It is easy to recycle appliances in our homes and kitchens when you know where to go. Keeping unwanted or broken appliances from landfills in Ontario is easier thanks to several programs that provide residents with multiple options to recycle large and small appliances.

How are small appliances defined?

As defined by Toronto’s recycling policies, small appliances include food processors, electric blenders, toasters, rice cookers, mini-ovens, coffee makers, and small fridges. There is no doubt that small appliances are easier to move and transport. Many people sell their working appliances on Kijiji, Craigslist, and Facebook classified ads, if they are still in good condition. Alternatively, these can be donated to local charities such as the Salvation Army.

How to prepare small appliances for recycling

• Be sure to unplug the appliance several days before recycling so it can cool down.
• If the appliance is heavy (such as a microwave or breadmaker), bind the power cord with a twist tie or tape it to the appliance. If you carry something that weighs 25 to 50 pounds, you do not want to be injured if you take a fall.
• A thrift store might appreciate the item if it is still in working condition. Though cleaning appliances before the donation is not mandatory, it’s certainly appreciated.
• There is probably no recycling market for your appliance’s removable parts. For example, the tempered glass jar or plastic blender jar is likely not recyclable. It is possible to remove these parts before recycling.

Small appliances: Why recycle them?

• The average appliance is made up of about 75 percent steel.
• The computer chips in microwaves contain valuable metals such as gold. Coated copper is another useful material found in electronic power cords.

What constitutes large appliances?

As you can imagine, large appliances are a little more difficult to deal with, and disposing of them can be difficult. Some examples of large appliances include water tanks, heaters, laundry machines, barbecues, refrigerators, computer towers, fireplaces that are separate from the house, microwaves, dishwashers, ovens, and air conditioners. Retailers who refurbish appliances for resale may accept large home appliances. The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity are great places to donate these items. Donating an appliance to such an organization can relieve your burden while raising funds for a good cause.

Large Appliances Recycling Preparation

1. To ensure that your appliance is as cool as possible before recycling, unplug it for several days.
2. You must verify whether the recycler removes Freon from older air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators. If not, you’ll need to call a professional to remove it.
3. Ask your new appliance company if it will recycle your old appliance when the new one is delivered. It is common for such companies to accept multiple appliances even if only one is delivered.
4. Consider donating it if you’re getting rid of a still-working product that is less than five years old. Habitat for Humanity sells building supplies to raise money for new houses, and they often accept used working appliances.
5. Doorways should be taped with packing tape so they do not open up in transport.
6. Use a dolly when moving an appliance or loading a truck. It is extremely difficult to move large appliances on your own.

Large Appliances: Why Recycle Them

• Steel makes up 75 percent of the average appliance.
• A major contributor to ozone depletion is chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in refrigerators and air conditioners to chill the air. A recycler will safely handle the CFCs released by a trashed refrigerator.
• You can buy a new appliance and recycle the old one for credit from most utility companies, and you’ll also save money on your monthly bill. It’s a win-win since you not only help the environment, but you are also saving money.

Depot Centres

You may be able to recycle your small or large appliances at a pre-established depot if you can physically move them. The definition of electronics varies by location and the type of appliance. Some recycling depots may take some appliances but not others, depending on the municipality and their equipment.

Removal of Junk

As an alternative – and if you cannot afford to transport the appliance physically – you can hire a junk removal service in Toronto. You simply need to make a call. Junk removal companies often provide same-day service, which means they can arrive today and pick up anything you need moving.

Most of the time, these companies partner with charitable organizations or recycling facilities to divert waste away from landfills. Your junk removal company may be able to recycle it if you ask them about what they plan to do with it. It ultimately works out for both parties. It gets hauled away and goes to good use.

Is it possible for the City of Toronto to remove appliances?

Waste management standards in Toronto consider any item that won’t fit into a garbage can as ‘oversized.’ If you have appliances that meet the city’s definition, then you can drop them off curbside, and the City will pick them up. Not every device can be recycled. A piece 8 feet wide or 8 feet long needs to be cut in half. Heavier items may not be able to be safely picked up. The size and weight of furnaces and water heaters often make them impossible to move. It is possible to pick up a fridge, freezer, oven, or dishwasher, but it is necessary to take the doors and lids off.

Since 2003, any refrigerator manufactured must use a different refrigerant after that point. If, however, you wish to recycle a unit manufactured before then, Freon removal could be important to consider. Recycling appliances is illegal if Freon remains, so many scrap recyclers require that you have it removed.

When you need junk removal in Toronto, hiring a company that can move oversized objects and appliances, recycle them, and ensure responsible disposal is easy and convenient.

For more information about appliance removal, call Junk Works at 1-888-888-JUNK (5865) or contact us here.