Whether your old lawn mower has given up or you want to upgrade to a new one, you don’t want your old machine sitting in your garage collecting dust.
If your mower is still working, you can sell, donate, or possibly trade it in for a new one. But if it’s broken, you need to scrap, recycle, or have it hauled away by a professional junk removal company. Just make sure to drain the oil and gas first. Let’s take a look at how you can dispose of your old mower in this article.
Sell it
If your lawn mower is in decent condition and you want to make a few bucks, selling is a great option. Clean your mower to make it look its best, and research online to see what similar models are selling for so you can price yours competitively.
Facebook Marketplace, eBay, NextDoor, and Craigslist are all great platforms to sell your mower. Take high-quality photos and write a detailed description to attract buyers.
I recommend listing your mower in spring or summer, as that’s the time when most people are looking to buy.
If you don’t want to list your mower online and wait around for buyers, you might be able to sell it to a local mower repair shop, but you won’t get as much money. Their goal is to resell it for a profit.
Donate
If your mower is in good working condition, you can donate it to a local charity or non-profit organization. Some big charities like Goodwill don’t accept lawn mowers. So, it’s a good idea to call ahead and check whether the charity accepts it. Make sure to also ask if they can pick up the mower if you can’t transport it yourself.
Another option is to donate your mower to your family, friends, or neighbors.
Recycle
Check with your local recycling centers to see whether they accept mowers, as not all of them do. Be sure to also ask how to prepare your mower for recycling and whether they offer pickup.
If you have a gas mower, you should first drain the gas and oil into sealable containers. You can take these fluids to your local auto parts retailer for disposal. Your city or county probably offers a hazardous waste disposal station as well. After that, remove all the plastic parts from the mower. Some facilities may pay for the metal parts.
Some recycling centers accept electric mowers as is, but most require you to remove the battery because it has to be disposed of separately.
Hire a junk removal service
This is the most convenient way to get rid of your old mower, but it’s also the most expensive. Call your local junk removal company and ask them to pick up the mower and dispose of it for you.
If you can drop the mower off at their facility, you can save quite a bit of money. But before doing all that, confirm how much you’ll actually save. If it’s not much, you can just have them pick it up for you.
Sell as scrap metal
If you have a gas mower and you’re handy with tools, you can dismantle it and sell the metal parts as scrap. Mowers are made of plastic, aluminum, and steel. Scrap metal recyclers pay for aluminum and steel based on weight and current market prices.
Here’s a video that shows how to dismantle a lawn mower:
You can also sell your mower as is without dismantling it, but you’ll get less money in return.
If you have an electric mower, you can’t sell its parts for scrap. You can only recycle it.
Trade for a new one
Some retailers and manufacturers offer trade-in programs where you can get discounts on a new mower by turning in your old one. However, they usually have some requirements that your mower should meet. It should be in working condition and within a certain age range. Clean your mower before taking it in to get the best price.
I’d personally recommend selling the mower yourself on online platforms or to your local mechanic for a better deal.
FAQs
No. A lawn mower contains hazardous materials and metal components, so you should recycle it, sell it as scrap metal, or have it hauled away by a professional.
If you have time and want to make a few bucks, you can dismantle the mower and sell the metal parts for scrap. Otherwise, you can recycle the mower or hire a local junk removal service to haul it away.
Get Professional Lawn Care
You need a good mower to keep your lawn looking good. But if you’re busy and don’t have the time to mow, Lawn Love pros are here to help. We will get those perfect lines and make your lawn stand out in your neighborhood.
Main Photo Credit: Bill Keefrey / Adobe Stock
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