Depending on the condition of your old microwave, you can donate or sell it if it still works, recycle it as e-waste to keep it out of a landfill, or salvage its heavy-duty internal components (like the high-voltage transformer and powerful magnets) for fun DIY electronics projects.
Microwaves can be recycled with your electronics OR your scrap metal. Be sure to ask your recycling center operator to see if your center has a preference. If you choose to put your microwaves with your scrap metal, CAPACITORS MUST BE REMOVED.
A 20-year-old microwave is generally safe to use if it is physically intact and functioning correctly. However, microwaves of this age are far beyond their standard 10-year lifespan and carry higher risks of failing safety mechanisms, degraded door seals, and electrical short circuits.
It's not just for reheating leftovers – a microwave can be used to cook a range of quick, easy meals in just minutes, from mug cakes to mash. As well as saving on time, microwaves provide a cost-effective cooking method as they are far more energy efficient compared to conventional ovens, grills and hobs.
Best ways to dispose of old microwaves
Common E-Waste Items You Should Never Throw Away
Responsibly getting rid of e-waste
We make it easy to recycle all kinds of used tech — from cameras and cellphones to robot vacuums and speakers. Regardless of where you bought it, how old it is or who made it, you can bring your tech to any Best Buy store to have it recycled.
People are ditching their microwaves to reclaim counter space, upgrade food quality, and embrace holistic lifestyles. Modern alternatives like air fryers and toaster ovens, coupled with a shift toward intentional cooking, have made microwaves feel obsolete.
A microwave oven is highly versatile for quick meal prep, defrosting, and heating. Beyond reheating, it is incredibly useful for softening hard butter, melting chocolate, "steaming" vegetables with a splash of water, toasting nuts, and even making quick mug cakes.
The "lemon microwave trick" is a natural, chemical-free way to deep-clean your microwave. By boiling a bowl of water and lemon juice, the steam softens baked-on food splatters and grease while the citrus cuts grime and neutralizes stubborn cooking odors.
Microwaves are faraday cages! You can test it yourself for leaks. Put a phone in it- DO NOT TURN MICROWAVE ON! And then ring the phone with another if it doesn't ring- all good no leaks.
Uneven heating - if food comes out cold in some spots and boiling in others, your microwave may no longer be distributing energy efficiently. Loud or unusual noises - buzzing, humming or grinding sounds can indicate a failing magnetron or fan.
General value estimates, depending on steel content, include: Microwave: $2–$5 (more if stripped for copper) Washing Machine: $10–$25 depending on size. Fully dismantled appliances: Up to 3x more value from sorted metals.
But unlike tossing out old containers or cans, you cannot simply throw a microwave into the regular trash. Microwaves fall under electronic waste because they contain electronic parts, small appliance components, and sometimes heavy metals.
How to Dispose of a Microwave
Use a take-back program at retailers like Best Buy or Lowe's (usually with a new purchase). Mail it in through GreenCitizen's nationwide microwave recycling service. Check with your local landfill or trash pickup service — but laws vary, and it's not always allowed.
The average life expectancy of a microwave is 7 to 10 years. The exact lifespan often depends on usage frequency, maintenance, and the quality of the appliance.
People primarily use microwave technology in three major ways:
Yes, you can absolutely cook rice in a microwave. It is a fast, hands-off method that yields perfectly fluffy results just like stovetop cooking.
Standing directly in front of a microwave is generally not harmful, provided the appliance is in good condition. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend stepping away while it is running as a precautionary measure.
In 1967, the first Amana home microwave oven, a 110-volt countertop model, sold for $495 (about $3,515 today). It was some 40 centimeters tall, 50 cm wide, and 30 cm deep. This popular version paved the way for the smaller, cheaper microwave ovens in use today.
Microwave syndrome (also known as Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity or EHS) is a disputed, non-medical diagnosis describing a collection of symptoms people attribute to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from everyday devices like cell phones, Wi-Fi, and smart meters.
What you should do with an old microwave depends on whether it works.
Ringsend, North Strand & Ballymun Recycling Centres
There is no charge for vehicles carrying the following materials only: Packaging material such as paper, glass, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, etc. All electronic and electrical equipment.
Best Buy does pay you for old electronics, but they compensate you with Best Buy e-Gift Cards, not cash.