When it comes to air filters, it's important to consider your health and the environment. Many people wonder if air filters can be recycled, and the answer is yes, but the process is not as simple as throwing them in the recycle bin. The frame of a filter consists of recyclable material, but the filter itself can consist of several types of material, ranging from fiberglass, wire mesh, paper and plastic. Non-recyclable materials in an air filter can contaminate a batch of recyclable materials and complicate the process. If it is too large to fit in the dumpster, many cities encourage citizens to take it to a dedicated landfill or garbage transport center.
We recommend that you check with your city before throwing an air purifier in the trash. The short answer to this question is that it depends on the type of air filter you have. A typical disposable HVAC filter is made with woven fibers, most commonly polyester or fiberglass, that are not recyclable. When it comes to dealing with air filters, remember that you also need to consider your health. These filters can expose you to dust, dirt, and even potentially harmful chemicals.
As such, most cities don't accept them as recycling, but instead have to throw them away. If your air filter is disposable, you can simply throw it in the trash with the rest of the trash. However, you should place a plastic bag over the filter so that dust, dirt and grime accumulated on the filter do not spread everywhere. The only thing you can do with an old air filter is to wash it again - and this is only possible if they are reusable air filters. If what you have are disposable air filters, don't stop washing them because you will create more environmental and health problems for you and the people around you.
If you don't remove air filters carefully, you could spread dirt and toxic debris to other areas of your home or office, which could be harmful to your health. One precaution comes with having air filters, and that is that if you want to get the best out of them, you must change them every three months. The higher the MERV rating, the more filtered the passing air will be and how often it will need cleaning. You should also wear a mask and gloves while handling the used filter, although the amount of caution you take will likely depend on what was used to filter the air filter. Because what air filters contain are particles that are easily carried by the air, you should be careful when shaking them when you want to put them in a plastic bag. In this way, you have saved yourself and your loved ones from the health risks that air filters can pose. The next and final step is to tape the plastic bag so that the air filters don't fall out of it.
Discarding these air filters may not be the best solution, so you should find out if the air filters are recyclable or not. If you prefer not to go to the trouble of recycling your air filter (we understand), learn how to properly dispose of your filter safely and efficiently. You'll likely be able to put a used air filter in the trash, though there are a few steps you should take first. If you have an old air purifier or some worn-out filters that you want to get rid of, this comprehensive guide will help you understand what to do with old air filters. In the real sense, air filters may not be considered hazardous waste, but this doesn't mean you can handle them anyway. This means that you always have to know which air filters are right for use in your home, office or even cars.
