How to dispose of an old wine cooler

Looking for a way to get rid of your old wine cellar? In this article, we provide 3 eco-friendly tips and tricks to ensure that all types of household wine cellars are recycled properly.

Why it’s important to recycle your old wine cellar

Each year in Quebec, 300,000 refrigeration appliances are left by the side of the road.

If recycled improperly, these appliances generate an average of one tonne of greenhouse gases (GHG) each into the environment. This massive emission is equivalent to more than 100,000 additional vehicles on Quebec roads every year.

Ready to make a significant gesture for the environment? Here are three tips for responsible appliance disposal.

1. Repair your wine cellar

Has your wine cellar stopped cooling, is it producing ice or making an unusual noise? Before you get rid of it, it’s important to consider repairing it.

By extending the useful life of your old wine cellar, you avoid using the raw materials and resources needed to manufacture a new one.

Two repair options are available to you:

Find a wine cellar repair service near you

There are several wine cellar repairers in Quebec that can help advise you on your best options, as well as the associated costs.

To find professional assistance in repairing your wine cellar, consult the directory of certified appliance repair services in Quebec (French only).

You can also:

• Search on Google Maps to find the best wine cooler repairers near you, while consulting customer reviews
• Ask your social circle to recommend a trusted wine cellar repairer

Repair it yourself

If you’re considering repairing your wine cellar yourself, you can find many small appliance parts online or in stores.

This is the ideal solution for simple repairs such as changing a gasket, a broken shelf or burnt-out lightbulb.

It’s crucial to ensure that your repairs don’t touch any ducts or the cooling system, as ducts contain halocarbons. If your wine cellar is no longer cooling, you’ll need the help of a refrigeration professional.

We recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions. In the directory of certified appliance repair services in Quebec, you’ll find a list of places where you can repair your appliance yourself, access tools or get expert advice.

2. Sell your wine cellar or give it away

So you’ve decided to replace your old wine cellar. Now, how do you get rid of your old one responsibly? You have two options:

Sell your wine fridge

There are many classified ads sites you can use to sell your old wine cooler. This is a great way to ensure that your appliance will be picked up free of charge by an individual and to make a bit of money. Many users actively search for “wine cellar for sale” on classified ads sites to find a rare gem.

The most popular classified ad sites in Quebec are:

• Facebook Marketplace
• Kijiji
• LesPAC
• Craigslist

Be sure to optimize your listing with relevant terms such as “used wine cellar” to attract interested buyers. This approach will improve your chances of selling your old wine cellar and contributing to the circular economy.

Give away your air conditioner

A good way of getting rid of your old wine cellar that still works is to pass it on. You’ll make someone else happy and you’ll get rid of your appliance quickly while being environmentally friendly.

You have two options:

• Give it to a family member, friend, co-worker or acquaintance
• Contact a donation centre to arrange for appliance pickup or bring it in yourself

3. Recycle your old wine cellar

Is your wine cellar no longer functional, or no one wants it? Entrusting it to GoRecycle for proper appliance recycling is one of the best ways to fight climate change. These two options can make it even easier:

Find a nearby recycling centre, ecocentre or sorting centre

More than 300 drop-off points in Quebec, including ecocentres, recycling centres and sorting facilities ensure that your wine cellar is recycled responsibly. These drop-off points will accept your household wine cellar.

Recycling your wine cellar is free of charge. Simply consult the GoRecycle drop-off point directory to find the one nearest you and bring in your old wine cellar. Before dropping off your appliance, consider the following:

• Be sure you have not reached your maximum number of annual visits
• You must be a citizen of the municipality served
• Check the opening hours before you go

This option gives you flexibility and allows you to choose the moment that suits you best.

Municipal appliance pick up

Many municipalities now offer home appliance removal. We invite you to consult the GoRecycle directory of cities offering wine cooler home removal service to see whether yours is listed.

Note that each municipality defines its own terms and conditions. Be sure to check the information in the link provided in the directory under the name of your municipality. Proof of residence will also be required in order to benefit from this service.

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s no shortage of solutions for disposing of your old wine cooler responsibly. Whether that’s repairing it, selling it or recycling it, every effort counts in preserving our planet!