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Donate anything that still works, since small appliances resell easily. Otherwise they are e-waste and scrap metal rather than curbside material: take them to an electronics recycler, a scrap yard, or a municipal e-waste event. Leave the cord attached, since the copper is worth recovering, and take any battery out first. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
Toasters, kettles, blenders, coffee makers, microwaves, and similar countertop appliances. Steel and copper with an electronics component, so never a curbside item.
Where to Recycle
- Electronics and e-waste recyclers
- Scrap metal yards
- Municipal e-waste collection events
- Thrift stores and charity shops, for working appliances
- Repair cafés and community repair groups
How to Prepare
- 1Test it before discarding, since a failed cord or switch is often the only fault
- 2Donate or sell working appliances, which move quickly secondhand
- 3Unplug, empty, and clean out food residue
- 4Leave the power cord attached, since its copper is part of what makes the unit worth recycling
- 5Take out any battery and recycle it separately
- 6Take it to an electronics recycler, scrap yard, or municipal e-waste event rather than the curb
- 7Do not open a microwave, since its capacitor can hold a dangerous charge even unplugged
Special Instructions
Small appliances sit between two streams and are welcome in both: a scrap yard wants the steel and copper, and an electronics recycler handles the circuitry. Either is better than the trash, and neither is curbside. The high-voltage capacitor inside a microwave can retain a charge after the unit is unplugged, so microwaves should not be opened or dismantled at home. Note also that the regulatory meaning of small appliance is different from the household one: under the Clean Air Act it describes a unit holding five pounds or less of refrigerant, which covers things like a mini fridge or dehumidifier rather than a toaster.
Environmental Impact
These are mostly steel, copper, and aluminum with a small circuit board, all of which recycle well when the unit reaches the right facility. The bigger opportunity is earlier: small appliances are frequently discarded over a broken cord, a worn switch, or a blocked filter, and repair cafés and basic spares fix a large share of them. Donating a working appliance displaces a new one outright, which beats any recycling outcome.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Repair a cord, switch, or seal rather than replacing the appliance
- Donate or sell working units
- Take it to a repair café
- Buy repairable models with available spares
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Not Accepted
- Small appliances in curbside recycling
- Units with batteries left inside
- Microwaves opened or dismantled at home
- Appliances with food residue still in them at donation points
Hazardous Components
- High-voltage capacitors in microwaves, which can hold a charge when unplugged
- Batteries in cordless and rechargeable appliances
- Circuit boards containing trace heavy metals
Recycle small appliances
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more household materials.