There comes a time when a lawn mower stops working despite loving care. Now the question arises as to how to dispose of the device. This guide gives tips on how to get rid of an old lawnmower free of charge and in an environmentally friendly way.
How do I dispose of a lawnmower?
Use the free disposal service at your local recycling/recycling center, e-waste collection point or problem waste collection point. Petrol, electric or battery-powered lawn mowers do not belong in the normal rubbish and should be disposed of properly. Manufacturers and distributors are also obliged to take back items.
Dispose of petrol lawnmowers correctly – tips & tricks
Gasoline-powered lawnmowers are considered scrap metal. Although the devices do not fit in the garbage can, they are not considered bulky waste. There is therefore no point in filling out the bulky waste card and sending it off. Since lawnmowers consist of a wide variety of components and contain residues of gasoline and oil, a special form of disposal is required. This is how it works:
- Hand it over free of charge at the local recycling center
- Petrol and oil do not need to be drained first
- Offer to the nearest scrap dealer, have it delivered or picked up
If you live near the border with the Netherlands, traveling scrap dealers will be a familiar sight. In these regions it is enough to put the old lawnmower on the street. The device disappeared within 1 to 2 days.
Getting rid of electric lawn mowers - here's how to do it
Electric lawn mowers are among the low-maintenance types of lawn mowers. However, this advantage does not prevent them from finally stopping work sooner or later. Due to their special functionality, electrically powered mowers are considered electronic waste. How to dispose of the devices correctly:
- Hand it over to the local recycling center as old electrical equipment free of charge
- Alternatively, take it to the local electronic waste collection point
Furthermore, the Electrical Equipment Act obliges manufacturers and distributors to take back old devices free of charge. You are therefore free to dispose of your old electric lawn mower where you purchased it. If you buy a new electric mower from a dealer with more than 400 square meters of sales space or mail order space, they are obliged to accept the old device free of charge, even if you did not purchase it there.
Get rid of battery-powered lawn mowers - this is how it's free and environmentally friendly
Cordless lawn mowers have no place in household waste, just like all types of lawn mowers. This is particularly true for lithium-ion batteries. If these end up in the trash can, damage can lead to short circuits and fire. Therefore, pay particular attention to the disposal of a cordless mower.
The used batteries are collected free of charge by the pollutant mobile or the problem waste collection point. So far, some municipalities have referred to retailers for the disposal of large batteries. If there is no battery left in the device, the nearest electronic waste collection point will be responsible for disposing of the lawnmower free of charge.
The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center recommends taping off the contact points of the batteries before disposal. In this way, short circuits can be better prevented.
Tip
Smart home gardeners know how an old lawnmower can bring in cash. Hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers are constantly looking for discarded garden tools in classified ads and on Ebay in order to repair them. Tinkerers are also showing interest in building a robot lawnmower out of the individual parts, for example.
