Appliance Recycling in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware
Recycling old household appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, can give you greater peace of mind than simply bringing these items to the landfill. At Sgt. Scrap, we are committed to helping customers in New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York recycle major appliances once they no longer need them. We welcome you to drop off your unwanted appliances at our two convenient appliance recycling locations in New Jersey.
Benefits of Recycling Appliances
Each year in the United States, millions of tons of appliances are thrown into landfills. These common household items can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, which can lead to overflow and force cities and towns to seek new areas to convert to dumping grounds. This chain of events creates adverse effects on communities and the environment. Many states, including New York and Pennsylvania, have outlawed dumping appliances in landfills, making appliance recycling a requirement.
Large appliances are made, on average, of about 75% steel, a highly recyclable metal. By recycling home appliances, you make it more possible that the metals we buy, such as steel and aluminum, to get put back into the manufacturing cycle.
The recyclable parts of home appliances can be used to create new, more energy-efficient items. The recycling process can cut down on the costs and resources of mining, producing, and transporting goods required to manufacture appliances from scratch. By using fewer resources, appliance recycling minimizes the impact on nearby communities and promotes environmental preservation.
Sgt. Scrap is dedicated to ensuring more appliances are recycled in a safe and ecologically sound manner. We offer customers the best drop-off appliance recycling service when major household items are unwanted or can no longer be used.
Preparing for Appliance Recycling
While many cities offer public recycling services, they are often not equipped to accept large appliances. At Sgt. Scrap, we pride ourselves on providing honest and reliable customer service that goes beyond what many traditional recycling services can provide. We take a variety of household items, including:
- Air conditions
- Heaters
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Home heaters
Please note: We cannot accept dishwashers, as they often feature a low metal composition that makes recycling them difficult.
Customers should note that this service is drop-off only. You are responsible for obtaining a vehicle that can transport the items to our locations. Follow these steps to prepare your items for recycling at Sgt. Scrap:
- Unplug the appliance several days before bringing it to one of our locations. This allows the item to cool down.
- Certain models of air conditioners and refrigerators may need to have the Freon and refrigerant components removed by a permitted professional. These materials must be separated and recycled using a different system than the appliances themselves.
- Be sure to secure appliance doors with heavy-duty tape, bungee cords, or something similar so they don’t open while in transport.
- As household appliances are often bulky, use a dolly or hand truck to transport them to your vehicle. This practice can prevent accidents and injuries.
How Are Appliances Recycled?
The process for recycling appliances may look different depending on the specific item. However, our general approach with these products involves the following steps:
- Hazardous materials, such as used cooking oil or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are removed from the appliance. Some of these elements, like mercury, can also be recycled.
- What remains of the appliance is shredded to bits.
- A magnetic system and eddy currents remove steel and other metals so they can be sorted.
- Any other materials, such as glass, are also sorted through and can be recycled by selling them back to manufacturers.
Learn More About Appliance Recycling
Getting rid of your old major appliances doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult. If you’re upgrading your appliances, moving, or simply want to part with one of your major appliances, Sgt. Scrap is happy to be your preferred appliance recycling service in New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York. Contact us for any appliance recycling questions you may have, or drop off your large appliances today at our Haddon Township, NJ, or Pennsauken Township, NJ, scrap yard locations.