Appliance recycling

Appliance recycling is the industry that dismantles scrapped household appliances so that their parts or materials can be reused. The work involves disassembly, removal of hazardous components and destruction of the equipment, with materials usually recovered by shredding, sorting and grading. The main appliances handled are televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and computers. Volumes have grown because technology moves quickly and many appliances are not designed to be repaired, so they are discarded sooner. Treated as a source of valuable materials, discarded appliances can be put back into use, but if they are disposed of improperly they can harm the environment and poison ecosystems. How strong the legislation is, and what share of appliances is actually recycled, varies widely from country to country.