How to Safely Dispose of a Mini Fridge
Sure, mini fridges make great dorm room fridges or beer fridges, but unplugging can net you savings on your utility bill. Refrigerators and freezers use more energy than other household appliances, notes the California Energy Commission. Safe mini fridge disposal varies by your town's laws and policies, and existing bounty programs. Make a couple of phone calls to determine your options, then prepare the mini fridge for disposal or donation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Call your electric company to ask about bounty programs. These programs pay you for disposing of your old refrigerator, and pick it up for you. Not all styles of refrigerator are accepted, so know the make, model number and size of your mini fridge before you call. If this program is available to you -- not every community has this -- make an appointment.
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Contact your town's Department of Public Works for information on refrigerated-appliance disposal. Communities may ask you to bring the item to a landfill or leave it curbside; they may request you schedule a pickup and pay a fee.
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Ask the appliance manufacturer about old model pickup, if you're replacing that mini fridge with a new miniature or full-sized refrigerator. This might entitle you to free pickup of old appliances. If you qualify for free pickup, unplug and clean out your mini fridge before you get the new appliance delivered, then make sure the deliveryman takes the old fridge.
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Donate mini fridges that still work to charities that could use them. Try senior centers, youth groups or animal-rescue organizations, who may need refrigerator space.
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Tips & Warnings
Remove the door from your mini fridge before disposal, for safety reasons. Small children could still open the fridge and get trapped inside, although it's less of a concern than with large refrigerators, because of the smaller size. Cut the plastic to remove the door, then place the door beside the unit.
