We all know about July 1st moving day: when the city’s streets are abuzz with boxes, furniture, helpful friends, those settling in and those moving on. But it’s also a time when fridges are abandoned by the roadside. Yes, many fridges are still dumped on the sidewalk; only this year, a special squad came to the rescue!
GoRecycle and Corbeil team up for a more responsible move
In collaboration with Corbeil, the GoRecycle truck made its way through the streets of Montreal with the mission of locating and collecting refrigeration and cooling appliances left by the roadside. The trucks made their way through the city between June 29 and July 2.
Did you spot one?
An initiative that carries weight (38 tonnes, to be exact!)
Thanks to this initiative, 44 appliances were recovered and brought to our recyclers for proper processing. 38 tonnes of GHG emissions were prevented from being released.
Taking part in this initiative really made me feel that I’ve made a difference for our city and our planet.
Why you should never dump a fridge by the curb
Discarding fridges is no joke! Did you know that each year in Quebec, more than 300,000 appliances are recycled without being processed adequately? That’s the same as releasing more than 300,000 tonnes of GHG into the atmosphere, or as if 100,000 extra cars polluted our roads. Most of the time, appliances left by the roadside are picked up by scrap metal dealers and are shredded without first removing refrigerant gases, which in turn releases greenhouse gases into the environment. These appliances also contain harmful oils and plastics that cause considerable damage. That’s why it’s essential to recycle them properly!
What to do instead
Here are a few simple solutions to avoid harming the environment:
- Consider reuse: if your appliance is still functional, give it a second lease on life by selling it or giving it away.
- Repair it: Before discarding a defective appliance, consider having it repaired.
- Responsible recycling: If your appliance is beyond repair, be sure to recycle it responsibly. Bring it to one of the 300 official GoRecycle drop-off points or entrust it to a participating retailer such as Corbeil, who will remove and recycle your old fridge when you purchase a new one.
Recycling for a healthier planet: numbers that speak for themselves
Although getting rid of a fridge may require some logistics, it’s definitely worthwhile. Did you know that properly recycling your refrigeration and cooling appliances is the gesture with the greatest positive impact on the environment?
Here are a few concrete examples:
- Recycling a fridge: The equivalent of using your reusable coffee cup 13,870 times.
- Recycling an air conditioner: The equivalent of refusing 684,932 plastic straws.
- Recycling a wine cellar: The equivalent of composting for 4.5 years
- Recycling a dehumidifier: The equivalent of eating a vegan diet for 1 year.
- Recycling a freezer: The equivalent of 488 car rides to work.
Now you know how great of an impact responsible recycling can make!
Not just on moving day
While July 1st may be a symbolic date, by adopting these good habits regularly (or, at least, when it’s time to replace an appliance), we can all play our part in creating a greener future. To find out all you need to know about recycling refrigeration and cooling appliances responsibly, the solutions available and how to recycle them properly, visit the GoRecycle website.
