When we no longer have use for our small household appliances, we’re often left wondering what we can do with them.
Sometimes, we want to dispose of them because they’re no longer working. Other times, we’ve simply replaced or upgraded them with a newer model.
If you’ve recently upgraded your coffee maker, then stick with us as we give you some ideas on how to dispose of a coffee maker you no longer use.
How to Dispose of a Coffee Maker
The best way for you to dispose of your old coffee maker will depend on whether the appliance is still working or not.
We’ve come up with three ideas for how to dispose of a coffee maker that is still working, as well as three more ideas for a broken unit.
Coffee Maker Is Still Working
If your coffee maker is still working, you shouldn’t have any problems finding someone to take it off your hands.
Our top three ways to dispose of your old, working coffee maker are to sell it, donate it, or even consider saving it.
1. Sell It
The coffee maker may not have any further value to you, but that doesn’t mean that someone else doesn’t see any use for it.
As the famous saying goes, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”
Even if you just get a few dollars for the old coffee maker, that’s still a couple of bucks you can put towards your next batch of coffee to use with your new coffee maker.
There are many places online where you could post it for sale. However, if it’s not worth too much, it might be a better idea to sell it locally so that there aren’t any shipping costs.
Have a look at your local supermarkets, cafes, and community centers to see if they have a noticeboard where you could list it.
Alternatively, perhaps it’s also time for a spring clean?
Rummage around your attic, basement, and garage to see if you can get enough together for a yard sale.
You could even ask your neighbors and hold a rummage sale together so that you have more options for people to buy.
2. Donate It
If selling it sounds like too much effort for what you’ll get back from it, you might want to just donate it instead.
Have a think about any family members and friends who may be able to put it to good use.
You could even tell them to ask around to see if they know anyone who might need a coffee maker.
Perhaps your neighbor’s daughter will be heading off to college soon and would really appreciate a coffee maker for her room to help complete those last-minute assignments.
There are also a whole host of organizations in your district that might appreciate a “new” coffee maker.
It’s worth checking out all of your local community centers, churches, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and other non-profit organizations.
One of these places may need a coffee maker or have the room to store a spare.
You’ll be disposing of your old coffee maker in a way that helps others and will feel great in the knowledge that someone else can enjoy it for years to come.
3. Save It
Now, this isn’t strictly disposing of your old coffee maker, but have you considered saving it instead of getting rid of it?
It would come in really handy if your new coffee maker broke down all of a sudden, and you had to send it back for repairs.
On the other hand, maybe you have children that will be moving out soon.
Moving into a new home can be very expensive, so saving your old coffee maker for them would mean one less expense when they move into their new home.
Coffee Maker Is Broken
If your coffee maker is broken, it’s time to get a bit more creative with ways in which you can dispose of it.
Our top three ideas on how you can go about this include upcycling, recycling, or returning it.
1. Upcycle It
Have a think about whether there are any parts of your old coffee maker that you could reuse in a different manner.
For example, if you had a drip coffee maker, you could reuse the glass carafe to water your houseplants or keep chilled drinks in the fridge.
You could also take the electronic components out of the coffee maker and turn it into an interesting and unique plant pot.
Also, if you have children who enjoy “playing house,” simply remove the electric components and let them play with the machine. They’d surely enjoy pretending to make coffee for their dolls!
2. Recycle It
These days, many towns and cities have small recycling centers that will accept small electrical appliances for recycling.
Some retail stores will also agree to take old and broken coffee makers for recycling purposes.
Often, some of the parts inside the machine can be reused elsewhere, and it’s nice to know that your old coffee maker isn’t going to end up in a landfill.
3. Return It
Some manufacturers also offer the opportunity to return your old coffee makers to them directly.
Some may offer a discount towards a newer coffee maker as a reward for brand loyalty, while others will simply take it back and recycle it for you.
Many of the most reputable brands in the market offer this service, so give them a call or email them to find out if you can return the machine to them.
Conclusion
We’ve given you six great ideas for how you can dispose of a coffee maker when you no longer have any use for it.
If your coffee maker is still working, selling or donating it are your best options.
If it’s broken and you know that there is no hope of it being fixed, you’ll need to find a recycling center in your area, or better still, get creative!
You can paint it and make it an attractive feature in your house or garden, or even have your kids or grandkids play with it!
Whatever you do with your old coffee maker, it’s important that we all try our best to reduce the amount of waste we personally send to landfills.
