Jun 4, 2009 7:42 pm US/Eastern
National Grid Offers Fridge Recycling Program
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
People having trouble getting rid of old, second refrigerators or freezers have a new place to turn. And it won't cost a dime. In fact, National Grid will give you $30 for that unit. And that could save you hundreds in energy costs.
Refrigerators made since 1990 blow the doors off old ones. They're three times more efficient.
So National Grid rolled out a program on Thursday that will give you a $30 rebate to have them pick-up your old refrigerator or freezer, which the utility says could save you $150 a year on your electric bill. "They're either completely empty or they may have a six pack of or something in there," said John Sarnie, Manager of Efficiency Programs for national Grid.
The utility says 95 percent of the old refrigerator components are recycled through its partner in the program, JACO Environmental in Franklin.
The metal can be used for copper wire, concrete rebar and new cans. "And the plastic can be turned into cell phones, iPods, computers," said Michael Dunham, Director of Energy and Environmental Programs for JACO.
Recyclers there say taking one of the old refrigerators out of service would cut carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to taking two cars off the road for a year.
Global warming threats such as refrigerants and foam insulation containing CFCs are removed from the old fridges. "We get those chemicals, we capture them, we destroy them, so they don't go into the atmosphere," said Dunham.
So as JACO takes pollutants out of the environment, it makes money from recyclables. And as the program can save National Grid customers money, it saves energy and makes business sense for National Grid. "It does help us as an energy company to not have to build power plants," said Sarnie.
To be eligible, you must be a National Grid customer in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, your old second fridge or freezer must be in working order with an inside measurement of 10 cubic feet or more. The program is limited to removal of two units per household. To schedule a pickup, you can call 1-877-545-4113 or log on to
CoolTurnIn.com.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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