Responsible Appliance Recycling
Unlike other junk removal companies, ARCA is committed to environmental stewardship through appliance recycling. Our recycling processes are compliant with the U.S. EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) standards, ensuring that hazardous and environmentally damaging substances are properly handled.
ARCA’s recycling processes help preserve our environment by:
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions — Cooling appliances contain CFCs and HCFCs, substances that accumulate in the stratosphere and contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. ARCA recovers these substances in a closed system and sends them to waste-to-energy facilities to ensure that they are not released into the environment.
- Safely Handling Hazardous Materials — Some older appliances contain substances that are hazardous to human health including mercury, used oil, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Improper disposal of these materials can result in groundwater contamination and exposure to these substances damage the liver, brain, immune system, and nervous system. ARCA technicians are trained to identify hazardous components and remove them in a specially designed area with a leak-proof barrier that encloses the floor. These materials are transported to a licensed hazardous waste disposal facility.
- Diverting Material from Landfills — Recycling 1,000 large appliances keeps about 125,000 pounds of metal, glass, and plastic out of landfills.
- Conserving Resources Used to Manufacture New Appliances — Recyclable materials recovered from appliances create a supply of raw materials to manufacture new appliances. By recycling one ton of steel (about ten refrigerators), 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone are preserved.
