Domestic fridge freezers are constructed from a number of materials. Within the giant cooling case is a combination of steel, copper and aluminum – all highly recyclable. The shelves and drawers inside the refrigerator are made with more metal, plastic and/or glass. There is also some polyurethane foam in refrigerators that acts as insulation.

Deep inside your refrigerator is a compressor that holds the refrigerant, which is the substance that keeps your refrigerator cool. Interestingly, it does this not by giving off cold air, but by absorbing heat. Older machines contain refrigerants made with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), both of which are considered ozone-depleting gases. Newer refrigerators use materials that are not ozone-depleting.

However, newer refrigerants are still bad for the environment because they are greenhouse gases. There is also a small motor in your refrigerator that runs a fan meant to distribute cold air. The motor contains a small amount of oil to help keep it running correctly. Very old machines may have small amounts of PCBs and mercury, but these materials have not been used in refrigerators for a long time.