How to Get Rid of an Old Lawn Mower
Do you have an old lawn mower sitting in your garage, gathering dust? Removing a lawn mower can be a logistical nightmare if you aren't familiar with the options available to you, including the laws of your state regarding junk removal. Thankfully, lawn mower disposal doesn't have to be a chore — you may even be able to profit from it!
Our team at Mowrator is seriously passionate about providing innovative remote-controlled, battery-powered lawn mowers to make lawn care reliable and intuitive. We’ve created a comprehensive guide for everything you need to know to dispose of a lawn mower, how to do so safely, and much more. Perhaps your replacement may even be our world’s first 3-in-1 Mowrator S1 remote control lawn mower.
Key Takeaways
- Consider selling your old mower on platforms like eBay or donate it to a local charity.
- Safely dispose of hazardous materials like oil, fuel, and batteries according to local guidelines.
- Disassemble and recycle the mower's metal and plastic parts at local recycling centers or scrapyards.
- Always comply with local and national disposal regulations.
- Alternatives include professional junk removal services, DIY separation of hazardous materials and scrap, and repurposing parts for other projects.
Can You Sell Your Lawn Mower?
The first question you should ask is whether your lawn mower is still in working condition. If it is, you can always choose to sell your lawn mower. Prices will vary, but in our experience, second-hand lawn mowers can be sold for $80 to $500+ based on their condition and model. Looking at online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace can offer opportunities to get rid of an old lawn mower for some easy cash.
Selling your lawn mower to local buyers through a yard sale or wholesale market is also another option if you want to avoid online marketplaces. Nothing beats a price tag and the willingness to negotiate with buyers if you want some quick cash and more space in your garage.
You could also donate your lawn mower to a local charity if any are in need, or if recycling isn't readily available in your local area.
Is It Safe to Dispose of Your Old Lawn Mower?
While you may be tempted to dispose of an old lawn mower by throwing it into the bin, this can cause major problems with the environment and with your local regulators. An old lawn mower can also be dangerous to handle, with hazardous waste that can affect your health. Parts of your lawn mower, like oil and fuel, as well as batteries for electric mowers, are considered household hazardous waste that needs to be properly separated before you can safely dispose of your lawn mower.
Take care when disassembling the mower to check for this waste. 46% of all lawn mower injuries in the United States are lacerations by mower blades, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which means exceptional care is necessary during the process.
Local Regulations
Be aware of the local and national regulations when you plan to get rid of a lawn mower, either by using recycling facilities or get it off your hands. If you're uncertain about what rules apply to you, contact a professional junk removal service. This is the best way for you to remove a used lawn mower without hassle.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Your Old Lawn Mower
Every lawn mower requires different precautions and preparation when being thrown out. Our team has diligently collected the best way to dispose of your old or broken lawn mowers, no matter if it's a gas-powered riding mower or a compact electric model. Here are some tips you should take into consideration:
Recycling
Recycling is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to dispose of your lawn mower. Here’s a brief breakdown on how you can do it. We go into depth on each type of mower and safety precautions below.
- Disassemble the Mower: Separate the plastic parts from the metal components. This may involve removing the engine, cutting blade, and other parts.
- Contact Local Recycling Centers: Reach out to local recycling centers to see if they accept lawn mowers. For example, in Austin, TX, you can contact the Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.
- Scrapyards: Some scrapyards accept lawn mowers for recycling. You may need to break down the mower into smaller parts and sort them by metal type.
Gas-Powered Mowers
Old, reliable riding lawn mowers are typically gas-powered, which makes their fuel a hazardous waste when being disposed. Before you can take apart the mower to recycle its scrap metal and plastic, you need to remove the gas and oil in its tank:
- Drain the oil by removing the oil drain plug found underneath the small engine block of your lawn mower.
- Allow it to pour into a sealable container.
- Siphon any remaining gasoline from the tank into a separate container. Take care! Do not to let any oil or gasoline reach any nearby storm drains.
- Locate your nearest hazardous waste disposal facility.
- Leave the containers at one of their drop-off collection points or at the facility center.
Ideally, you want to drain all the fluids from your old mower 24 hours before you get rid of it. Once you’ve safely removed the oil and gas, you can start taking apart your old lawn mower to take it to a scrap metal and plastic recycling center. This can be completed with any old tools, but ensure you’re well protected.
Electric Mowers
Electric mowers are becoming the most common types of lawn mowers available, anticipated to reach $1.64 billion market value by 2027. While these modern lawn mowers are far more popular and environmentally friendly than their gasoline counterparts, they require more work for proper disposal.
Before you take your old lawn mower and dispose of it yourself, remove the mower’s battery and electrical components. These parts be e-waste, similar to an old phone or laptop. This means getting rid of an electric lawn mower needs to be completed precisely to avoid damaging the environment.
Contact your local recycling center that handles e-waste for the proper method to dispose of an old electric mower. Better yet, drop off your lawn mower at your local facility and let the e-waste recycling center handle the entire process.
Push Mowers
Push mowers are the easiest type of lawn mower to be recycled and thrown out. Disassembling the lawn mower may require certain tools, but nothing that you can’t buy at a local DIY or dollar store. Once you’ve divided the unwanted lawn mower parts into their plastic and metal scrap piles, visit to your local waste and recycling center. They will give the lawn mower that has served you well a new lease on life.
What are Alternative Disposal Methods for Lawn Mowers?
Mowrator is focused on creating a future where lawn care is a sustainable practice without major effects on the environment. If you cannot recycle the scrap metal and plastic, consider the following alternatives.
Professional Disposal
Junk removal companies are uniquely qualified to help reduce waste when you need to dispose of an old mower. Inquiring online for a junk removal service is not difficult, but you may get an upfront quote for their professional disposal service that you need to pay.
Take a look at the following average cost of junk removal table to estimate your costs:
| Price | Full-service Junk Removal | Dumpster Rental |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $100 to 800 per load | $300 to 600 per week |
| National Average | $230 per load | $400 per week |
DIY Disposal
DIY disposal requires that you are responsible for disposing of all the hazardous materials and recyclable parts. While disposing of your lawn mower properly can be difficult when you DIY, it's always an option if you don't want to spend money on a professional disposal or can't find a recycling center near you.
When you take apart your mower, remember to divide metals into ferrous and non-ferrous. Non-ferrous metals, like aluminum, are generally worth more as scrap if you plan to eventually sell it. The mower deck of a lawn mower will either be made of ferrous steel or aluminum. This will depend on your lawn mower’s brand and model.
Ferrous metals like iron are usually the greasy parts of your lawn mower, and can be tested using a magnet. They are typically worth less than aluminum, but could still be sold to a local small engine mechanic as spare parts. The non-metal parts of your lawn mower, mainly plastic, can be thrown in the trash.
Repurposing
If you're still wondering how to get rid of your old lawn mower, then consider repurposing the parts of your lawn care companion for other personal projects. You can take advantage of the spare parts of your lawn mower that work and use them to replace broken parts for other mowers and lawn equipment. When your lawn mower has served you well, one of the best things you can do is not remove it at all, but help it bring life to a lawn mower that still works.
If you need any further information on how to get rid of your old lawn mower, get in touch with our lawn enthusiasts at Mowrator.
FAQs on How to Get Rid of an Old Lawn Mower?
Can You Scrap an Old Lawn Mower Engine?
Yes, you can scrap an old lawn mower engine. It is generally more profitable for scrapyards to purchase aluminum than plain steel, and you might want to sell your mower as a complete set. Notably, small engines and older lawn mowers are excellent resources for both scrap steel and aluminum.
Can I Sell a Damaged Engine?
You’re more likely to get some money back from a scrapyard if you’re trying to sell a damaged engine. Private buyers may also be an option, but remember to be clear about the damage and any engine history or replacements that the new owner would need to know.
If you found this article interesting, you may also want to read How to Store a Lawn Mower in the Garage.
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