Can I Recycle An Old Lawn Mower
One of the most common questions about disposing of mowers are if they can be recycled, and the answer to that is yes, they can, a matter of fact, recycling your mower is much more environmentally friendly than just dumping it as junk.
Recycling facilities will break the yard equipment down into its metal and plastic parts then make use of the disposal, rather than you contributing to the main waste stream.
However, before taking your lawn mowers old model to the recycling centres, you need to make sure it is free of gasoline and safe first which will get on to later during explaining the disassembly process.
Inspect Your Lawn Before You Mow
Checking your grass for stones, sticks, and other debris that could damage your lawn mower is a good way to ensure your mower doesnt undergo any undue stress. Majority of lawn mowers were not designed to be pushed or ridden over rocks and bits of branches so remove these things from your lawn before beginning.
Mowing over hard objects like this can damage the blades of your mower as well as send bits of debris flying into other parts of the machine, causing internal damage too.
Will Old Gas Ruin An Engine
While old gasoline wont hurt an engine, itll just make it run inefficiently or fail to fire at all. You can certainly dispose of old gas, but you can also reuse it by diluting it with fresh gas . However, if the leftover gasoline shows particles of rust, dirt, or discoloration, it may be contaminated.
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Lawn Mower Pickup & Disposal Sites
Many areas will have junk disposal sites available that will take used lawn mowers and other garden equipment. Just do a quick search for junk disposal for deposit sites near you. There are also probably a dozen or so people in most areas that are willing to take old lawn mowers so they can restore them and put them back in use. Best place to find these folks is probably on Facebook and just ask your friends who is willing to take on an old lawn mower project. I did that and found out my next-door neighbor likes to fiddle with small engines. He took my old mower and got it running again. He offered it back but I already had my new reel mower.
Landscaping Equipment Can Be Recycled
If you simply want to be rid of your old equipment, but don’t want to contribute to the waste stream, having a professional junk hauling firm pick them up can be a true eco-friendly option.
Lawn mowers and other landscaping equipment can be broken down into metal and plastic parts, cleaned free of gasoline or other substances and recycled industrially. This includes appliances like lawn mowers, leave blowers, wheelbarrows, hedge trimmers, edgers, weed trimmers and even chainsaws. While it’s not exactly a landscaping tool, even your old barbecues can be picked up and recycled!
There can often be other types of metals in an old tool. The question often comes up regarding what types of metals actually can be sold for scrap. Non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel and bronze, generally bring more money at scrap yards. While ferrous metals, like steel and iron, are not as valuable, the scrap yards will still accept these metals for recycling.
The website at Earth911.com notes that,
“The most common metals accepted by scrap yards include copper, steel, aluminum, brass, iron and wires. But your local scrap yard may accept additional metals for recycling and give you cash payouts for your scrap metals. Call a few scrap yards in your area ahead of time for a list of scrap metals they accept for recycling”
If you choose to sell your old equipment and tools as scrap metal keep in mind how scrap is purchased by the scrap metal reclamation companies.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Disposing Of Old Mowers
How much are scrap metals from a lawn mower worth?
Scrap metals from your lawnmower will be worth different prices according to the weight you have of additional metals, scrap metal prices will differ according to the condition of the junk too.
Are there junk removal service companies in the UK for mowers?
Yes, there are many metal appliance recycling pick up services and junk removal company options in the UK that will come and pick up your lawnmower and dispose of it if needed, just ensure you drain the mower of fuel and oil beforehand for safety reasons.
How long should a lawn mower last?
This all comes down to how you take care of lawn mower equipment and maintain it, a high-quality well-taken care model could last you ten years, while some lower quality ones could only last you five years.
Getting Rid Of Lawn Mowers In Other Ways
Tip: For the best chances of selling your lawn mower, list it in spring or summer when people are most likely to need a new lawn mower.
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Check Your Lock Authority
The first thing to consider after removing the old battery from the mower, you must dispose of it properly. The first thing to do is to call your local authority. They will be able to tell you more about which dumps and recycling centers in the area are able to take the battery off your hand. Many local recycling centers will be able to handle the batter, including car and even standard batteries so if you have other batteries to remove, this may be a good place to start. Do it all at once to help avoid wasting time.
Some waste removal companies are authorized to take these batteries, but it will depend on the area that you live in. Do not assume that you can do this. Throwing the battery in the trash when it is not allowed can be dangerous and may result in a big fine. If the trash company can take these batteries in your area, you will need to call ahead and tell them the battery is going to be in the trash. And in some instances, you will need to pay a bit extra on your trash bill to do this.
Can You Recycle Your Lawn Mower
Since it is made of metal and plastic parts, your old lawn mower can be recycled.
Some cities and towns offer pickup of your large items for recycling, as long as you request a pickup well in advance. However, most areas require that you haul your items to a local recycling facility or drop-off event.
You can expect to pay a fee when dropping off your old lawn mower to be recycled, and you should take it to a professional to remove any gas or oil residue before it can be recycled.
However, recycling your old lawn mower and any other tools you have means keeping them out of landfills where they leach dangerous chemicals and fumes into the air, soil, and water.
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What You Can Do With Unusable Equipment
There is still a way to make some money from your old, but unusable, landscaping equipment. Whether it’s an edger, leaf blower, hedge clippers, weed trimmer, snow blower or a lawnmower, there are materials in them and on them that can be sold.
Sell it as scrap metal
The fact is, you might be able to sell these items to a scrap metal dealer. According to Hunker.com,
“Most buy mowers at scrap metal prices that fluctuate daily in accordance with the market. You won’t get as much as if you parted it out, but engines and some decks are made with aluminum castings. Junkyards usually pay aluminum breakage prices, which is more than they pay for plain steel, for a mower sold as a unit.”
According to a post on Scrap Metal Junkie, scrap metal buyers are one option:
“Old lawn mowers and small engines are a great source of scrap aluminum and steel. Unfortunately, it is far too time consuming to take a whole small engine apart to separate into non-ferrous metals . The trick for those of us selling them for scrap metal, however, is getting a fair price for the value of the metal.”
However, they go on to point out that small engine mechanics are often a far better source for selling your old powered equipment, even if they aren’t currently running. According to the post you will be able to make two or three times more money by selling a lawn mower for parts than you would if you sold it to a scrap yard.
1. Separate the metals
2. Separate the non-ferrous metals
How To Dispose Of A Lawn Mower
One of the things you should consider when disposing a lawn mower is to do it based on your preference. This way, you wont be stressing over it if you cannot commit to the level of difficulty your chosen disposal choice has. Go for a way thatll give you minimal stress and one that suits your budget, time, location, and energy.
However, take note of some important points before deciding for a disposal option for your old mower: Some areas or states may have special rules for disposing old mowers due to environmental concerns. You may want to contact your local waste manager to ask for possible disposal options. Also, never put your old lawn mower on the curb as youll get fined for doing so. Putting your broken mower on the road poses safety concerns for drivers in your neighborhood.
If your lawn mower uses gasoline, you should drain it first before throwing it. Oil residues and dangerous fuel are bad for lawn mower disposal. Keeping the oil creates leakage that may seep through catch basins and water systems of waste disposal centers. You dont want to bring chemicals or pollutants into the environment. Other option is to look for a professional to do the oil draining instead of doing it by yourself.
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Donate Mowers To Local Charities
I volunteer at a local animal rescue organization on the weekends. They have 3 locations that house dogs and each location has large yards for the dogs to play in. We usually get at least 1 lawn mower donation each month. Sometimes the mowers are not in running condition so we just move them to our scrap pile for donating to the local scrapyard. Needless to say, we always have decent mowers at each location.
Wherever you are at, there will be some type of charity or church that will be in need of your old mower. There may even be a place across the street or just down the road, so always look for that option.
What Happens To Your Items
We realize how important it is to recycle and take care of nature, and thats why, at WE JUNK, we recycle or donate unwanted items whenever possible. There are tons of nonprofits and charity organizations that will be more than happy to take your unwanted items. Whenever possible, we donate to Dell Reconnect , American Cellphone Drive, the World Computer Exchange, eBay for Charity, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Leveling the Playing Field, Big Brothers Big Sister of America, as well as some other organizations.
Reusable materials are to be taken to a specialized recycling facility, such as Call2Recycle, E-Cycling Central, Sustainable Electronics Recycling International, Staples, Liquid Technology, BestBuy, Complete Recycling Solutions, Thanks for Being Green and others.
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Buy A More Efficient Lawn Mower
Even the most efficient gas lawn mower is bad for the environment. If you are ready to buy a new lawn mower, consider choosing a manual lawn mower. Mowing your lawn manually wont create any pollution although it will take a bit more effort!
Additionally, because there are fewer moving parts, a manual push lawn mower should have a considerably longer lifetime than a gas lawn mower. Plus, there are fewer plastic parts, so theyre easier to recycle once they do reach end of life most of it will be scrap metal that cant be recycled.
If youve got too much grass to consider a manual lawn mower, an electric lawn mower might be the right choice. Cordless options enable you to use them even on large lawns, and they cause considerably less pollution than a petrol mower. This option is even better if youre getting your energy either direct from renewable resources or use an energy supplier that focuses on renewables.
A Complete Guideline To Get Rid Of A Broken Lawnmower
There are several ways to dispose of damaged and broken lawnmower. But before going to the main fact, letâs consider some basic things to know the condition of the lawnmower.
- Is your lawnmower fully damaged? Is there no other way to fix the mower? Or do you get tired of fixing the lawnmower? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then it would be better to dispose of the lawnmower.
- Are some parts of the lawnmower still in good condition? If some parts of the lawnmower are still in good condition, take them apart. You know you can sell these parts as scrap and you can earn some money from it.
- If you decide to dispose of the mower, then, of course, remove the oil from the oil tank. Because you can use the oil for any later work.
Now, we will discuss what is the best possible way for you to dispose of your damaged or broken lawnmower.
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How To Dispose Of An Old Lawnmower
OK, its getting to the end of summer and youre probably getting tired of cutting the grass. It might be more exciting if you had a new lawnmower. Sadly, it could be time to get rid of that beloved old clunker youve had for years, or time to finally carry off the one that has become an eyesore of a lawn ornament.
Why not splurge on one of the newer models with self-propelled wheels or a shiny lawn tractor? There are probably some really good end-of-season sales.
Now that youre all excited about a new mower, you might begin to wonder, then, how to dispose of your old mower, especially if it is one of the larger, tractor-type riding mowers. Depending on its condition, you might be able to sell it. But if youre like many, youve probably gotten all the good years out of it you possibly can. Let us help.
How To Dispose Of Old Lawn Mowers
28 January, 2010
Riding tractors and walk-behind mowers cut the time it takes to mow the lawn, but no matter what type you use, eventually it needs replaced. Deciding what to do with the old one depends on the condition its in and how enterprising you are. Some mowers can be sold for a little money, but you may prefer to donate it or recycle it.
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Lawn Mower Recycling Pickup Services
Deciding to get rid of your old lawn mower is one thing, but actually figuring out how to do it in a responsible way can be a headache.
Most people arent able to leave their old lawn mower on the curb for their municipal trash removal service to haul away, because most trash services wont pick them up. Plus, not everyone has the vehicle needed to haul these items to the local recycling center if there is one.
If you just want to be done with your old lawn mower but dont want to add it to the already overflowing waste stream, having a professional junk removal company pick it up can be a truly eco-friendly option.
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Lawn mowers and other landscaping equipment can be cleaned of any fuel residue, broken down into its metal and plastic components, and the materials used in the production of new lawn equipment or other products.
When you call the junk removal pros at LoadUp to pick up and recycle yard equipment like an old lawn mower, youll save you tons of time and energy. LoadUp offers easy haul-away and eco-friendly disposal for all kinds of lawn equipment and just about anything else you need to get rid of around the house.
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