Home appliances are a recycling success story. Major appliances are recycled at a high rate, driven by the market value of the metals used in their manufacturing. Major home appliances, often referred to collectively as "white goods," have long useful lives, typically 10 years or more. When they finally reach the end of these lives and are replaced, major appliances take on new value as an important manufacturing raw material, including as scrap steel. At the end of life, major appliances take on new value as an important manufacturing raw material, including as scrap steel. In major appliances, ferrous material can account for 40 to 60 percent of the product’s total weight. Furthermore, the most used materials, by weight, for appliance packaging are paper and wood, materials that are highly recyclable. In addition to steel, major, portable and floor care appliances contain other metals and recyclable materials, including copper, aluminum and plastics.
