How to Recycle Vacuum Cleaner? Why, When, Detailed Steps, and more [2023 Guide]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on December 24, 2021 | Last updated on January 9, 2023

Technologies are constantly updating, new technologies arise on a near-daily basis, which means that the vacuum you’re using now, will definitely break down, or provide less and less performance, to the point you’ll need to get rid of it and obtain a new one.

But, how can you get rid of it? As CleanersAdvisor, we advise you to recycle vacuum cleaner, as the best way of getting rid of it, as cleanly and economically possible.

Moreover, Vacuums originally have a certain life expectancy, I’ve created another article for that, you can check how long do vacuums last yourself.

In this article, I’ll guide you through the best, safest, cleanest way on how to recycle vacuum cleaner, without just throwing it in the trash can and getting done with it.

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What to do with a broken vacuum cleaner?

If you’ve entered this article already, it means you’re looking for ways to deal with a broken down vacuum cleaner, here are the 4 main ways of dealing with a broken down vacuum cleaner:

1. Get it Repaired at Electronics Shops

If it can be fixed, why think of getting rid of it? The first step of dealing with a vacuum cleaner is to take it to an electronics shop and check if it can be repaired, instead of thinking about vacuum cleaner disposal.

This will surely save you time, effort, and more importantly money & hassle.

Electronic shops can also help with finding a better way of recycle vacuum cleaner if it appears to be hard to be repaired.

2. Go Generous Mode: Donate!

If you’re too tired of trying to fix it, you can just donate it to organizations, charities, or people who are willing to take this extra step of fixing it and getting it back to business, instead of thinking about vacuum cleaner disposal yet.

The people who need a functioning vacuum will only have to pay so little for repairing, instead of buying a whole new vacuum cleaner.

Charities also have ways of benefiting from donated vacuums.

This step is beneficial for all parties, you get rid of the vacuum, and the receiving party will have a cheaper vacuum to work with.

3. Scrap Yards Can Also Help

The vacuums consist of different types of material; the metal parts can be disposed of in the scrap yards.

This step is a bit complicated, as you’ll have to break down the vacuum cleaner into different types of materials, instead of having it as a simple step of vacuum cleaner disposal.

However, scrap yards can easily dispose of those parts, and they also have connections with agencies or companies connected to recycle vacuum cleaner operations.

4. Recycle Vacuum Cleaner

Don’t want to fix, donate, or get inside a typhoon of hassle trying to send it to a scrap yard? Recycling the vacuum cleaner is the best way for vacuum cleaner disposal.

Read below for a deeper analysis of how to recycle vacuum cleaner, benefits, ways, and more!

Is throwing the vacuum away better than recycling?

Now, you have a broken-down vacuum, and you’re thinking: “will it just be easier for me to just throw it in the trash can?”

Easier? Yes. Better? Surely not. The world has been suffering from different types of waste for years already, we don’t want to add to that by any means.

Throwing away the vacuum wouldn’t help with that, you’ll be adding more waste to the already-damaged world in that regard.

Therefore, recycling aims towards turning the broken down vacuum into something useful for you, and for the environment.

What Parts of my Vacuum Are Recyclable?

Generally speaking, only a few vacuum compartments can’t be recycled, most of the parts are recyclable, and we advise to proceed with recycling them as soon as you decide you’re getting rid of the vacuum.

According to our research, more than 90% of vacuum parts can be recycled, including plastic parts, rubber parts, and metal components.

The plastic parts can be recycled into plastic cutlery, plastic bottles, and more.

Metal components have tens of new uses after being recycled, especially for car appliances, décor, and more.

Why to Recycle Vacuum Cleaner?

Moving on to the most important question, why should I recycle vacuum cleaner, instead of just throwing it away? Here are the benefits of Recycle Vacuum Cleaners:

Saving the Environment from E-Waste

In 2014, Global electronic waste reached a dangerous level of 41.8 million metric tons, according to a United Nations University report.

This is dangerous for both the environment and the people alike.

The dangers affect the air we breathe, the environment we live in, the soil we grow our plants in, and the water we drink.

The overall health of every human being can be affected by E-waste, according to the World Health Organization.

It’s not a one-and-done problem that needs a solution, as the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), reported that E-Waste grew by 21% in the five years up to 2019 when 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste were generated.

The increasingly growing problem should be faced with subtle solutions, and recycling is the main form of stopping this dangerous growth.

Throwing it Away Can Be Lethal

Throwing the vacuum cleaner in the trash can outside your house can be lethal and dangerous to an unimaginable level.

Firstly, throwing it away means sharp components can tear apart the hands or arms of the trash man.

Secondly, when cleaning up a full trash can, the heavy trash like vacuum cleaners can fall down dangerously on, or near the trash man on the street.

Last, but not least, vacuum cleaners are electrical machines, any small misstep can make it explode at once!

Economic Benefit

Trading, exchanging, donating, or selling the parts of the vacuum cleaner, can be economically beneficial for most parties in such trades.

Trading and selling parts are economically beneficial for the owner of the vacuum.

Donating and exchanging are beneficial for the receiver and the owner alike.

How to Recycle Vacuum Cleaner?

Convinced that you should recycle vacuum cleaner instead of the other options, I’ll get you started.

Step1: Clean The Vacuum

Open the vacuum, clean it from dirt, dust, or any part of debris inside the vacuum so you can handle the recycling easier, and in a cleaner environment.

This shall allow you to see and spot the specific parts of the vacuum, before jumping on to the next step.

Step2: Any Brilliant ideas?

If you have a brilliant idea to carry out using the broken-down vacuum, like turning the canister into a good piece of furniture or using the hose for an air conditioner, make sure you separate those parts immediately.

Some of the most brilliant ideas require just some simple steps.

After separating those parts, proceed to step3.

Step3: Separate Different Materials

The third step into doing a proper recycle vacuum cleaner is to separate the different materials into 3 groups: Metal, Plastic, and Rubber material groups.

This should allow you to proceed with each group alone, carrying out the needed recycling steps in a special manner, instead of general recycling of all the parts together, which is fruitless.

However, be careful as some parts can be dangerous for you, and I’d advise you to let an expert handle this step.

Step4: Take Care of Materials Individually

The goal of step 3 is to take care of each group of materials in a separate manner, as they have different ways of recycling.

Furthermore, there are experts specializing in recycling every type of those materials, thus, you should deliver the metal compartments –for example- to a scrap yard, and so on.

Search in your area, for those experts, they can be a shop, a collector, a scrapyard of the sort, while keeping in mind they have a decent reputation of providing the best recycling methods and outcomes.

Environmental Solutions

We’ve finished talking about how to recycle vacuum cleaner, but if you’re interested in environmental-friendly options, here are some points to consider before buying a new vacuum cleaner.

Those points aim towards guiding your path through obtaining a new vacuum while considering the best environmental-friendly factors, that will keep you away from thinking about how to recycle vacuum cleaner.

Search for Long-Lasting Vacuums

Some vacuums are built to last a couple of years at best, those solutions will force you into the corner of thinking about how to recycle vacuum cleaner, instead of enjoying your convenience with a long-lasting option.

If you’re looking for a durable vacuum, I’ve done some deep analysis on how long do vacuums last, check it out.

Bagless Vacuums Are Preferable

Bagless vacuums are way easier to empty and produce less waste in the long run.

According to the famous brand Dyson, “Bags kill suction, so we get rid of them,” explaining that they also create much more waste as well.

“The problem with bags is simple: They’re wasteful single-use consumables, can contain plastic, and they end up in landfill,” Dyson continued.

Therefore, bagless vacuums are the solution to such wasteful issues.

Buy Secondhand

When exploring your options, always consider a lightly used vacuum cleaner before obtaining a new one.

This is a great way of limiting the waste vacuums produce, and it’s also a viable option for the second party owning the vacuum, as you provide them with another way out instead of throwing away their vacuum when they don’t need it anymore.

Corded Options Are Preferable

Corded options don’t consume batteries like cordless ones.

Cordless vacuums operate using rechargeable batteries made from lithium-ion materials.

Those batteries provide much waste in the long run and can be avoided by obtaining a corded vacuum cleaner.

Repair

Part of your vacuum broke down and you’re still looking for an environment-friendly option, it’s better to find a way to fix that part, before going all-in on a new vacuum.

Take the vacuum (or the broken part) to a repairing shop as explained earlier in the article, and try to take second opinions as well, if the first shop didn’t convince you with repairing it.

Others would attempt to repair the part themselves, I’d only recommend they do that under the supervision of an expert, or after consulting one, online or in-person.

Recycle Vacuum Cleaner FAQ

how to recycle old vacuum cleaner?

Start by cleaning the old vacuum cleaner from dirt & dust, separate the different materials into groups of the same material, then contact the professionals responsible for recycling that type of materials, unless you have a brilliant idea to use the recycled parts in.

where can I recycle old vacuum cleaner?

Scrap Yards, Shops, Repair Shops, Charities, Exchange with neighbors or relatives, Experts, and more!

To Wrap Up

Knowing how to recycle vacuum cleaner isn’t hard, but it’s an important step that needs focused energy and effort, as it could inflict damage to the environment in the future.

There are multiple ways of recycling, multiple steps to carry out, but the one thing that stands out to me is the importance of the matter of recycling.

The lives and health of the next generations aren’t to be messed with, and it’s our job to be accurate in the process.