If your robot vacuum is getting old, is broken, or you simply want to get a new one, there are proper steps you need to take to get rid of it.
It’s best you don’t just throw your robot vacuum away as it’s a safety concern.
We’ll show you what you need to do to get rid of your Roomba or any robot vacuum.
How To Dispose Of Your Robot Vacuum
There are two ways to get rid of your robot vacuum, recycle it or part it out. We’ll go over both options.
How To Recycle Your Robot Vacuum
You can recycle your robot vacuum and is what most people do.
Here are the steps to recycle your robot vacuum:
- Unplug your robot vacuum.
- Remove or deactivate the robot vacuum from the app if you had it setup or used the App on your smartphone before. Here are tips to keep your data safe when it comes to your robot vacuum.
- Empty the dustbin.
- Remove the battery.
- Take the battery to any convenience center, Best Buy, Lowes, Home Depot, or any store that takes in old and bad batteries.
- Do not wrap the battery and avoid any metal coming in contact with them.
- Take the rest of the robot vacuum to any electronic waste center. Most convenience centers, recycling centers, and even electronic stores (Best Buy) will dispose of them.
The most important part is disposing of the battery properly. These batteries can explode or leak acid if you’re not careful and dispose of them properly. They do not go in the regular trash, especially since trash trucks tend to compact the trash and this is what causes explosions. You should avoid wrapping the batteries in anything or having them come in contact with metal or other batteries. You can put electrical tape over the terminals of the battery for transport if you like, but it’s best you take it right to the recycling center.
Part Out Your Robot Vacuum
Another way to get rid of your robot vacuum is to part it out.
The same steps still apply about removing and disposing of the battery as in the last section, but the rest of the robot vacuum you can take apart.
I find Roomba’s parts sell the best and are the easiest to take out. Your robot vacuum may have only one thing wrong with it, and the rest of the parts are fine.
This method is more involved, but overall the best option for the environment. Many people buy whole robot vacuums that are broken just for a few parts from it, so list it on eBay or Facebook Marketplace to see who wants it. If no one wants it, then you can do the recycling process in the section before this one.
Don’t Put It In The Trash!
You should not throw your robot vacuum in the trashcan, as it’s dangerous and not good for the environment.
The battery at least needs to be removed and recycled properly at any convenience center, even many home improvement stores take them!
The batteries can explode and start fires if they’re not disposed of properly. Trash trucks compact their loads and this can break the batteries, which lead them to explode or start fires.
The other parts of your robot vacuum have some valuable metals like gold and copper that are sought out for and many recycling centers want. It may not be enough to pay you for them, but these materials in mass are needed to build more things like robot vacuums.
How Long Do Roombas Last?
You can get 4 to 6 years out of most robot vacuums if you do proper maintenance on them.