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Time to say goodbye to your old freezer but want to make sure it’s disposed of in an environmentally sound manner?
This article explores the environmentally responsible solutions for getting rid of your appliance in Quebec, including options for free home freezer removal.
While it might seem easy and convenient to leave your old freezer by the side of the road, it’s an outdated practice that’s harmful to the environment.
Freezers contain refrigerant gases that can generate more than one tonne of greenhouse gases (GHG) if left untreated. This means that if your freezer isn’t recycled responsibly, it can have a number of harmful impacts on the environment.
For better understanding, here’s what your old freezer contains that can environmentally harmful materials:
Photo credit: PureSphera
Entrusting your freezer to a GoRecycle partner for responsible recycling is the equivalent to preventing the emission of one tonne of GHG, or 488 bus rides to work.
That’s why it’s crucial to be aware of the options that exist for disposing of your old freezer and to recycle it responsibly.
Here are the various ways you can get rid of your old freezer:
There are more than 300 official GoRecycle drop-off points (ecocentres, recycling centres and sorting centres) across Quebec to ensure that your old freezer is recycled responsibly.
These sites recover over 95% of the appliance’s materials. Find the GoRecycle drop-off point near you and bring in your old freezer!
Household freezers over 2.5 cubic feet are accepted at GoRecycle drop-off points, including:
Some donation centres and charities across Quebec offer a free appliance removal service for functional appliances.
This option gives your freezer a second lease on life while making a concrete gesture of solidarity.
Some cities offer a cooling appliance collection service (including freezers)* which allows citizens to:
We invite you to use the GoRecycle directory of cities offering home cooling appliance removal to find out if this service is available in your city.
*Please note that this service is offered exclusively to citizens of the municipality.
When you purchase a new freezer, most retailers and appliance stores offer a free collection and recycling service for your old freezer.
Your old freezer will be removed when your new one is delivered.
Check out the list of participating banners before buying your new freezer. When you make your purchase, you must notify the salesperson that you wish to have your old freezer removed.
Many junk and bulky item collection companies offer a used appliance collection service for a fee.
Though they are convenient, for the most part they are not compliant. That’s because they don’t treat the harmful matter contained within your freezer, which can cause damage to the environment.
GoRecycle is the only organization recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC for recycling freezers.
In order to have a real impact on the environment and prevent the emission of one tonne of GHG, we recommend choosing from one of the four options mentioned in this article to ensure that your freezer is recycled responsibly.
GoRecycle is the only organization recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC that ensures the responsible recycling of cooling appliances in Quebec. We recycle refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, wine coolers, dehumidifiers and water coolers through over 300 drop-off points in Quebec, and over 100 banner pickup partners with the purchase of a new fridge. GoRecycle is a non-profit organization (NPO).
