Don’t Throw That Vacuum Cleaner Away! Recycle It!

There always comes a time for every type of appliance, electronic device, or utility to be disposed of or in this case, hopefully recycled.

Nothing lasts forever, especially when we’re on the subject of vacuum cleaners.

If you have an old vacuum cleaner that’s broken, isn’t used anymore, or you flat out hate it and you’re trying to get rid of it, recycling is a great option. Just about every type of vacuum cleaner can be recycled!

Let’s talk about all of the different reasons why you should recycle your vacuum cleaner, rather than tossing it away in the trash.

Recycling Vacuum Cleaners

Never throw away your vacuum cleaner.

Although you can always leave it on your curb for garbage pickup, it’s far from the better option. If you don’t have curbside pickup, you’re going to have to lug it somewhere and dispose of it yourself or pay someone else to.

In fact, you might be able to even get some money for it if you’re willing to put in a little extra work.

There are plenty of different options that you have available to not only get rid of your vacuum cleaner in a proper way, but also one that benefits you, the environment, and more.

Why It’s Better to Recycle Your Vacuum Cleaner Rather Than Throw It Away

Recycling has tons of benefits that aren’t just good for the environment.

However, it’s almost always better to recycle a vacuum cleaner, as well as just about any type of appliance that can be recycled, rather than throwing it away.

Here’s why.

1. It’s Great For The Environment

Even vacuum cleaners have components and are manufactured with materials that are similar to that of other appliances and even electronic devices.

That means that once recycled, they can be repurposed for other uses.

These metals and other harmful materials stay out of landfills which results in a cleaner environment.

2. Benefits the Economy

Even if you don’t care about the environment, you should know that recycling does in fact have a positive impact on the economy.

In 2020, recycling created more than 681,000 jobs, resulting in 37.8 billion in wages, as well as $5.5 billion in tax revenue.

It’s fascinating to see how much recycling can impact the economy.

Read the 2020 EPA recycling economic information report here if you’re interested in learning more.

3. Helps Save Energy

When you consider how long that we use our vacuum cleaners for, it’s important that we try to give a little back, especially when our vacuum cleaners have given us a much cleaner environment over the years.

Vacuum cleaners are made of different materials such as plastic, aluminum, and metal, all which can all be recycled.

Recycled materials require less energy during the manufacturing process, and can be used during the manufacturing process of additional vacuum cleaners and other appliances.

Where Can I Recycle My Vacuum Cleaner?

This answer of course will vary depending on where you live, but there are some options out there for just about everyone.

Look Around for Local Recycling Centers Near You

If you live in the US, Canada, Australia, or really anywhere in the world, check your local recycling communities. Many towns have recycling centers that will even take your old or broken vacuum cleaner. Some may, while some may not.

• If you live in the US, take a look at Earth911’s directory for local recycling centers near you across the country.
• If you live in Canada, here is a government recycling directory.
• If you live in Australia, here are some options available for recycling drop-off locations.

If your local recycling centers don’t take vacuum cleaners, there are still plenty of other options available.

Hire a Company to Pick It Up and Recycle It for You

Although this isn’t the most ideal option, sometimes, especially depending on your location, there are few options available to you.

You may have to hire someone to pick it up for you and recycle it for a fee.

Bring Your Vacuum Cleaner Back to the Store That You Purchased It from

Did you know that some stores will actually offer a free recycling program or even store credit to bring back your old device or appliance?

Once again, this will vary depending on your location, but many stores offer recycling programs that may or may not accept your vacuum cleaner.

If you happen to be in the US, Best Buy does in fact offer free recycling for stick vacuums, robot vacuums, an upright/canister vacuums, among many other items. The only type of vacuum cleaner that they do not explicitly accept are wet/dry vacuums.

They also have a trade-in program where you can get store credit, but vacuum cleaners are not accepted.

This is a free and relatively easy option to consider, as all you need to do is bring the vacuum cleaner with you to the store and drop it off.

Alternative Options to Recycling Your Vacuum Cleaner

Perhaps you live in a remote area where it’s difficult to find someplace that will accept your vacuum cleaner for recycling.

Maybe you don’t even want to recycle it and are looking to make a few bucks to put towards the purchase of a new one.

Regardless of your reasoning, there are actually many other options that are way better than just tossing your vacuum cleaner out in the garbage, so let’s take a look at what other alternatives you have.

Donate Your Vacuum Cleaner

If you happen to have a functioning, but old vacuum cleaner that you simply don’t want to use anymore, consider donating it so that someone else can use it.

Goodwill will take vacuum cleaners and even local donation centers will typically accept a functioning and decently clean vacuum cleaner.

The Salvation Army will also gladly take your vacuum cleaner and even provide you with a tax deductible receipt.

Many homeless shelters will accept donations, so you have quite few options on your hand if you’re looking to donate your vacuum cleaner instead of recycling it.

Sell Your Used Vacuum Cleaner or Give It Away

Post a listing on your local online classifieds. You might even be able to get some money for it and not potentially won’t have to even leave your home!

Or, you can simply post that you’re giving it away and as long as it’s functional, there’s a good chance that someone will gladly take it off your hands.

You also have the option of using eBay or some other online selling website, but depending on how big your vacuum cleaner is or how old it is, you might end up selling it at a loss if it’s heavy due to expensive shipping costs. Consider this as a last ditch effort.

If you have a vacuum cleaner that’s older, yet still in high demand, you may be able to get some extra cash by selling individual parts from it. If parts are no longer manufactured, some people might pay a pretty dollar to get a functional replacement such as a belt or nozzle.

Scrap It!

Take your old vacuum cleaner to the scrap yard and have it scrapped for a few extra bucks. If you’re handy with machinery and know the ropes around scrap yards, this is one option that could be (or could not) worth your time.

On one hand, if your vacuum cleaner isn’t really heavy or is on the lighter side of things, you probably won’t get much for it because the amount you receive is dependent on the weight.

Spending time disassembling it and driving it to a scrapyard probably won’t be worth your time or money if all you receive is a dollar or two.

A scrapyard might be worth it if you have other machinery or appliances that you’re looking to get a little extra money for. However, if you’re even considering a scrapyard, then you probably already have a truck or van that you can use for transportation. In this case, it might be worth it if you’re willing to get rid of a lot of appliances at once, including your vacuum cleaner(s).

You will have to disassemble things, which might be time-consuming or difficult based on your experience and expertise. However, just about anyone can learn how to prep old appliances prescribing by watching the video below:

Don’t Toss Your Vacuum Cleaner Away! Recycling, Donating, and Other Options Are Much Better.

Even if you don’t even recycle in general or want to, there are still plenty of better options than just throwing out your old vacuum cleaner that exist.

Although recycling is a very beneficial, easy to do low effort option, you can still seek out alternative options such as donations.

Recycling is great for the environment and the economy, and some stores may even help you with the process or give you some cash back for your vacuum.

If you can’t recycle for whatever reason, you still might be able to sell individual parts for a few extra bucks or more.

If you’re familiar with scrapping, you can also take your vacuum cleaners, among other appliances, for monetary value as well.

Whichever option you decide to go with, just about all of them are better than throwing out your vacuum cleaner in the garbage, which is bad for the environment, economy, and doesn’t actually benefit you in any way!