APPLIANCE RECYCLERS


Revision Date: 9/03    The information in the data sheet does not change. This data sheet will not be updated.
Process Code: Navy/Marines: N/A; Air Force: N/A; Army: N/A
Usage List: Navy: Medium; Marines: Medium; Army: Medium; Air Force: Medium
Alternative For: Landfilling
Compliance Impact: Low
Applicable EPCRA Targeted Constituents and CAS Numbers: Mercury (CAS: 7439-97-6) and Sulfur Dioxide (CAS: 7446-09-5)

Overview: Although appliances comprise only a small portion of the municipal waste disposed in landfills, they do have a market value. According to the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), the steel that is used in appliances consists of a minimum of 25 percent recycled steel, with the internal steel parts containing anywhere between 25-100 percent recycled steel. According to SRI, steel recycling saves on an annual basis the equivalent energy that is required to power an estimated 18 million households electrically. All appliances are recyclable, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water heaters, and de-humidifiers.

Appliance recyclers specialize in recovering all hazardous materials and wastes prior to recycling the appliance as scrap metal. For a small fee, appliance recyclers will pick up the appliance, transport it to their recycling facility and conduct a multi-stage recycling program to recover all hazardous materials and wastes. The following table presents the typical hazardous materials and wastes recovered from appliances and their ultimate disposition.

Recovered Material/Waste Type of Application Ultimate Destination of Recovered Material
CFC-11 Refrigerator Foam Insulation Recycled for Reuse
CFC-12 Refrigerator Compressors Recycled for Reuse
R22 Air Conditioner Compressor Recycled for Reuse
500R500-502 Water Cooler Compressor Recycled for Reuse
PCBs Motor Capacitors Hi-Temp Incineration
Mercury Switches, Thermocouples Recycled for Reuse
Oil Refrigerator Compressors Treatment to remove CFCs, Oil then Recycled for Reuse
Oil Washing Machine Motors Recycled for Reuse
SO2 Refrigerators Compressors (pre-1960) Disposed as Waste Gas

Appliance recycling should only be conducted by fully licensed recyclers. As of 1997, 21 states had regulations restricting the disposal of appliances in municipal landfills. California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have strict regulations regarding appliance disposal. Check with your state representative to determine the regulations in your area.
Compliance Benefit: Appliance recycling will help facilities to meet the requirements of Executive Order 13101, which call for executive agencies (e.g., Department of Defense) to incorporate waste prevention and recycling into their daily operations.

The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as general guidelines and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g., the amount of workload involved.
Materials Compatibility: N/A
Safety and Health: Appliance recycling should only be conducted by trained professionals in a licensed recycling facility. CFC recovery must be conducted in facilities equipped for proper CFC recovery and in accordance with Clean Air Act requirements. Gas operated appliances should not be recycled due to potential explosion hazards.

Consult your local industrial health specialist, your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to implementing this technology.


Benefits:
  • Reduces the appliance-related waste disposed in landfills by an average of 55.6% (U.S. EPA, 2000).
  • Conserves natural resources needed to produce CFCs, mercury, oil, and steel.
  • Reduces landfill disposal fees.


Disadvantages:
  • Currently not marketable in some regions.
  • Scrap metal recyclers may refuse to accept metal from appliances due to potential exposure to PCB and mercury components. Contracting with trained licensed recycling contractors will address this concern.


Economic Analysis: Appliance recycling should only be conducted by trained licensed recycling contractors. Recycling costs vary and are dependent upon the quantity of appliances recycled and the region. Utility supported recycling programs are currently conducted in California and New York. These programs are free and in some cases include cash incentives. These programs typically require that the recycled appliance is in good working order and is currently serving as a second (spare) appliance in the household.

Average recycling fees for a medium scale (50-100 units per year) recycling program range from $0 to $25 per appliance.

Assumptions:

  • Medium scale appliance recycling program: 50 units per year.
  • Recycling fees: None.
  • Labor for removal/transport of appliance to recycling center or landfill: 2 hrs/unit.
  • Average appliance weight: 150 lbs.
  • Landfill fee: $25/ton.
  • Labor rate: $30/hr.
  • Transportation cost to recycle center or landfill: $1,000/yr.

Table 1. Annual Operating Cost Comparison for Diversion and Disposal for Appliance Recycling

 
Diversion
Disposal
Operational Costs:    
Labor: $3,000 $3,000
Transportation: $1,000 $1,000
Recycling fees: $0 $0
Landfill fees: $0 $100
Total Operational Costs: $4,000 $4,100
Total Recovered Income: $0 $0
Net Annual Cost/Benefit: -$4,000 -$4,100

Economic Analysis Summary:

  • Annual Savings for Appliance Recycling: $100
  • Capital Cost for Diversion Equipment/Process: $0
  • Payback Period for Investment in Equipment/Process: Immediate

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NSN/MSDS: None identified.


Approving Authority: Appropriate approval should always be sought prior to procuring or implementing any of the technologies identified herein.

Points of Contact: For more information

Vendors: The following vendor currently operates 14 dedicated appliance recycling facilities. The employment of on-site appliance recyclers are discouraged due to potential releases that may occur as a result of processing in a non-dedicated recycling facility:

Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA)
1823 11th Street
Sacramento,  CA
Phone: (800) 234-9742 
  Southern California Edison [(800) 655-4555] operates a utility supported recycling program. This free program requires that the recycled appliance is in good working order and is currently serving as a second (spare) appliance in the household. Edison representatives will pick-up the appliance and transport it to the ARCA facility in Compton, California.
Sources: Mr. Chuck Nettleship, Steel Recycling Institute, April 1999.
Ms. Glynnis Jones, Appliance Recycling Corporation of America, May 1996.
Mr. Carl Bowmen, Southern California Edison Company, May 1996.
U.S. EPA, Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2000 Facts and Figures.