Refrigerator Recycling
Eco-Friendly
Curbside Pickup
Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units contain refrigerants like Freon, which must be handled carefully to protect the environment. At Curbside Junk Collection in Pierce County, WA, we ensure responsible recycling for our customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, and beyond. After your curbside pickup (items placed out by 8:00 AM), we deliver these appliances to a certified facility. Technicians extract the refrigerant using specialized equipment, safely storing it in sealed tanks to prevent ozone-damaging leaks, as required by EPA regulations. Other hazardous materials, like oils, are removed for separate disposal. The appliance is then shredded, and materials are sorted: metals like steel are recycled for manufacturing, while plastics and foam are processed or disposed of responsibly. The refrigerant is either purified for reuse or destroyed using approved methods, ensuring no environmental harm. This careful process, which we manage for appliances starting at $125, reflects our commitment to eco-friendly practices, including recycling through E-Cycle Washington partners. Schedule your pickup today!
Why Recycle
A Little About Recycling Refrigerators, and other appliances
Appliance recycling plays a big role in sustainability! Each year, the U.S. recovers about 8 million tons of metal from appliances, per the Steel Recycling Institute. Around 90% of a refrigerator—like its steel and copper—can be recycled into new products, such as car parts or building materials, reducing the need for new resources.
Recycling also saves energy. The EPA notes that recycling steel from one refrigerator saves enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for a month—about 150 kWh. That’s like taking a car off the road for a week in emissions savings!
Finally, proper recycling prevents environmental harm. Old refrigerators often contain refrigerants like CFCs, which are 10,000 times more damaging to the ozone than CO2. The EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal Program has stopped over 12 million pounds of refrigerants from escaping since 2006, equivalent to removing 2 million cars’ emissions yearly. Recycling appliances makes a big difference!
