If you buy the right lawn mower, it can last for many years. But even the highest quality lawn mower will conk out at some point, which brings into question the issue of lawn mower disposal.
A lawn mower is not something you just throw in the garbage as they contain some valuable components and materials that can be reused and recycled. Luckily, when it comes to eco-friendly lawn mower disposal you have quite a few options.
1. Donate Your Lawn Mower
Perhaps the most environmentally friendly lawn mower disposal method is to donate it. If the lawn mower is still in working condition and does not require any major repairs, donating it to a person or organization in need is a great idea. This way it won’t end up in landfill and you’ll be helping someone in need.
There are plenty of nonprofit organizations and local charities that will accept lawn mowers as donations. They may then donate these items directly to families and individuals in need, or sell them for low prices to raise funds for their charitable programs.
There are also plenty of community gardens and schools, particularly those with gardening programs, that need lawn mowing equipment. If all else fails, donating your old lawn mower to a neighbor is another great idea.
2. Lawn Mower Recycling
If your old lawn mower doesn’t function properly your best bet is to recycle it. There are some valuable materials and parts in a lawnmower, which makes it a good candidate for recycling.
The first step is to search for a local recycling facility that takes lawn mowers. There are specific guidelines that you’ll have to follow for recycling metal equipment and small engines. With all of those guidelines in mind, you’ll need to drain out any remaining oil and fuel. This is a necessary step to prevent any contamination and spills from occurring at the recycling site.
There are some recycling centers that could ask you to take the lawn mower apart and disassemble it into its basic components, such as the plastic parts, the metal frame and the engine. This helps make the recycling process easier and more efficient.
Once you’ve prepared your lawn mower, you can then drop it off at the recycling facility and they’ll handle the rest.
Recycling is an excellent way to get rid of a broken lawn mower because it prevents the components from ending up in a landfill and gives those components a second life.
3. Lawn Mower Trade In
If you need to buy a new lawn mower look around for a trade-in program. These programs offer some money for your old lawn mower, which you can then use as in-store credit towards other purchases. For example, in this program Home Depot is offering an instant rebate on the purchase of an environmentally preferable lawnmower in exchange for dropping off your old polluting one.
Exactly how much money you get depends on the age of the lawn mower, its condition, the brand and various other factors. Lawn mower trade-in programs often happen during the spring or summer, although they may run year-round.
Just like with recycling a lawn mower, you want to make sure your lawn mower is free of any fluids and clean before you take it to the store. Some trade-in programs may have various requirements that you’ll have to meet in order to trade it in.
Retailers that have trade-in programs may then break down the lawn mower to use components that are still functioning or just dispose of it properly.
4. Sell the Parts
If the lawnmower as a whole is not working anymore, but still has individual working components, you can disassemble it and try selling them for a bit of extra cash. There are plenty of sites online like Facebook Marketplace and Ebay that are great venues to sell such items.
5. Repurpose the Lawn Mower
If you’re more of a creative type, you can try repurposing some of the old parts for other things. For example, you could use the metal frame of the lawn mower as a DIY tool rack. If the engine is still working, you could even use it to power a go-kart. Here’s a guide on how to do that. There are also plenty of videos on YouTube showing the process.
6. Take it to a Scrap Yard
If you’re looking for a place that will properly dispose of the metal in your lawn mower then taking it to a scrap yard is a good option. What’s also ideal about scrap yards is that most of them will pay you for the metal. That said, your scrap lawn mower metal won’t get you much, but still it’s better than nothing.
7. Community Events
You may find cleanup events in your community where you can dispose of large items, such as lawn mowers. This might cost a small fee or be totally free. These community cleanup events usually have some kind of plan for the proper disposal and recycling of various materials. Check your city’s or local community’s event calendar to find these events.
8. Professional Services
If all else fails, you can always call a professional disposal service. There are many disposal services that specialize in taking your old lawn equipment, lawn mowers and other such items.
These companies ensure that lawn mowers and other such objects are properly dismantled and recycled. This option might cost you a bit of money, but it’s convenient and it also means that you know that your lawn mower is being disposed of properly. To find them search for junk removal or disposal service.
