Wednesday 15 February 2012

Greener waste: How to dispose of your old washing machine

For many consumers, wasting energy is no longer a viable option within our homes. Thanks to the clear and dedicated focus of eco-friendly groups and the Government, reducing your carbon footprint and energy usage is now a common activity.

For those of us concerned about the impact our behaviour has the environment, this focus is incredibly positive but it doesn’t mean that the battle for environmental preservation is over.
Despite the fact that energy efficiency ratings are now provided on all electrical goods there are still people who dispose of their old models incorrectly.

Whilst dumping these into landfill sites might seem more ‘convenient’, this is soon overshadowed by the environmental impacts it could have. Whilst we may not see the effects of our over-zealous waste disposal in our lifetime, it is almost certain that future generations will pay the price for our selfishness.

A greener disposal method is therefore required and that means that households need to pay more attention to what they are throwing out and how. When any household appliance, whether it is a washing machine or a hoover, breaks down there are a few steps which you should follow to make sure it is disposed of correctly:

Step one: Diagnose
Before you do anything with your broken appliance you need to identify what the problem is. There can be many potential causes for breakages, including electrical faults, broken components or even a blown fuse.

If you are unable to diagnose the fault yourself then get a professional to take a look at it. They can even offer you a quote for how much it costs to repair the damage. If you have invested in protection for your appliances then you could even claim these costs back – meaning you won’t have lost a penny.

Step two: Repair
If you can repair washing machine then this should be the course of action you take as it prevents you from generating too much household waste and can also be much cheaper than replacing an entire appliance.

This is especially the case if the damage to the appliance has been caused by a minor fault or component. Replacing these parts is almost guaranteed to be cheaper than a new washing machine and is the ideal way to save money and protect the environment.

Step three: Recycle
If your appliance is deemed as beyond repair then there is only one option left to you: recycle it. Many retailers now offer a collection service for old appliances, meaning that you don’t have to find an appropriate recycling plant yourself.
Whatever you do, make sure you avoid landfill sites and put your old appliance to good use by having it made into something new.

Kate Perkins is a regular blogger from Somerset. A keen eco-warrior, Kate is constantly on the look-out for ways to reduce our carbon footprints. Her blog often focuses on the disposal of kitchen appliances and what you should do when to repair washing machine is no longer an option.

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