Introduction
Dismantling and Recycling Centre (DRZ)
Katharina Lenz, Vienna / Austria
This is a general guide for most front loading washing machines.
Health & Safety
Dismantling of washing machines doesn't include any harmful steps. Nonetheless workers should work in pairs and wear personal protection equipment like gloves, goggles, apron and robust shoes.
Note: As the construction of washing machines can differ, the dismantling steps mentioned below can vary in their order. However, the described steps show what parts the removal should focus on. The most important parts are: the motor, the water pump containing copper coils and the capacitor.
What you need
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Remove the capacitor and unclip all wires, being careful not to touch the terminals as this could lead to a potentially dangerous electrical discharge.
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Separate the remaining materials according to their type and go on with the appropriate data sheet (e.g. aluminium, ferrous metals, plastic, further PWBs, etc.).
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Make sure the plastic parts are completely free of metal pieces.
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