Blenders are technology’s gift to the domestic sector. They’re versatile appliances that we can use to create an array of meals, smoothies, and other edible items. They’re indispensable kitchen appliances that every home relies on.
Blenders are made from different materials – we have steel, plastic, metals, and glass. They can last as long as six years, too; it could be longer, but of course, that depends on how well you maintain yours.
An average lifespan of six years is excellent since you’ll have gotten good use out of the blender, and certainly your money’s worth too. However, since you’ll be using it every day, you’ll have to prepare for the day it eventually stops working.
So, when that day finally comes, how do you dispose of it? Can you recycle a blender? Is it environmentally safe to throw it in the trash? Well, if you’re curious about these questions and even more, then please read on. Let’s go!
Can You Recycle a Blender?
Blenders have been designed to serve you for a long time. But alas, you’ll eventually have to replace them because of wear and tear or because you desire an upgrade. Technology is moving fast, and each year, newer innovations that also extend to kitchen appliances are emerging.
So, when it’s time to part with your blender, how do you go about it? If you’re environmentally sensitive, it’s expected that you’ll explore environmentally safe ways to dispose of your old items. Now, you may wonder if you can recycle it.
Well, you can! Blenders are made from recyclable materials. For example, metals – most blenders are made from metals, and it’s pretty easy to recycle them these days.
Some areas make provisions for recycling household appliances like blenders, and you could find out if yours is inclusive. Alternatively, you could also inquire at your area’s recycling center if you can bring your old blender.
Another option is to find out if your area’s landfill has recycling options for small appliances. You can also use a recycling depot – these are pretty common for disposing of electrical appliances. Take off the glass or plastic jar and take everything else to the depot.
These are the most suitable options for disposing of it in an environmentally friendly manner.
When you’re disposing of your blender, it’s important to prepare it properly beforehand. First, you have to unplug it and let it cook down for days before. Then, separate the different parts and take them to their respective recycling areas.
Can You Throw Blenders in the Trash?
An easy way to dispose of a blender will be to throw it in the trash. It isn’t uncommon to find old blenders in the trash. So, yes, you can throw your blender in the trash.
However, it’s best to find out if it’s legal for you to throw small appliances in the dumpster. It’ll end up in a landfill where it may be compacted or left to sit around for many years. If it’s compacted, then that’s great.
Another factor you have to consider when you’re throwing your blender in the trash is where it’ll end up. Blenders are made from a combination of different materials, and most have plastic components in them.
Throwing it in the trash will result in it ending up in a landfill. Now, that can be a problem for the environment because blenders will take a long time to decompose. In addition, they aren’t biodegradable, which means it’ll be impossible for microbes to act on them and break them down.
Now, another problem is the decomposition process. Again, it’ll certainly take a very long time, and that process could leave negative impacts on the environment. When plastic finally breaks down, it leaves microplastics in the soil, and of course, these are also environmentally harmful substances.
So, the best way to dispose of a blender is to recycle it. There are many provisions for this, and you can start with curbside recycling, appliance recycling depots, or even companies that accept small appliances.
You can find them by using a recycling locator – this is an environmentally sensitive disposal method that ensures your blender doesn’t end up taking up space in landfills or, worse, polluting our water bodies.`
Are Blenders Dishwasher Safe?
Cooking is fun, but cleaning up right after is the difficult part. After preparing that piña colada, the thought of cleaning the blender can be distressing and may make you wonder if you can put it in the dishwasher.
Well, most blenders can go in a dishwasher, but it also depends on the manufacturer – you can check the manual to know if it’s dishwasher safe.
Now, while you can use a dishwasher to wash most blenders, you must also know that you can’t put all the blender parts in it. For instance, anywhere that would eventually contact the blender’s wiring should not touch the water.
So, it’s safe to say that only the blender’s jug can go in a dishwasher. Even then, you have to ensure that the blender base never touches water. It could spoil it, or worse, result in an electric shock.
We have a cheat sheet for cleaning your blender that’ll certainly make this chore a walk in the park. It’s just as simple as pouring some water into the jug, adding dish soap, and turning on the machine.
It’ll spin the soap and water around and clean out every corner, and this may even be more effective than using a dishwasher or cleaning your blender manually. Then, you can rinse out the soap with some hot water and flip it over to dry properly.
Can Blenders be Used as Food Processors?
These days, there’s almost always an appliance for every chore. So, of course, that extends to cooking and cleaning. For instance, a food processor can help with a range of cooking chores like slicing, dicing, blending, mixing, shredding, and chopping, to name a few. Thus, it can singlehandedly cater to many aspects of cooking a meal, making it a handy device.
However, what happens if it suddenly stops working? You need it for several things, which means it’s used virtually every day in the home. Now, what’s a suitable replacement for a food processor?
Well, it’s simple! You can use a blender to do some of the things a food processor helps out with. A blender can also mix and turn your fruits and vegetables into purées, mincemeat, and grind foods into smaller pieces.
The best part is most blenders come with different jars – you can use some to blend dry ingredients, and some are for wet ones. In addition, a jar for wet foods can also blend dry ones. But, of course, you’ll have to reduce the amount of water you add or add nothing at all.
However, food processors can handle more technical food preparation chores than blenders. For one, your blender cannot knead the dough while a food processor can. So, while a blender can come in handy as a quick substitute for a food processor, it’s limited in some aspects.
6 Ways to Dispose of a Broken Blender
While our blenders are built to last a very long time, inevitably, they’ll eventually stop working. On the other hand, you may also desire an upgrade, and you’ll still have to dispose of the previous one to make room for the new one.
So, how can you safely dispose of it? Well, we’ll show you several creative ways to do so in an environmentally friendly way. Enjoy!
1. Donate it
One of the most suitable ways to dispose of a blender is to donate it. There’s always someone ready to take old appliances, and if yours isn’t damaged beyond repair, then it’s a good idea to seek out people like these and give them to them.
However, you have to clean it properly before you donate it.
2. Planter
Do you fancy yourself a green thumb? Then, you likely know that no material goes to waste for gardeners. For example, your blender jug can serve as a planter for young plants. Later on, you can choose to transplant them or even leave them in the jar if they won’t grow beyond its size.
What’s more, a blender is presentable enough for you to leave in your living room or kitchen. That way, you can personally nurture the plant in the jar. Then, you can place it by a window where it’ll receive enough sunlight and oxygen.
3. Ladle
Your blender jug can also serve as a ladle. Some blenders have measurement marks on them, and you can use this to your advanced. You can use it to scoop dog food or any other dry food. Alternatively, you can also use it to measure cooking ingredients and foodstuff.
4. Aquarium
Did you know that you can easily transform your old blender jug into an aquarium? The best part is that blenders have covers, so even if you get a jumper fish, you don’t have to worry about it jumping out of the jar.
Now, here’s how to get started. First, you’ll need to prepare the aquarium. Then, you can get some seaweed, pebbles, and suitable water for the type of fish you want. Then, put those things together, and you’ll have an aquarium.
However, blender jars are usually just the right size to comfortably house a small fish or two.
5. Flower Vase
Here’s another hack for repurposing your blender jar. It’s large enough to serve as a flower vase. It’s also presentable enough to sit at the middle of your dining table, your coffee table, or even on your nightstand.
You can either plant your favorite flowers in it or stick a bouquet you recently bought or received in the jar. If it’s a single flower, like a rose, you can make it stay in place by sticking it through the slit in blender jars.
6. Storage Unit
Now, this is one of the more common uses for old blenders. It can serve as a storage unit for an array of things. First, you can place small items that are always impossible to find when we need them the most. Some of them include buttons, tape measures, office pins, etc.
Alternatively, you can also use them to store brooches, bracelets, scrunchies, etc.
Conclusion
Most people use blenders every day; it’s one of the most important kitchen appliances. As such, it’s not unlikely that it’ll be one of the items we have to replace more often. So, when the time comes, the way you go about it matters.
This is particularly so because the failure to dispose of it properly may negatively impact the environment. That’s why we’ve provided enough information on how to dispose of your old blender in an environmentally safe way.
So, we urge you to read up and make better choices from now on.
