Appliance Problems? Don’t Replace, Repair!

Repairing rather than replacing your broken appliances enables you to reduce the growth of landfills — but if you do have to replace, make sure you dispose of the old one responsibly.

When one of your large appliances breaks, it can be tempting to simply buy a new one. However, repairing your existing machine is good for the environment. It requires less energy and fewer precious resources than producing a new model and reduces waste. At Fred’s Appliances, we are committed to being kind to the environment–that is one reason we have a totally paperless invoice system–and our repair technicians can help you be good to the environment too.

Although some materials from appliances can be recycled, a significant amount of waste ends up in landfills. According to General Electric, about 55 pounds of waste ends up in landfills when old refrigerators are thrown out, even when harmful materials and recyclable parts are removed first. Landfills take up space and are unsightly. The Lake County Solid Waste Facility in Painesville Township already takes up 250 acres! Appliance repair directly enables you to reduce the growth of the landfill.

If appliances are not properly disposed of, they can expel harmful gases and other pollutants into the environment. Because the law requires those harmful materials be handled properly, there is often a charge for disposing of old appliances. For example, in the City of Madison, residents must pay a $35 fee to have large appliances removed from the curbside with their regular refuse.

At some point, your appliances may become beyond repair. When that happens, make sure to dispose of the item in the proper and legal way. Visit the EPA, City of Madison, or Lake County websites, or contact your city’s refuse department for information about disposal. When buying a new appliance, look for one that is Energy Star certified to help reduce the amount of energy needed to power it.

To determine whether your appliance can be repaired and stay out of the landfill, contact us.