How to Dispose and Recycle Your Dishwasher: 4 Most Efficient Methods 

Are you trying to figure out how to dispose of your dishwasher?

You’re not alone! Every year, thousands of people find themselves in the same situation and are left scratching their heads in confusion, as there’s not a lot of information out there.

Disposing of your dishwasher in the right way can prevent environmental degradation and will help you avoid hefty fines. However, disposing of your dishwasher is often easier said than done, and sometimes, it can be a challenge.

But don’t worry; you’ve come to the right place for answers.

You can easily dispose of your dishwasher by searching for recycling programs near you, selling it, or donating it to someone who needs it. You can also hire a junk removal company. 

Keep reading to learn more about these tips!

Disposing or Recycling Your Dishwasher: 4 Ways to Do it Right 

With appliance waste on the rise, the last thing you want to do is add one more dishwashers to a landfill. And while sometimes preventing dishwasher failure isn’t possible even with timely maintenance, luckily there are plenty of practical and eco-friendly dishwasher disposal methods available.

#1 Recycle

If you’re trying to figure out how to dispose of your dishwasher, I recommend seriously considering recycling it.

Dishwasher recycling is one of the most eco-friendly methods to dispose of your dishwasher. If this is your first time recycling an appliance, here is how to find recycling programs near you.

• Ask Your Appliance Retailer 

Some appliance retailers can uninstall your old dishwasher, install the new one and haul off the old one as an incentive for buying. Other retailers offer the service at an extra cost, while others even provide stand-alone recycling programs for old appliances. 

So, if you’re in the market for a dishwasher, shop from retailers who offer similar options. 

For instance, Best Buy will pick up and recycle your old appliances for about $59, while Home Depot will deliver and set up your new dishwasher for an additional $50. 

I believe relying on both companies will significantly streamline your disposal process and leave you with a guilt-free conscience since you’ll recycle your dishwasher responsibly.

• Try Your Utility Company

Most local energy providers offer dishwasher recycling programs to encourage sustainability among consumers with those and other appliances. 

Some utility companies even partner with the Appliance Recycling Centers of America(ARCA), renowned for its stellar appliance recycling programs and credited with the proper recycling and reuse of up to 95% of old appliance materials. 

Check whether your utility provider offers such programs or is a participant in such programs. Note, as an incentive, some utility providers will even offer cash rebates when you turn in your old dishwasher.  

• Check with Your Municipality

Most local governments offer waste disposal services that include appliance and waste recycling programs as part of their sustainability efforts.

Such programs often include curbside pickup of appliances and other large items on specific days of the month at either no cost or a small fee. Others don’t offer such services but typically recommend the best dishwasher recycling programs in your locality. 

If your retailer or utility provider doesn’t offer to recycle your dishwasher, contact your local municipality for information on such programs. 

• Look for a RAD Partner 

The Responsible Disposal Program, famously known as RAD, is a voluntary EPA program geared towards reducing emissions and protecting the ozone layer by properly disposing and recycling old appliances. 

RAD works with local governments, utility providers, manufacturers, and other interested organizations to collect and recycle old appliances and share information about the program. In return, partners enjoy recognition as champions against environmental pollution and reduced energy consumption. 

Thanks to these partnerships, RAD has successfully recycled about 196 million pounds of plastic and prevented the landfill dumping of about 1.06 billion pounds of metals. Find a RAD partner near you to dispose of your dishwasher correctly. 

• Check Online Listings 

If none of the options above are viable in your case, look for companies that offer the service in your area. 

A simple Google search for “recycling companies near me” should give you plenty of options. But, for an even more straightforward search, check online listings such as Earth911.org or RecycleFinder.com. 

These sites feature a countrywide database of companies that can help you recycle your dishwasher.

Handy Recycling Preparation Tips

If you choose to recycle your dishwasher through any of the options listed above, ensure you: 

• Unplug your dishwasher a day or two before, so it can cool down.
•  Deep clean it. I recommend mixing equal parts of vinegar and warm water to do it.
•  Tape the dishwasher door so it’s easier for the recycler to transport.

#2 Sell Your Dishwasher 

If recycling is not an option, and you’re still looking for a way to dispose of your dishwasher, you’ll want to keep reading.

Your old dishwasher could be an upgrade for someone else. So, if it’s still in good shape, selling it is also an excellent way to dispose of it, as there’s a huge second-hand appliance market out there.

List it on sites like eBay or Craigslist, post it on Facebook marketplaces, or if you have a bunch of other things you’d also like to dispose of, try a garage sale. 

Note: If your dishwasher is too old or no longer functional, you could also sell it for parts. Some businesses will buy your dishwasher, repair it, and resell it. Others will buy, dismantle and resell the components for reuse. 

Alternatively, if you are naturally curious, you could scrap the dishwasher yourself and resell individual parts on the earlier-mentioned sites or specific appliance parts reuse businesses. Provided you manage to sell the parts for a good price, you could even make enough to buy a brand-new dishwasher. Just make sure you do proper research to buy the right-sized one for your needs.

#3 Donate It

You may no longer fancy your old dishwasher, but donating it could make all the difference in someone else’s household. 

If you’re upgrading or need to get rid of your dishwasher because you’re moving or remodeling, consider donating it to a charity or non-profit organization. 

These organizations will either gift it to a household in need for free or resell it at a low fee to raise money for other courses and donate those. 

While the goal is to dispose of your dishwasher, donating your old dishwasher allows you to help someone in need and could even earn you some tax deductions. 

If you choose to donate your old dishwasher, ensure it’s in proper shape, as donating one that’s too old beats the purpose of reusing and recycling. 

These are some organizations that can help you donate your dishwasher: 

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
•  Salvation Army
•  Goodwill Industries 
•  Community Thrift Stores 
•  Responsible Appliance Disposal(RAD)
•  American Kidney Services 

You could also donate your old dishwasher to churches and other places of worship. 

#4 Hire a Junk Removal Company

If you’re still looking for how to dispose of your dishwasher, hire a professional junk removal service company.

These companies will typically pick your dishwasher and anything else you want to get rid of for a fee. 

In my experience, renting a dumpster is also an excellent alternative to junk removal companies, especially if you need to dispose of multiple items.  

Why Not Just Trash Your Dishwasher?

I know that sometimes having your dishwasher create constant issues, such as tripped breakers can be annoying. But here are two good reasons why you should go through the trouble of properly disposing of or recycling the dishwasher instead of trashing it:

#1 Environmental Degradation 

As you may already know, most dishwashers are made up of steel and other plastic parts. 

Recycling, donating, or selling the dishwasher for parts instead of trashing it means these parts are salvaged and reused, conversely preventing environmental degradation and saving on landfill space. 

These quick actions can make a huge difference and counteract the consequences of improper dishwasher disposal.

#2 Hefty Fines 

The US is a massive waste appliance producer. To address this waste problem and curb appliance production, over 20 states have implemented laws that ban appliance dumping in landfills. 

While these laws mean it’s easier to find recycling programs, violating them and trashing your dishwasher could see you pay hefty fines. Recycling or any of the disposal tips above saves you from such penalties. 

Conclusion

Upgrading your dishwasher to an energy-efficient model will reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint. But with the increasing volume of appliance waste, how you dispose of your old dishwasher is even more critical. 

Remember, if you want to dispose of your appliance, recycling the dishwasher, selling it, donating it, or hiring a junk removal company are all great options.

Thank you so much for reading this article. If you found it helpful, please check out our related posts below and consider subscribing to our newsletter.

Good luck!

-Craig.