Recycling Electronics: How To Repurpose Your Household Appliances

When household appliances break it is often a challenge to decide how to dispose of them or reuse them. In the case of electronic household appliances, the monetary value of each item comes to mind and simply tossing them out is not always the only option or preferred. Recycling electronics is one of the best ways to repurpose electronic appliances. In this article we explore various options that make household appliances not obsolete but functional and useful for various household needs.

Make a portable fire pit out of your old washing machine.

The entire washing machine will not be necessary for this; you only need the drum. The drum often has a shape that suits a fire pit. The only extra work will be reinforcing the base to withstand high temperatures and adding supports to elevate it a few inches from the ground. You can paint the drum with heat resistant paint to give it a personal charm. However, the best option is to work with the drum as is and let the heat do its magic on the drum to give it natural hue.

Build an aquarium from a vintage TV.

When it comes to recycling electronics consider repurposing your unused console television is among the few things with a vintage look that we all love. Opt to turn it into a beautiful aquarium and enjoy your TV for many years to come. To begin, remove all the electronic pieces from your TV set. Cut off the top of the television to make a lid so that you can install new glass and other parts required to make an aquarium. Please note: transforming your vintage TV into an aquarium is exciting but can take up to three weeks to complete the project.

Use your old refrigerator as an ice chest during backyard events.

Many people never seem to see the use of recycling electronics or even consider keeping a broken refrigerator. They would rather haul it to the dump. It may be rundown, but it is a very practical ice box or chest when it no longer runs. Why not use it as such? Yank out the various components that run on electricity. Cover the remaining shell with wood and you will have an outdoor chest for your deck or outdoor kitchen that is spacious and attractive.

Turn your washing machine drum into an accent chair or stool.

Though it may not work, your washing machine does have several components that you can remove and reuse. Aside from turning your washing machine drum into a fire pit it can also be a very attractive seating stool and accent chair. You can opt to fill up the empty space at the center with stuffing. However, opting to cover the center with a sturdy top makes the stool lighter and more presentable. Give the top some hinges so that you can lift it to utilize the opening as storage space. Cover the top with stuffing to make a fluffy seat on the top and give it rollers at the base.

Make a cat bed from a broken computer monitor.

Turning a broken monitor into a cat bed may require some work but not as much as turning the monitor into an aquarium. Remove all the electrical parts from the monitor including the screen. Use only the shell or casing of the monitor. Paint the casing with a good oil-based paint, then place your cat’s favorite blanket and few of its favorite toys in the casing.

Use your broken blender to create a table lamp.

Blenders tend to wear with time and the motor or the blade junctions are the most affected while other parts stay intact. When your blender gets to this point, you can still make use of it. Turn it into a table lamp for the garage, library, or other eclectic rooms in your home. Remove the motor for a base and fix a bulb holder in its place. Then take out the blades in the blender jar to allow the bulb to fit.

If you don’t want to reuse your household items, consider donating them. If you are keen on repurposing its use, you only need a creative mind that can find ways to repurpose and reuse them. In most cases, what you create will address a unique need that may not even be close to what the appliance was designed for. We gave you a few options that you might consider trying.