How can you recycle your washing machine?

How can you recycle your washing machine? There may be several reasons why you urgently need to get rid of your washing machine. Perhaps the old machine was technically outdated, and a modern and more functional model was purchased to replace it. Or the washing machine has broken down, and there is simply no desire to spend time and effort identifying the cause of the malfunction and repairing the equipment. In any case, the owner of the device is faced with the question: how to dispose of the washing machine? Is it possible to get money for this or, on the contrary, will you have to spend money?

There are several ways to recycle machines that have become unnecessary, some are profitable, others involve some expense. So, let’s figure out where you can attach the washing machine, spending a minimum of effort, money and personal time on it.

Why shouldn't you throw it away?

The first thing that comes to the owner’s mind is to take the unit to the trash. Of course, you will need to work a little when taking the washing machine outside, but after 15 minutes the problem will be completely solved. However, this method involves causing damage not only to the environment, but also to human health. When decomposing, the components of the machine emit toxic substances into the atmosphere that are harmful to all living things.

The plastic walls of the case take more than a century to decompose. When burned, they release toxic chemicals. Poisons enter the ozone layer. No one has canceled the cycle of nature - later toxic substances in the form of rain fall down and penetrate into the ground. In addition, when burning, toxic smoke enters the air, which we subsequently breathe.
Wiring and insulating materials.When burned, the polyvinyl chloride contained in the cables releases gases into the atmosphere, the fumes of which provoke the development of terrible and irreversible human diseases. If PVC is simply buried, it will not decompose and this will affect the quality of groundwater.
Metal parts. Burning metal parts is also unsafe. When burned, heavy metal particles are released into the atmosphere. They settle on grass, trees, vegetables, enter the human body and lead to various diseases.
Rubber. When the rubber elements of the machine burn, hydrogen sulfide vapors are released into the air. Black smoke emanating from a fire causes respiratory diseases.

An automatic washing machine taken to a regular landfill becomes a serious threat to the entire environment; it is not for nothing that disposing of washing machines into landfills is strictly prohibited.

We will offer you more humane ways to get rid of unnecessary equipment, and we will figure out where to recycle your old broken machine.

Delivery to a recycling point

The meaning of this disposal method is quite simple. The automatic washing machine is taken to a special recycling point, where each part of the unit is recycled. This method is one of the most civilized and has only two significant drawbacks. The first is that parts are recycled at the expense of the equipment owner. You will need to not only bring the washing machine to the site, but also pay for all subsequent manipulations with it. Secondly, there are not processing shops in every locality.

Disposal of SMA by recycling will cost approximately $20-30.

You can take the machine to a recycling center The process of recycling washing machine components is not easy. At all stages of work, special equipment is required.

Disassembling the machine. All electronics, liquid plastic, copper, and glass parts are removed from the case.
Direct processing involves compressing the body under a press, crushing glass parts, and crushing plastic elements into powder. Plastic classified as liquid is purified by melting. The result is clean recyclable materials, ready to be put into the production process.
Sending secondary materials. The compressed metal body is sent to metallurgical plants, and the plastic dust becomes the basis for the production of plastic products.

Despite the undeniable usefulness and effectiveness of this option, thrifty owners prefer not to spend personal funds on disposal, but to choose a cheaper method. More enterprising owners even try to sell the unit and get some income from it.

Sales for spare parts

This method of getting rid of unnecessary SMA will allow you to make a small profit. There are two options: either offer the washing machine to a technician who repairs equipment, or independently disassemble the unit in parts and sell them. The first option has the following advantages:

minimal expenditure of effort and personal time on the procedure - you only need to make a couple of calls to the workshops;
The master will personally remove the equipment free of charge.

Of course, you won’t be able to make much money from selling a washing machine this way, but if your model of machine is in demand, then you can rest assured that a reseller will be found very quickly and will be happy to remove the equipment on their own. It will be more profitable to personally disassemble the unit and sell off the most important parts of the washing machine: electric motor, drain pump, heating element and others. This method will require labor and time from you, but at the same time it will help you earn good money.

The only thing you need to think about is where you can sell the parts. If your locality is small, then finding customers willing to buy components can be a real problem.

Repair and sale

If the washing machine breaks down, it is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of repairing it for subsequent sale. If the repairs cost a small amount, then you can repair the machine and sell it at a favorable price. With an adequate assessment of the unit, a buyer will be found quickly enough. People who do not have the opportunity to purchase new equipment often buy a used machine. The sale advertisement can be placed in several newspapers, as well as on the following websites:

You can dispose of a washing machine, provided it is functioning normally, by simply donating the machine. People who want to get a washing machine for free will be found very quickly, and you won’t have to “stumble” over an unnecessary machine for a long time.

We give a “second life” to machine parts

The drum of a washing machine turns into a barbecue This disposal option is suitable for especially economical and savvy equipment owners. Some parts of the old machine can be used as decorative elements of local areas and summer cottages. You can also make very necessary and useful things around the house from parts of the washing machine, for example:

barbecue - to set it up you will need a machine drum;
sharpening machine - made from a SMA engine. By connecting the grinding wheel to the motor and securing it, it is easy to build a device for sharpening instruments or sanding boards;
wood splitter – using the washing machine’s electric motor, you can make a structure for chopping wood;
feather removal machine - made from an engine and a metal drum. Taking these two elements as a basis, it is easy to construct a device designed for plucking the carcasses of chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc.

The list of useful devices that can be built using an old automatic machine can be continued. Craftsmen make both lawn mowers and small concrete mixers, and crushers for grain crops.

Exchange of “old” for “new” at a point of sale

take advantage of the store's recycling program Large household appliance stores periodically launch promotions to accept devices that have become unnecessary. On certain days, you can return your old equipment to a hypermarket and receive an impressive discount on the purchase of new equipment. The release date of the machine, the manufacturer and the technical condition of the washing machine will not matter.

The benefit of electronics stores is obvious - with the help of such a promotion, sales volumes significantly increase. But this offer is also interesting for buyers, because you can not only solve the problem of disposing of an old machine, but also get a nice discount on the purchase of a new unit.

For your convenience, we will present a list of large electronics hypermarkets that launch such a promotion from time to time.

El Dorado. They provide a free call for a recyclable washing machine and give a discount of up to 20% on the purchase of a new machine.
M Video. Removal of used equipment is free of charge; the discount on a new purchase can reach $150.
Technosila. The discount amount varies from $5 to $100. Store representatives will remove equipment on their own only if delivery of the purchased new washing machine has been formalized.
Yulmart. The washing machine will be removed completely free of charge upon presentation of a receipt for payment for the new equipment.

Check promotional times at your local stores. If you were just about to purchase a new automatic machine, this option will certainly suit you best.

We sell for metal

Can be taken to a scrap metal collection point Using this disposal method, you will only be able to save a small amount of money. However, why not use at least this opportunity? Finding the nearest scrap metal collection point is not difficult; there are them in almost every locality. The most valuable contents of the washer in this case will be the copper contained in the engine and wiring.

The machine will have to be delivered to the acceptance site yourself. On average, buyers will pay you between $3 and $6, but it's still better than throwing your washer in a landfill.

There are a lot of ways to get rid of an unnecessary washing machine, and choosing an option that is convenient for you personally will not be difficult. Try to approach this issue responsibly, and not just throw your automatic washing machine in the trash, thereby causing irreparable harm to the environment.