Conserve & Save® Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program Kicks Off for Second Year in Southern Minnesota
The Conserve & Save® Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program, servicing Austin Utilities (AU), Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU), and Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), is back by popular demand. The program, which had an incredible response during 2011, is set to begin May 15 and will continue through October 31, 2012 or until funds are exhausted.
Through this program, which is managed by a local Minnesota based company Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc. (ARCA), participating utility customers who turn in operating but energy inefficient secondary refrigerators and freezers will be eligible for a $35 incentive for each qualifying appliance, with a maximum of two units per program life. ARCA will perform the in-home collection of qualifying refrigerators and freezers and properly recycle the units locally in Minnesota.
“Our goal is to continue to improve energy efficiency in Rochester by encouraging our customers to remove spare, working refrigerators and freezers from service while also offering a value service and a $35 incentive”, says Stephanie Humphrey, RPU Residential Account Representative. “Recycling appliances leads to a reduction in both energy consumption and emissions of ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases.”
In order to qualify, the refrigerator or freezer must be 10-30 cubic feet, operating secondary unit, in working (cooling) order, and owned by an RPU customer with a valid account number. The appliance will be picked up, free of charge, inside the customer’s home from the address listed on the billing account.
To participate in the program, please call 1-877-341-2259 or visit www.rpu.org.
About ARCA
ARCA (www.ARCAInc.com), one of the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities, currently provides services for 200 utilities in the U.S. and Canada. Toxic chemicals and environmentally harmful materials such as ozone-depleting refrigerants, PCBs, mercury and oil are carefully recovered in the decommissioning process for recycling, destruction or disposal, preventing them from contaminating soil, air and water resources. The Company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 47,000 customers. Water customers number more than 36,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include energy and water education, renewable generation, and smart grid applications.
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