When the year began, we set ourselves a modest goal: to make appliance and machine removal easier, greener, and more accessible for homes and businesses across the regions we serve. Twelve months later, we can proudly report that Bestcare Facilities Management Services collected and processed 1,291 broken appliances and machines in 2026 — a figure that tells a story far bigger than the number itself.
Behind every one of those 1,291 collections was a customer with a problem, a machine at the end of its life, and an opportunity to do things the right way. This article is our look back at the year: what we collected, what we learned, and where we're headed next.
What We Collected in 2026
Our collections spanned the full range of household and commercial equipment. Here's a breakdown of the major categories:
Refrigerators and Freezers — 312 units
The single largest category. Old fridges and freezers are among the most difficult items to dispose of responsibly due to refrigerant gases, insulation foam, and sheer weight. Every unit we collected was degassed and processed in line with environmental regulations, ensuring harmful refrigerants never ended up released into the atmosphere.
Washing Machines and Dryers — 247 units
From top-loaders that finally gave up after a decade of loyal service to commercial laundry machines retired from laundromats and shared housing facilities, laundry equipment made up nearly a fifth of our collections.
Cookers, Ovens, and Stoves — 186 units
Gas and electric cooking appliances, including built-in ovens, hobs, and standalone cookers. Gas appliances in particular required careful disconnection and handling by our trained technicians.
Microwaves and Small Kitchen Appliances — 158 units
Microwaves, kettles, blenders, toasters, and deep fryers. Individually small, but collectively significant sources of electronic waste.
Air Conditioners and Heaters — 142 units
Split AC units, window units, and portable heaters. Like refrigerators, air conditioners required refrigerant handling, making professional removal essential.
Water Heaters and Boilers — 96 units
Geysers, instant showers, and storage water heaters — many removed after leaking or failing, often just in time to prevent water damage.
Commercial and Office Machines — 89 units
Printers, photocopiers, servers, vending machines, gym equipment, and industrial machinery from our business clients.
Dishwashers, TVs, and Miscellaneous — 61 units
Dishwashers, televisions, monitors, and a variety of one-off items ranging from treadmills to welding machines.
Why Proper Appliance Disposal Matters
Many people don't realize that a broken appliance dumped in a general waste bin can cause serious environmental harm. Refrigerators and air conditioners contain refrigerant gases that are potent contributors to climate change when released. Electronics contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into soil and groundwater. Even the sheer bulk of large appliances strains landfill capacity.
At Bestcare, we operate on a simple principle: nothing we collect goes to waste carelessly.
Of the 1,291 items collected in 2026:
- Approximately 40% were sent to licensed metal recyclers, where steel, copper, aluminum, and other metals were recovered and returned to the manufacturing cycle.
- Around 15% were refurbished and repaired. Many "broken" machines simply needed a replacement part, a new thermostat, or a good service — and these now have second lives in homes that need affordable appliances.
- Roughly 35% were dismantled for parts, with working motors, compressors, pumps, and electronic components supplied to local repair technicians, keeping the repair economy alive.
- The remaining 10%, mostly non-recyclable plastics and mixed materials, were disposed of through approved waste management channels.
The Human Side of 1,291 Collections
Numbers are easy to publish; stories are harder. This year, our teams:
- Helped an elderly couple clear out a flooded basement containing three water-damaged freezers.
- Removed an entire kitchen's worth of appliances for a restaurant undergoing renovation — in a single day.
- Collected a donated shipment of obsolete office equipment from a school and ensured the hard drives were securely destroyed before recycling.
- Responded to same-day requests from landlords preparing rental units for new tenants, often within hours of a call.
Our collection teams handled stairs, narrow corridors, gated estates, and heavy commercial equipment — always with the lifting gear, protective coverings, and professionalism our clients have come to expect.
What We Learned in 2026
Running 1,291 collections taught us several things:
1. Demand for responsible disposal is growing. Our collection volumes grew steadily month over month, reflecting greater public awareness of e-waste issues and tighter enforcement of waste disposal regulations.
2. Timing matters. A large share of requests came in predictable patterns — end of month for landlords, rainy season for water heater failures, and December for kitchen appliances ahead of holiday cooking.
3. Refurbishment changes lives. The machines we repaired and redistributed went to families, small businesses, and institutions that could not afford new equipment. A functioning refurbished washing machine is not just an appliance; it's hours of time returned to a household every week.
Our Commitments for 2027
Building on this year's success, Bestcare Facilities Management Services is committing to:
- Expanding collection capacity to serve more neighborhoods and add weekend collection slots.
- Deepening recycling partnerships with certified e-waste and metal recycling facilities.
- Growing the refurbishment program, with a goal of putting 300+ repaired appliances back into use in 2027.
- Introducing scheduled bulk collection days for estates, apartment blocks, and commercial parks.
- Target: 2,000 collections in 2027, with a zero-landfill goal for all refrigerant-containing equipment.
Thank You
To every homeowner, landlord, business, and institution that trusted us with their old and broken machines in 2026 — thank you. Every one of those 1,291 collections represents a choice to dispose of waste responsibly rather than take the easy way out.
A broken appliance may be the end of a machine's story, but with the right handling, it's only the beginning of its next one — as recovered metal, a working part, or a refurbished machine serving a new home.
Need a broken appliance or machine collected?
Contact Bestcare Facilities Management Services today for professional, safe, and environmentally responsible removal of fridges, washing machines, cookers, air conditioners, water heaters, office equipment, and more. We handle the lifting, the transport, and the disposal — so you don't have to.
Bestcare Facilities Management Services — Caring for your property, and the planet.