Old appliances tend to contain a lot of heavy materials, and they’re not exactly the greenest things to simply dump into the landfill. That’s why many governments and environmental organizations recommend that people follow certain procedures when getting rid of old appliances, especially larger ones such as refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, and water heaters. If you’re not sure what to do with your old appliances, here are some of your options.


1. Recycle: Find out if your local waste disposal organization picks up old appliances for recycling. In most cases, you can’t simply put out the appliance on the normal trash-collection day, and you may need to go through some extra steps. Go to the organization’s website or give them a call to find out what your options are. You may have to cart it to a recycling facility yourself.

2. Place an ad: If you have an old appliance that either still works or could potentially be salvaged put an ad up on Craigslist or any local classifieds service. You can try selling it for a low amount of money at first, and if this doesn’t work, just give it away for free to anyone who is willing to come and pick it up. If the appliance is pretty junky, skip trying to get money for it and just offer it to anyone who will haul it away for free.

3. Ask your appliance dealer: If you’re going to have a new appliance delivered, ask the company if they take away old appliances. They may do so for a little extra charge, but sometimes it’s worth paying that fee just to get the cumbersome old appliance off of your hands. Some appliance companies even do it for free. In any case, it can’t hurt to at least ask.

4. Donate appliances that still work: In the even that your old appliance may still have a couple of good years in it, then you can donate it to a charitable organization. Contact the Salvation Army or Goodwill (or the equivalent local charity in your area) to find out if they can take it off your hands. If you can get rid of it this way, you may even be able to get a tax deduction.