We’ve become a throw-away culture and our landfills are growing in size as a result. There used to be a time when things weren’t tossed away so easily and we placed a higher value on keeping our belongings in proper repair. While it may seem appealing to splurge for the latest and greatest, using an appliance repair service is a good way to extend the life of your appliances, and the life of our earth.

Large appliances, such as dishwashers, freezers, laundry machines, and stoves are an integral part of our daily lives. Having these appliances in good working order becomes a major priority when one of them starts to malfunction, and calling an appliance repair professional can help your life return to normal quickly with a simple repair.

Did you know that in the United States, Americans throw out 9 million refrigerators each year? That number is just refrigerators alone and doesn’t take into account the number of washer, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and air conditioning units that go to the landfill each year as well. If the numbers of those appliances are comparable to the refrigerators, it could mean that over 60 million large appliances are being sent to the landfill annually. While some parts of these appliances are able to be recycled, not all parts are recyclable. This creates a large ecological footprint that we should try to reduce by repairing the appliances instead of throwing them out.

Canada isn’t much better. According to the Government of Canada’s One Tonne Challenge, in 2000, Canadians generated over 31 million tonnes of waste. That is approximately 21 football fields piled one kilometre high with garbage. We need to do better.

Repairing appliances and using appliances in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions are two important ways to extend the lifespan of your appliance and keep it out of the landfill. Check your user manual for tips and guidelines to keep your machine running smoothly and utilize a professional appliance repair service to help reduce your environmental footprint.

Responsible consumers know that it is important to stay informed and make the right environmental choices whenever possible. A well-cared-for appliance that has received regular appliance repair service will serve you longer and more efficiently and will help reduce the amount of trash sent to the landfill.