On the exterior, your refrigerator might look harmless. But, once you start taking apart the pieces and removing the veil of ‘harmlessness’, you’ll come to understand your refrigerator also possesses toxic substances that directly affect the earth’s environment. In 2021, global warming has become an alarming problem and if you don’t exercise proper eco-friendly methods of disposing of your old refrigerator, then you’ll be directly responsible for the destruction of the livelihood of your future generations.
But, before we get into the ideal procedures for disposing of your old fridge, it’s necessary to first learn the reasons that make your appliance extremely dangerous.
What Harmful Substances Can You Find In A Refrigerator?
Based on a recent study, households all around the world, dump more than three million refrigerators every year. However, that’s not even the real problem. According to a professional handyman in Bayside, the real problem starts when a very small fraction of these three million fridges get recycled. This means a large portion of old fridges gets left out in the open environment.
When refrigerators are left out to corrode in the open environment, they release two chemical components into the earth’s atmosphere, known as HCFCs & CFCs. CFC stands for Chlorofluorocarbons, while HCFC stands for Hydrochlorofluorocarbons.
CFCs & HCFCs were discovered in the 20th century. These two man-made chemical compounds were thought to be non-toxic and were thereby used in refrigerators (as refrigerants), aerosol sprays, and other such products. But, it was recently discovered that when CFCs & HCFCs are exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, they break down into small molecules releasing chlorine atoms.
These chlorine atoms then deplete the earth’s ozone layer, leading to global warming, because the ozone layer of the earth protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Proper Process To Dispose Of Your Old Refrigerator
1. Make A Sale Or Donation
If your refrigerator is still functional, then you can consider either selling it at a very cheap price or donate it to someone who might make good use of the same. Following either of the aforementioned procedures will ensure that your refrigerator stays intact and there will be no harm exerted to the environment. The ideal way to sell your refrigerator would be to use the assistance of various online marketplaces, such as eBay.
2. Take Your Fridge To Your Local Waste Recycling Centre
In case your refrigerator is not in a workable condition, then it’s a better choice to simply take your appliance to your local waste recycling center and ensure that it gets recycled. Recycling is not only good for the environment but also for sustainable development because the recycled parts obtained from your old fridge can now be used to create new appliances.
3. Take Advantage Of Exchange Offers
When you’ll plan to replace your old refrigerator with a new one, you can easily take advantage of various exchange offers at your local retailers. This exchange offers take in your old appliances, deduct the market price of the old appliance from the new one and you end up paying the newly reduced price. It’s like killing two birds with a single stone.
