How to get rid of an old freezer

What are the best ways to get rid of your old freezer responsibly? Read on to discover advice and tips for disposing of your old upright, chest or mini freezer the environmentally friendly way.

Why it’s important to recycle your old freezer

Each year in Quebec, 300,000 cooling appliances are left by the curb. These appliances are not recycled responsibly and as a result generate an average of one ton of greenhouse gases (GHG) each into the environment. That’s 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 disposing of your appliance responsibly.

1. Repair your old freezer

Has your freezer stopped working, is it no longer freezing, making an unusual noise or producing ice? Before you get rid of it, consider repairing it. By extending the useful life of your old freezer, you avoid using the raw materials required to manufacture a new appliance. Two repair options are available to you:

Find a freezer repair service near you

There are several freezer repair services in Quebec that can help advise you on your best options, as well as the associated costs.

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

You can also:

• Search Google Maps for the best freezer repair technicians near you, while consulting customer reviews.
• Ask your social circle to recommend a trusted freezer repair service.

Repair it yourself

If you’re considering repairing your freezer yourself, you can order many appliance parts online or in stores.

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

Whatever the fix, it’s crucial to ensure that your repairs don’t touch any pipes or the cooling system, since pipes contain halocarbons. If your freezer is no longer cooling, you’ll need the help of a refrigeration expert.

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, get access to tools or obtain expert advice.

2. Sell your freezer or give it away

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

Sell it

There are many classified ads sites you can use to sell your old freezer. 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 “freezer for sale” on classified ads sites to find a rare gem.

Quebec’s most popular classified ads sites are:

• Facebook Marketplace
• Kijiji
• LesPAC
• Craigslist

Give it away

A good way to dispose of your old yet functional freezer is to pass it on. You’ll make someone else happy, and you’ll get rid of your appliance quickly while making an environmentally friendly gesture.

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 freezer

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

Find a nearby ecocentre, recycling centre or sorting centre

More than 300 GoRecycle drop-off points in Quebec, including ecocentres, recycling centres and sorting facilities ensure that your freezer is recycled responsibly. These drop-off points accept household freezers larger than 2.5 cubic feet.

Recycling your freezer is free of charge. Simply consult the GoRecycle drop-off point directory to find the one nearest you and bring in your old freezer. Before you go, make sure you are a citizen of the municipality served, confirm that you have not reached your maximum number of annual visits and check the hours of operation.

Free appliance collection service with purchase

Decided to buy a new freezer? More than 100 retailers offer a free pick-up and recycling service with the purchase of a new appliance.

We invite you to consult the list of GoRecycle partner stores offering the home collection service with purchase before shopping for your next household appliance. This way, you can ensure your old one will be recycled responsibly.

Municipal home appliance removal

Many municipalities now offer a home appliance removal service. We invite you to consult the GoRecycle directory of cities offering home freezer removal 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 eco-friendly solutions for disposing of your old freezer. These include repairing it, selling it, bringing it to a recycling location or taking advantage of the home collection service. Ready to make a concrete effort in protecting the environment?

Together, let’s dispose of our old freezers responsibly!