Appliance - Recycling
See locations for this item (below)

• Air conditioners
• Dehumidifiers
• Dishwashers
• Dryers
• Freezers
• Furnaces
• Garbage disposals
• Heat pumps
• Microwave ovens
• Ovens
• Ranges and stoves
• Refrigerators
• Trash compactors
• Washing machines
• Water heaters

Appliances may not be disposed of in garbage or in a landfill.  By law, appliances must be reused or recycled (Minnesota Statutes § 115A.9561).  Appliances often have hazardous components such as capacitors, ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), switches containing mercury, or chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant gas, commonly known as freon.

A fee may be charged for appliance recycling.

Preparation: 
Do not leave any unused refrigerator or other container with a door where a child can climb into it.  It is illegal to leave an unused refrigerator or other container, with doors which fasten automatically when closed, that is exposed and accessible to children without removing the doors, lids, hinges, or latches (Minnesota Statutes § 609.675).

Curbside pickup:  Your garbage or recycling hauler may offer curbside pick-up service for major appliance recycling.  Contact your hauler for details.

Your garbage hauler may offer curbside pick-up service for water softener disposal.  Contact your hauler for details.

To find the hauler(s) for your municipality, click on the link for your municipal recycling detail sheet under Residential Recycling Opportunities.

Why recycle appliances?  When an appliance is recycled, appliance processors remove, recover, and properly manage any hazardous materials such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or other refrigerant, and mercury in the appliance.  A technician who recovers refrigerant from an appliance must have certification from a program approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The steel in appliances is recycled.  The typical appliance is 75 percent steel by weight.  According to the Steel Recycling Institute, the steel used in appliances is made with a minimum of 25 percent recycled steel.  In addition, internal steel components may be made with either 25 percent or virtually 100 percent recycled steel.

Small appliances:  Most locations that accept major appliances for recycling will not accept small appliances for recycling.  Please call before going to a location for information about acceptable items.  Small appliances include, but are not limited to, blenders, can openers, clothes irons, coffee makers, crock pots, deep fryers, electric mixers, fans, food processors, hair dryers, pizza ovens, and toaster ovens.

Water softeners:  Water softeners may be disposed of in garbage.  You may be required to remove the salt first.  Place the salt in the garbage.

Your municipality may accept water softeners on its recycling drop-off days.  Click on the link for your municipal recycling detail sheet under Residential Recycling Opportunities.
Some locations that accept major appliances for recycling also accept water softeners.  See the locations listed for details.
Your garbage hauler may offer curbside pickup for water softeners.

Anoka County staff obtained information for this resource by researching various directories, along with telephone verification. It is not an endorsement of the businesses listed, nor does it imply that the businesses are in compliance with applicable laws. Any omissions or inaccuracies are unintentional. For additional listings, we recommend the local telephone directory. ALWAYS CALL FIRST TO VERIFY INFORMATION BECAUSE POLICIES FREQUENTLY CHANGE.
 
This resource is intended for households only. The information does not pertain to wastes from businesses or organizations.

 
For more information about a location, including a list of all materials accepted at the location, click on the name.