Bellingham's Appliance Depot Seeking More Old Appliances

DAVE GALLAGHER - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Bellingham's Appliance Depot is seeking more used appliances from companies and local residents as demand increases.

The nonprofit organization had an increase in the number of people coming into the store to buy reused appliances while posting a 15 percent decrease in the number of appliances donated in December 2011 compared to a year earlier, said Thoren Rogers, executive director at Appliance Depot.

Rogers said in a news release that getting an appliance refurbished is a better option than recycling it. In 2011, the organization provided job training and jobs for more than 40 residents. He believes the increase in sales indicates the sales portion of the business is becoming more well-known than the organization's collection services.

"When you buy a new appliance and your installer takes away your old machine to be recycled, we are losing a local resource. Your appliance will be destroyed, crushed and shipped out of our community, most likely to China," Rogers said in the news release.

Appliance Depot is at 802 Marine Drive in Bellingham. For more information about how the program works, call 360-527-2646.