Why shouldn’t you ever put a fridge out with the garbage?

Q: Can my refrigerator be recycled for free?

Yes. The services offered by GoRecycle are free.

Wondering how to get rid of your old fridge at the end of its life? Even if it doesn’t work anymore, a refrigerator should never be put out with the garbage, nor left on the curb; remember to call on GoRecycle’s free services to make sure it’s recycled.

Unlike many other major home appliances, refrigerators contain refrigerant gases and other components that must be recovered using a specific process. When not properly handled, these gases are released into the environment and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are largely responsible for climate change.

In Quebec, GoRecycle is the official organization recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC to ensure the responsible recovery and recycling of household cooling appliances. Thanks to the various available solutions, it’s easy to get rid of an old refrigerator for free and be sure that it will be recycled responsibly.

1. Why is recycling an old refrigerator important?

It’s a household appliance that contains materials that must be carefully handled

At first glance, an old refrigerator just looks like a large metal appliance. But it contains refrigerant gases, which can generate more than one ton of greenhouse gases (GHG) if they are not handled properly.

Every fridge recovered and recycled by GoRecycle prevents the release of harmful gases into the environment and recycles the materials it’s built with.

What’s inside a refrigerator

An old refrigerator contains:

ferrous and non-ferrous metals
compressor
plastic
insulate foam
gaz
glass
oil
mercury

Accordingly, every recycled refrigerator helps reduce greenhouse gases and gives a second life to raw materials that otherwise would have been lost.

👉 Go a step further:

Why recycle your old cooling appliances ?

2. How is a refrigerator recycled in Quebec?

3 key steps in the recycling process

Once it’s collected, your refrigerator is sent to GoRecycle’s recycling partner, where the refrigerant gases and raw materials it contains are recovered and recycled.

Processing includes:

1

Removal of easily accessible components

Prior to mechanical processing, parts that can be dismantled by hand are removed, in order to make recycling of the various materials easier to do.

2

Recovery of the refrigerant gases, oils, and the compressor

The refrigerant gases, the oils, the compressor, and certain pipes are carefully removed. This step is essential to prevent the release of substances which may contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

3

Crushing of the refrigerator in a vacuum machine

The refrigerator is subsequently crushed in a vacuum machine; at this stage, the gases contained in the insulating foam are collected.

💡 Using this process, 97% of the refrigerator’s materials are recovered!

To learn more about the recycling process used by our recycling partner, PureSphera:

*In french only

👉 Go a step further:

How are refrigerators recycled?

3. Where can I recycle an old fridge in Quebec?

Want to know where you can take your old fridge, or would you rather use a free at home collection service?

Several free solutions are available through GoRecycle throughout Quebec in order to make it easier to recover cooling appliances.

5 free options to get rid of an old fridge responsibly

Depending on which municipality you live in, you can:

Use GoRecycle’s doorstep collection service
Take your appliance to a GoRecycle drop-off point near you
Leave your old fridge with a participating retailer when you buy a new appliance
Use your municipality’s bulky item waste collection service
Participate in a municipal collection event

💡Our location finder helps you identify the solution located in your postal code area in just a few clicks.

Go a step further:

👉 How to get rid of an old fridge
👉 Who can pick up your old fridge?

In conclusion

A refrigerator should never end its life on the garbage heap. Because it contains refrigerant gases, it needs to be recovered and processed in specialized facilities to prevent significant emissions of greenhouse gases.

By choosing one of five free GoRecycle solutions, you’re taking a concrete step to help the environment and promoting the recovery of materials that can be given a second life.

👉 Find a free recycling solution for your old refrigerator near you

💡 Does your old fridge still work? Extending the life of a refrigerator remains THE solution that generates the least environmental impacts. Prior to replacement, consider the following solutions:

FAQ about refrigerator recycling

No. A refrigerator must never be put out with the garbage because it contains refrigerant gases and other components that need to be recovered and handled in a specialized facility. Recycling prevents the release of one ton of greenhouse gases (GHG), largely responsible for climate change, into the atmosphere.

Unlike the majority of other major appliances (stoves, washers and dryers), a refrigerator contains refrigerating gases and insulating foam that need to be safely handled. That’s why it needs to be handled by GoRecycle.

Several free solutions are offered by GoRecycle throughout Quebec, specifically: doorstep collection, drop-off points, and pickup by participating retailers when you purchase a new appliance, municipal collection, and pop-up events. Use GoRecycle’s location finder to find the solution near you.

Yes. The services offered by GoRecycle are free.

Before you recycle it, choose reuse or repair whenever possible. Extending the life of an appliance remains the solution that generates the least environmental impact. If your refrigerator is not repairable or at the end of its life, GoRecycle provides you with a way to dispose of it responsibly.

About GoRecycle

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 nearly 400 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).