Small appliances have made a world of difference in our daily lives. From toasters to blenders and coffee makers and everything in between these appliances have become an indispensable part of our lives.
Although these devices are built sturdily and are likely to last a long time. But the truth is nothing lasts forever and the same is the case for these small appliances. Besides this as new generations and models of these appliances keep springing up in the market consumers are more inclined to the faster and better features they boost and hence dispose of their small appliances even before the end of their useful lives.
Regardless of the reason why you want to get rid of your small appliances, you will soon have to decide how to dispose of them. Throwing them in the trash is not a good idea because small appliances constitute e-waste and contain a load of toxic compounds that can harm the environment if you do so.
In this blog, we will share sustainable ways to dispose of small appliances, how to prepare them for recycling, and why it is important to practice recycling of small appliances.
Insights Into How You Can Dispose of Small Appliances With Ease
How you want to dispose of your small appliances is dependent on the condition of your device. There are multiple ways to do so, following are the top three ways to dispose of small appliances in an environmentally friendly manner.
Donate to Charity Organizations
When contemplating how to dispose of small appliances consider giving them to charity organizations. You can search for local organizations by searching online and find a list of places that are willing to take appliances that are in working condition.
Consider Reselling
If you want to make some financial gains even from your old appliances you can consider reselling them. You can sell these devices if they are still in working condition to friends, family, or other people you may know who will want to have a small appliance at a lesser cost than brand new.
Additionally, you can also consider reselling your old appliance to scrappers who typically extract useful materials like plastic and metal and sell them off.
Take it to a Recycling Center
This is by far the most sustainable option when you want to dispose of your small appliances. You can search for local recycling facilities near you to streamline the process.
Certified e-waste recycling companies like Ez on the Earth handle small appliance recycling in accordance with the laws and regulations enforced by local and federal agencies regarding electronic waste recycling. We help businesses and homeowners dispose of small appliances and other types of e-waste while staying conscious about the well-being of the environment and the continuation of natural resources for future generations.
Ever Wondered About Small Appliance Recycling?
Much like all electronic waste recycling, small appliance recycling also involves steps like collection, disassembly, separation, and extraction of materials. Once the appliances make it to the recycling center the end goal is to recover materials like plastics, glass, and metals that can be used in manufacturing other products without having to extract these materials from their ores.
Manufacturing products by using recovered metals and plastics benefits the environment and the economy. It reduces the need to extract virgin raw materials which in turn decreases the mining activities that are carried out and curbs the emission of greenhouse gasses. Besides this, using recycled glass, plastics, and metals is an energy-efficient process and brings down the cost of products manufactured using this pathway.
Always be wary of dumping your old appliances in the trash because they can be hazardous when they end up in landfills. On the other hand, when they end up in recycling facilities they can be a source of valuable materials and yield economic gains.
Common Small Appliances That You Can Recycle
Most people often remain confused about the types of small appliances that can be recycled. To put an end to this confusion, we have formulated a list of the most commonly disposed of small appliances:
- Lamps and other lighting equipment
- Fans
- Crockpots
- Slow cookers
- Electric kettles
- Coffee makers
- Toasters
- Food processors
- Blenders
- Clocks
- Irons
- Humidifiers
- Hair dryers and other hair styling tools like straighteners and curling rods
- Electric toothbrushes
A simple rule of thumb to remember is that if the appliance you want to dispose of has a cord or is powered by a battery it can most probably be recycled. If you are still unsure about how to dispose of small appliances you can check in with our team and make use of their expert guidance to help you.
How To Prepare Small Appliances for Recycling
Preparing your small appliances is an easy process. They are common things that most people do anyway, still to reinforce what steps you can take to help out your e-waste recycling service you can take the following steps.
Step #1
Always unplug your small appliance. Ideally, you should do this a few days before you send off your appliance for recycling. Doing this is important because it allows for all parts of the device to cool down and avoid any burn accidents.
Step #2
It is best to tie up the power cords of your appliance with twist ties. Doing this ensures no one trips due to the hanging cords.
Step #3
Finally, if your small appliance was used for food, for example, a food processor or blender, make sure to rinse thoroughly before handing it over for recycling.
Conclusion
Small appliances are used commonly to save time and boost the efficiency of daily chores. These appliances are made to last a really long time however when they do reach the end of their lifespan the question of how to dispose of small appliances becomes a pressing concern.
It is essential to understand that these appliances must not be disposed of in regular household trash. There are many sustainable options like donating them to charitable organizations, reselling them to friends or scrappers, and sending them to recycling facilities.
Dispose of Small Appliances With Ez on the Earth
Small appliances are something that everyone uses and most people struggle to find the right way to dispose them of. Now that you know about Ez on the Earth, you know exactly what to do with your small appliances when they reach the end of their useful lives.
Want to find out more about how we can help you dispose of your small appliances in an eco-friendly way? Talk to us now or log on to our website for a detailed review of all our e-waste recycling services.