Appliance Recycling in the Twin Cities Area
Everyone has heard of the consequences of landfills. Do you remember being in school and hearing about how long certain items take to decompose? Styrofoam takes about fifty years; aluminum cans take about a century. That’s a long time. So, how long does an appliance take to decompose? The amount of time required for items such as refrigerators and washing machines to break down is virtually infinite. These bulky objects don’t just rot away and disappear. No, they become permanent fixtures of a landfill—not to mention a waste of materials that could’ve otherwise been reused.
With that in mind, consider carefully what you would like to happen to your unwanted appliances. Should they be condemned to a dump where they will simply wait there forever? Or should those materials be recycled so they can be born anew? At Junk Masters, we believe that all appliances should be recycled when possible. After all, new products can be created using the old material, and landfills won’t fill up as quickly.
The Complicated Process of Appliance Recycling
So what all goes into recycling these appliances, anyway? It’s surely a simple procedure—right? Think again. There are multiple steps that go into this process, which can limit the number of facilities or companies willing to recycle appliances.
- Disassembly. Appliances must be dismantled in order to recycle them, and this dismantlement process is often done manually. Why? Because appliances often contain hazardous components, such as refrigerants. Manual disassembly allows for the removal of these hazardous components from the reusable materials.
- Shredding. You will often find that the reusable materials are shredded into much smaller fragments to facilitate the recycling process. After all, it’s difficult to melt down a whole metal frame of a refrigerator, a freezer, or a washing machine. It’s comparatively easier to melt down multiple smaller pieces.
- Recycling. After all this processing, the recycling process can truly begin. The raw materials collected from the appliances can be reduced to a “default state” in which they can be used to manufacture new products. These are almost like the ashes that a phoenix rises from… it’s quite poetic, from a certain point of view.
Your Options for Local Appliance Recycling in Minnesota
So you’ve decided you want to recycle your unwanted appliances. That’s fantastic! However, that segues directly into the next question—where should you take them? After all, thanks to the somewhat frustrating process of appliance recycling, your options are limited. Fortunately, there are many choices in the Twin Cities Areas despite this.
- B & E Recycling Station. This business recycles not just appliances, but also electronics, scrap metal, cars, and mattresses. ($20/appliance. Open 8:30-5:00 on Monday-Friday. Open 8:30-1:00 on Saturday. Closed Sundays.)
- Certified Recycling. As they say for themselves on their website, “We’re just a bunch of people who get a kick out of recycling.” ($25/appliance. Open 7:00-4:00 Monday-Friday. Closed Saturdays and Sundays.)
- J.R.’s Advanced Recyclers. This appliance recycling center is a great option when you want to recycle appliances on a budget. ($10/appliance. Open 8:00-4:30 Monday-Friday. Open 10:00-3:00 Saturday. Closed Sundays.)
Appliance Recycling Pickup
It can be tough delivering your appliances to local recycling centers, especially if it’s not a small appliance you’re dealing with. If you are having trouble moving your appliance, or if you lack an appropriate vehicle to transport it to the recycling center, you might want to enlist the assistance of a professional company. Many junk removal companies—including us, Junk Masters—provide appliance removal in addition to other junk removal services. That way, you can have your appliance removed and recycled without even lifting a finger. Who knew it could be so effortless to make an eco-friendly decision?
