// Online electricals retailer AO.com has recycled more than five million household appliances since it opened its recycling facility five years ago
// The retailer has also refurbishment more than 200,000 appliances which have been resold.
AO.com has recycled more than five million household appliances since it opened its recycling facility five years ago.
The online retailer opened the doors to AO Recycling in Telford in Spring 2017 with the aim of safely recycling large domestic appliances, including fridges, washing machines, cookers and dishwashers.
The Telford plant is home to its 80-tonne fridge crunching machine named Bertha, which also safely collects any harmful gases released.
As well as safely disposing of appliances, AO also refurbishes as many items as possible which are then sold on via trade and outlet shops. More than 200,000 appliances have received a new lease of life so far.
In a recent survey from AO Recycling, a third (30%) of Brits admitted to having at least one washing machine they no longer use, with 9% revealing they have three still in their home.
Almost 8 out of 10 people (79%) said that if there was an easy way to recycle their old appliances via collection services, they would like to do this instead of keeping them.
READ MORE: AO.com launches new health & beauty category in time for Christmas
AO offers a Collect & Recycle service, where both customers and the general public can book to have their appliances collected and taken away to be responsibly recycled.
It said such services are critical to reducing fly-tipping of appliances, a practice that has rocketed during lockdown.
AO Recycling managing director Robert Sant said: “We’re so pleased to have saved a huge five million appliances from potentially being fly-tipped. While AO Recycling is best known for its innovative fridge recycling facilities, we also tackle a range of large appliances that arrive onsite.
“Our research shows that there is a growing desire for a simple collection service for our unwanted appliances and we hope to continue recycling as many appliances as possible via our recycling services.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
