Who Recycles Water Heaters?

A hot water heater is one of the biggest energy costs in the home. While some models (the gas variety) should be good for at least ten years, like any appliance that gets regular use they will wear out and need to be replaced. In many parts of the country it's now illegal to throw away large appliances because the government doesn't want them to take up room in a landfill. Which means that they will have to be recycled.

Water heaters, by law, must be recycled in many places.

Government Recycling

Often times the local government will have a recycling program in place. This makes it easier for citizens to recycle waste both big and small, in addition to making sure that things aren't just thrown away. Usually if you call the local waste management department (which should be in the phone book) you can find out if there's a local program in place that will recycle your hot water heater.

Scrap Yards

Scrap yards or recycling facilities (depending on your terminology) have been a staple industry for decades. These facilities are always willing to take large amounts of metal (water heaters are made up mostly of steel) which they can then strip down and sell to be remade. The benefit of these centers is that they usually offer a payment for scrap as an incentive to customers, but they also require a person to bring the water heater to the yard, which may be difficult for some people that don't have a truck or similar vehicle.

Re-Use

If a hot water heater isn't broken (the previous owner may have wanted to switch from an electric heater to a gas heater, but there was nothing wrong with the original water heater) then chances are it can be donated or re-used. Organizations like Goodwill or Freecycle may accept a used but functional water heater.

No Extra Charge

Some companies will offer to take away your old hot water heater if you have their technicians install your new one. This is an option that a lot of people take, because that saves them the time and trouble of recycling their water heater themselves. The responsibility of making sure that the old appliance gets properly recycled and doesn't end up in a landfill then rests on the company, and not on the previous owner. The company is also likely to know from previous experience how best to dispose of the old one.

Components

Water heaters are made up of several valuable materials that can all be stripped down and recycled. The case and tank are made of steel, and the tubes inside the water heater are usually made of copper. The components are all easily separated and sorted, which makes a hot water heater a sure bet for any recycling efforts.

References

• Replace Your Hot Water Heater
• Recycle Your Hot Water Heater