Each year, Schnitzer Steel receives an incredible amount of used appliances for processing and recycling, mostly from regular suppliers. These appliances range from washers and dryers to refrigerators and air conditioners. Since these items often contain environmentally harmful materials, extra care is needed in processing them.
To help protect the environment, Schnitzer Steel has, in the past, required the removal of hazardous materials by Certified Appliance Recyclers prior to appliances arriving at Schnitzer processing sites. These materials include freon, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), encapsulated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, used oil and other regulated hazardous materials.
Now in California, the company is taking its commitment to keeping these substances out of landfills a step further. The sheer size of California’s population generates an overwhelming amount of end-of-life appliances each year. So, on January 1, 2006, a new state law took effect that requires decommissioning of appliances – meaning the removal of harmful substances – prior to appliance disposal or recycling. To help California residents meet this goal, Schnitzer Steel has implemented drop-off programs that allow people to bring their obsolete appliances to a Schnitzer site, where employees handle the decommissioning – currently at no cost.
"We decided to be a larger part of the solution. By accepting appliances directly, we provide a cost-effective and environmentally sound way for residents to dispose of them,” commented Steve Blackman, director of ferrous purchasing in Oakland, California. "We’re making a real impact. Our customers will do the right thing if provided the opportunity at a reasonable cost.”
To make this happen, each of Schnitzer’s metal recycling operations in California became licensed as a Certified Appliance Recycler. The company’s new appliance drop-off program was implemented statewide in early 2006. Each and every appliance diverted from the landfill or kept from improper disposal makes the program a success.
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