Household Appliances and Demolition
Household appliances, such as kitchen and laundry appliances, water heaters and furnaces, should be removed from residential buildings before demolition.
Refrigerants must be removed from appliances prior to recycling or disposal:
Fact Sheet: Construction and Demolition: How to Properly Dispose of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Equipment
- Specific regulatory requirements apply if a refrigerator, freezer, air conditioning system, or other refrigerant-containing appliance is going to be repaired for reuse.
- If the appliances are not fit for reuse, they should be recycled rather than disposed of in a landfill.
- Regulated refrigerants (e.g., CFCs) must be removed properly from refrigerant-containing devices before they are recycled or disposed.
Refrigerant recyclers must certify to EPA that certain standards are being met. You can verify that the recyclers are meeting these requirements by asking them to provide a copy of the certification they have sent to EPA.
Frequently Asked Questions about Safe Disposal of Refrigerated Household Appliances