Small appliance recycling means taking toasters, kettles, blenders, hair dryers and vacuums to an e-waste or appliance recycler, not the curbside cart. First, unplug the item, empty it and take out any removable battery. At Dream E-Waste most small kitchen appliances recycle free, working or broken.
Got bigger things to clear as well? Our guide on how to get rid of old appliances covers washers, stoves and the rest.
Can you put small appliances in the recycling bin?
No. Curbside recycling carts are meant for things like bottles, cans and paper. But a toaster or kettle is a mix of cords, motors, heating elements and circuit boards. Instead, a recycler has to take those apart and sort them, which a curbside sorting line isn't set up to do.
At the same time, the trash isn't the right place. CalRecycle lists microwave ovens among the electronic devices you should not throw in the trash, and says electronic devices often have hazardous waste in them. So the simple habit is to treat anything with a plug the same way and take it to a recycler.
None of this means a toaster is dangerous on your counter. Instead, it means the materials inside are worth recovering, and a few parts need care.
Recycling small kitchen appliances, item by item
For small appliance recycling at Dream, most of what sits in a kitchen cupboard is free. A few items carry a small fee because they need more handling.
| Item | At Dream | Before you bring it |
|---|---|---|
| Toasters and toaster ovens | Free | Shake out the crumbs |
| Blenders and food processors | Free | Take off the jar |
| Air fryers | Free | Empty and wipe the basket |
| Coffee makers and espresso machines | Free | Empty the water and grounds |
| Kettles and mixers | Free | Empty the kettle |
| Slow cookers and rice cookers | Free | Wash out any food |
| Waffle irons and electric grills | Free | Wipe off grease |
| Hand vacuums | Free | Empty the bin |
| Fans and humidifiers | Free | Empty the humidifier tank |
| Space heaters (not oil-filled) | Free | Let it cool |
| Microwaves | Small fee | Leave the case closed |
| Upright, canister, stick and robot vacuums | Small fee | Check the battery |
| Carpet and steam cleaners | Small fee | Empty the tanks |
| Mini fridges, beverage coolers and countertop ice makers | Small fee | Refrigerant removed first |
The free list has no quantity limit, so bring the whole box. Mini fridges and ice makers, however, contain refrigerant, and they follow the same rules as fridges and freezers.
How to recycle small appliances, step by step
- Check whether it still works or only needs a simple part. In that case, donating or repairing it may be the better choice.
- Unplug it. Before you recycle small appliances with a heating element, let them cool completely.
- Empty it. Pour out water, tip out coffee grounds and crumbs, and empty vacuum bins and bags.
- Take off glass jars, carafes and loose accessories and deal with them separately.
- Remove any battery that comes out easily and keep it apart. Tape the ends of lithium packs.
- Wrap the cord loosely with a twist tie. Don't cut it off, because recyclers want the cord on small appliances too.
- Bring it in. Our appliance recycling page lists the sites and every item we take.
Our Point Loma and Chula Vista recycling centers take everything on that list. San Marcos also takes microwaves. The Miramar, Kearny Mesa and Oceanside drop-off locations take electronics only, so call before you bring kitchen appliances there.
The battery step matters most. A loose lithium pack rattling around in a box with metal parts is the one real hazard in a small appliance drop-off. So taping the ends keeps the terminals from touching anything.
Small appliances that need extra care
Small appliance recycling is simple for almost every item. Even so, a few are worth a second look.
Robot vacuums and cordless tools
These small appliances have lithium-ion batteries inside. The EPA says lithium-ion batteries should not go in household trash or recycling carts, and suggests removing batteries from electronics before recycling when you can. However, a healthy battery that stays in the vacuum is fine to bring in.
A swollen, cracked or leaking battery is a different matter, though. We can't take it loose. Instead, take it to the City of San Diego Miramar Recycling Center, by appointment through the City's website, and read how to dispose of a swollen battery for safe storage until then.
Space heaters
Electric space heaters are small appliances that recycle free. However, we refuse oil-filled heaters, the ones that look like small radiators on wheels. The oil is sealed inside and can't be safely removed at our site.
Hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons
Treat anything with a plug as e-waste, and hair tools are no exception. Take them to an e-waste recycler with the rest of your small appliances rather than the trash. First, let them cool and wrap the cords.
Microwaves
Microwaves are also small appliances on CalRecycle's list of devices that don't belong in the trash. Dream takes them at Point Loma, Chula Vista and San Marcos for a small fee. Don't open the case, because there is a high-voltage part inside.
Recycling broken small appliances
In fact, a broken toaster is just as recyclable as a working one. Recyclers recover the metal, motors, cords and circuit boards, and none of that depends on whether it still switches on. At Dream, condition makes no difference to whether there is a fee.
When we recycle small appliances, parts that need special handling come out first, such as capacitors and batteries. The rest is dismantled into steel, copper, aluminum, plastics, glass and circuit boards, and each stream goes to a processor that can use it.
Still, there are exceptions, and they are about safety. Leaking appliances, damaged batteries and items with mold, pests or chemicals on them are refused.
Donate, repair or recycle?
If one of your small appliances still works, someone may want it. The City of San Diego recycling FAQ suggests donating working appliances, or ones that need a minor repair, to a local charity or thrift store. Call ahead, because each one sets its own rules.
On the other hand, repair is worth a look for better-quality items like stand mixers and espresso machines. A new cord or seal can be a small job. By contrast, for a cheap toaster with a dead element, recycling is usually the sensible choice.
Be honest about the state of it before you donate. Otherwise, a thrift store that receives a broken appliance has to deal with it, and it often ends up in the trash anyway. So if you aren't sure it works, recycle it.
Clearing out more than the kitchen?
Phones, laptops and TVs aren't small appliances, so they have their own guide, covering what to do with other household electronics. Bigger things, like the treadmill in the spare room or a bike your kids outgrew, are covered in our guides to appliances and bulky items.
Next step for small appliance recycling
Bag up the small things and take out any loose batteries. Then bring the lot to Point Loma or Chula Vista. If you're unsure about an item, call or text (619) 889-1305 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is small appliance recycling free?
Usually, at an e-waste recycler. At Dream E-Waste, toasters, kettles, blenders, air fryers, coffee makers, fans and hand vacuums recycle free, working or broken. Microwaves, full-size vacuums and carpet cleaners carry a small fee each, and so do mini fridges and ice makers. Our appliance recycling page lists each item.
Can I throw a broken toaster in the trash?
It's better not to. CalRecycle says electronic devices often have hazardous waste in them, and it lists microwave ovens among the devices that don't belong in the trash. A toaster is mostly metal and wiring that a recycler can recover, so taking it in keeps those materials in use.
Do I need to clean a small appliance before recycling it?
Empty it, but there is no need for a deep clean. Pour out water, tip out crumbs and coffee grounds, and empty vacuum bins. Items with mold, pests or chemicals on them are refused, so give anything that sat in a damp garage a quick check before you bring it.
Can I bring a whole box of small appliances?
Yes. At Dream there is no quantity limit on the free small appliance list, so a full kitchen clear-out is welcome. If you're bringing a truckload or clearing out a business, call first, because large drop-offs need approval before you arrive.
What happens to a small appliance after it is recycled?
At Dream, parts that need special handling come out first, including batteries and capacitors. The appliance is then dismantled and sorted into steel, copper, aluminum, plastics, glass and circuit boards. Each stream goes to a downstream processor that can use it, so the materials go back into circulation instead of a landfill.
