-name machine, such as a coffee maker, blender, or blender.
Depending on the type of small appliance you want to dispose of, you can also donate it to a charity that can use it instead of selling it. Youth cooking programs might be interested in things like mixers, blenders, and food processors. Small homeless shelters might appreciate items like toasters, coffeemakers, and electric kettles.
If your item is no longer working, consider looking for a volunteer-run program to help you fix it.
Reusing these items will save you the cost of having to buy a new device. It can also save your item from an eternity in a landfill.
