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Categories
Home and Garden
Home Appliances
Kitchen Appliances
Cooking Appliances
Ovens
Microwave Ovens
How to Dispose of a Microwave Download Article Co-authored by Victor Belavus
Last Updated: February 24, 2025 References
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Recycling a Broken Microwave
|
Throwing Away a Broken Microwave
|
Reusing a Working Microwave
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Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Victor Belavus. Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 144,058 times.
Microwave ovens fall into the category of electronic waste, or e-waste. Due to regulations and the impact of e-waste on the environment, you can’t just throw your microwave in the trash when you no longer need it. Instead, you have options to discard broken appliances with your local trash company, at recycling centers, or in department stores; or you can sell or donate appliances that still work.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Recycling a Broken Microwave
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1 Search “electronic recycling near me” online to ensure proper disposal. These recycling centers specialize in disposing of e-waste. The centers may strip the appliance for parts to be sold or used as replacements; redistribute items to charities and non-profit organizations; or if needed, will dispose of the parts properly and safely.[1]XResearch source
Call or check the company website first to make sure they accept microwaves.[2]X Expert Source Victor BelavusAir Conditioning SpecialistExpert Interview
Find out if there are any charges for recycling a microwave.
If it would be more convenient for you, ask if they offer a pickup service and what the fee would be.
2 Find an in-store collection program at a local department store. Staples, Best Buy, and Office Depot will often hold free events for the community to drop off electronic waste. But before hauling your microwave all the way in, call or email first to verify that they will accept it.
If there are no events taking place at any of these locations, ask if you are able to just stop in and drop it off.
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3 Ask about store incentives if you are purchasing a new microwave. Some home improvement stores will take and recycle your old items if you purchase a new one from them. If you are planning to buy a new microwave, check with the store you are purchasing it at to see if this is an option.
If you really want to make disposing of your microwave easy by taking advantage of this deal, call around to the different stores in your area first. Then make your purchase at a store that offers this option.
4 Check with the manufacturer to see if they will take back the microwave. Some manufacturers offer programs to help customers with responsible disposal. Check the company’s website or call their customer service line to find out if this is an option for you.[3]XResearch source
Note that you will likely be expected to pay the shipping costs for the return, but it is a small price to pay for being environmentally responsible.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Throwing Away a Broken Microwave
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1 Contact your local trash company about picking up your microwave. Some trash companies offer a service to pick up and properly dispose of bulky items. This service may be offered for free within certain guidelines.[4]X Expert Source Victor BelavusAir Conditioning SpecialistExpert Interview For instance, you may only be able to have a certain number of bulky items picked up per year, or they may need to be within a certain size or weight limit.
Even if it isn’t free, the service may still be available for a fee.
If the service is offered in your area, you will usually be able to set the microwave on the curb or wherever your trash is usually picked up.
2 Drop your microwave off at your local garbage center to avoid a fee. Some trash companies may offer the option to drop your appliances off at their location.[5]X Expert Source Victor BelavusAir Conditioning SpecialistExpert Interview If this is an option in your area, you will probably be able to avoid paying a fee for pickup service.[6]XResearch source
3 Ask about clean up days in your area if there isn’t regular service. Trash companies will usually hold events to make it more convenient for community members to get rid of their hazardous waste.[7]XResearch source The events may be held twice per year, quarterly, monthly, or even weekly, depending on the size and demand of your area.
Find out the date, times, and location of the event, and simply drop your microwave off at that time.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Reusing a Working Microwave
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1 Sell your working microwave if you are just making an upgrade. If the microwave still works, try to sell it to someone you know who may need one. If word of mouth doesn’t work, post it on an online classified site like Craigslist.
Use the money you get from the sale to put towards the purchase of your new appliance!
2 Donate your working microwave to help out your community. Schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations like children’s clubs often welcome donations of large, working appliances that would otherwise be too expensive to buy.[8]X Expert Source Victor BelavusAir Conditioning SpecialistExpert Interview Your donation may even be tax-deductible.
You don’t have to, but you should clean your microwave before giving it away.
3 Take your microwave to an appliance repair shop if it’s in bad condition. If the microwave is really old or ugly, but still works, a home appliance repair shop may take it off of your hands. They may want to resell it for profit, or just keep it to strip for replacement parts.[9]XResearch source
The shop will be responsible for recycling unusable parts, so either way, it will be less stress for you.
4 Read the instruction manual to try and fix a broken microwave. These manuals almost always include steps for troubleshooting issues as well as part and warranty information. Follow the instructions provided for the issue you are experiencing.[10]XResearch source
If your particular issue isn’t listed, the phone number to customer service will be, so call that number instead.
You may be able to get the repair made for free if the device is still under warranty, so be sure to check into that as well.
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Community Q&A
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Question Where can I get a broken microwave? Community Answer You could check places like Craigslist, local Facebook sale/trade groups or Nextdoor.com. As most people wouldn't be inclined to list broken merchandise, it might be best if you post on one (or all, depending on how many you're looking for) of these sites stating that you're looking for a non-functional microwave. You could also check with local appliance stores. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
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Tips
Disposing of a microwave properly can be frustrating. No matter how tempting it may be, please do not simply throw the appliance in the trash. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
It is illegal to sell recalled items. Before attempting to resell your microwave, check the consumer protection website for your country to be sure the microwave hasn’t been placed on recall.[11]X Trustworthy Source Consumer ReportsNonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Victor Belavus Appliance Specialist This article was co-authored by Victor Belavus. Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. This article has been viewed 144,058 times. 2 votes - 0% Co-authors: 4Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 144,058 Categories: Microwave OvensArticle SummaryX
To dispose of a microwave, you can take it to your local garbage center, which is often free. Alternatively, search “Electronic recycling near me” online to find a recycling center in your area. Some department stores, like Staples, Best Buy, and Office Depot, often have free collection programs for you to drop off your old electronics. If you’re buying a new microwave, ask an employee if their store has a recycling program for new purchases. If you don’t have a car, contact a local trash company about picking up your microwave. These can be more convenient, but they might charge a fee for collecting your microwave. For more tips, including how to sell or donate your working microwave, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Dawn B.
Apr 20, 2020
"I was not sure about recycling a microwave, I can take it apart and recycle or as I found out in this article that there are places that will take as is. Thank you."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Victor Belavus Appliance Specialist 2 votes - 0% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 144,058
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Apr 20, 2020
"I was not sure about recycling a microwave, I can take it apart and recycle or as I found out in this article that there are places that will take as is. Thank you."..." more Share yours!
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Download Article Co-authored by Victor Belavus 
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Co-authored by: Victor Belavus Appliance Specialist This article was co-authored by Victor Belavus. Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. This article has been viewed 144,058 times. 2 votes - 0% Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 144,058 Categories: Microwave Ovens Article SummaryX
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1 Search “electronic recycling near me” online to ensure proper disposal. These recycling centers specialize in disposing of e-waste. The centers may strip the appliance for parts to be sold or used as replacements; redistribute items to charities and non-profit organizations; or if needed, will dispose of the parts properly and safely.[1] 
2 Find an in-store collection program at a local department store. Staples, Best Buy, and Office Depot will often hold free events for the community to drop off electronic waste. But before hauling your microwave all the way in, call or email first to verify that they will accept it. 
3 Ask about store incentives if you are purchasing a new microwave. Some home improvement stores will take and recycle your old items if you purchase a new one from them. If you are planning to buy a new microwave, check with the store you are purchasing it at to see if this is an option. 
4 Check with the manufacturer to see if they will take back the microwave. Some manufacturers offer programs to help customers with responsible disposal. Check the company’s website or call their customer service line to find out if this is an option for you.[3] 
1 Contact your local trash company about picking up your microwave. Some trash companies offer a service to pick up and properly dispose of bulky items. This service may be offered for free within certain guidelines.[4] For instance, you may only be able to have a certain number of bulky items picked up per year, or they may need to be within a certain size or weight limit. 
2 Drop your microwave off at your local garbage center to avoid a fee. Some trash companies may offer the option to drop your appliances off at their location.[5] If this is an option in your area, you will probably be able to avoid paying a fee for pickup service.[6] 
3 Ask about clean up days in your area if there isn’t regular service. Trash companies will usually hold events to make it more convenient for community members to get rid of their hazardous waste.[7] The events may be held twice per year, quarterly, monthly, or even weekly, depending on the size and demand of your area. 
1 Sell your working microwave if you are just making an upgrade. If the microwave still works, try to sell it to someone you know who may need one. If word of mouth doesn’t work, post it on an online classified site like Craigslist. 
2 Donate your working microwave to help out your community. Schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations like children’s clubs often welcome donations of large, working appliances that would otherwise be too expensive to buy.[8] Your donation may even be tax-deductible. 
3 Take your microwave to an appliance repair shop if it’s in bad condition. If the microwave is really old or ugly, but still works, a home appliance repair shop may take it off of your hands. They may want to resell it for profit, or just keep it to strip for replacement parts.[9] 
4 Read the instruction manual to try and fix a broken microwave. These manuals almost always include steps for troubleshooting issues as well as part and warranty information. Follow the instructions provided for the issue you are experiencing.[10] 
Community Answer You could check places like Craigslist, local Facebook sale/trade groups or Nextdoor.com. As most people wouldn't be inclined to list broken merchandise, it might be best if you post on one (or all, depending on how many you're looking for) of these sites stating that you're looking for a non-functional microwave. You could also check with local appliance stores. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7 
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