072709oldfridge.jpgQ: I keep hearing that we should replace our fridge with an Energy Star fridge. My questions are, what do you do with the old one?

Which is less green: using a non-energy star fridge or an energy star fridge you had to throw a fridge away to accommodate? If you give it to someone else, the non-energy star fridge is still out there sucking up energy. If you toss it, it's in a landfill.

Is there a way to responsibly recycle appliances?

- Posted by Becky

I think we'll tackle your questions one at a time. First, recycling appliances: Yes, thankfully, there are ways to responsibly recycle appliances. Actually, you're in luck, because AT: Chicago just posted yesterday about Earth 911, a great recycling resource. You can read that post here.

In general, your appliance recycling options depend on where you live. However, companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK (who promise to make every effort to recycle what they haul away) and JACO Environmental are popping up all over the place.

Recycling appliances isn't as easy as tossing a tin can into a blue bin; but, with a little research, it's definitely possible.

Now, for your second question: Which is less green, using that energy sucking refrigerator you already have, or tossing it/recycling it and buying an Energy Star replacement? I think we'll throw that one out for comments.

What do you think?

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Image: Allsorts

Originally posted at ReNest/Stephanie Kinnear