Home » KU and LG&E program to recycle fridges, freezers — and pay owners $30

KU and LG&E program to recycle fridges, freezers — and pay owners $30

An inefficient refrigerator could be sucking up nearly one month’s worth of your energy usage by chugging year-round to keep its cool, according to a press release from KU and LG&E.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 8, 2012) – If you’re still running that empty 1980s refrigerator in the basement for sporadic holiday leftovers, a depleted March Madness game-day platter or the five-pound container of pimento cheese from your Derby brunch last weekend, you can kick start spring cleaning and properly recycle that energy guzzler through KU and LG&E’s new Fridge and Freezer Recycling Program.

The companies also will give you $30 in return for reducing your energy consumption and properly recycling your appliance.

An inefficient refrigerator may be near and dear to your heart, but it could be sucking up nearly one month’s worth of your energy usage by chugging year-round to keep its cool, according to a press release from KU and LG&E.

Models manufactured 30 to 40 years ago use nearly two times the amount of energy each year compared to today’s high-efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators, which use approximately 500 kilowatt-hours annually, according to ENERGY STAR.

“We not only want to help customers reduce their energy usage, but we also want to ensure these appliances won’t be left behind in a local landfill. Nearly every part of the refrigerators and freezers will be disassembled and properly recycled by our program partner, ARCA, Inc.,” said David Huff, Director of Customer Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Strategy for KU and LG&E.

How does it work?

Residential electric customers can schedule a pick-up time to have a trained collection team remove and properly recycle up to two inefficient refrigerators and/or freezers at their convenience in the same calendar year. The appliances must be at least 7.75 cubic feet or larger, operational, empty and accessible for removal.

Weekday, evening and Saturday appointments are available. Customers can sign in to My Account at lge-ku.com to submit a request online or call 1-800-356-5467.

What’s recycled?

The appliances will be carefully disassembled so the metals, plastics, glass, foam insulation, PCBs, CFC-12 refrigerant and used oil can be properly recycled, according to the EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program.

In one refrigerator alone, about 200 pounds of parts are recycled to be reused to produce new raw materials, such as steel, aluminum, copper and glass.

The Fridge and Freezer Recycling Program is part of the KU and LG&E expanded Energy Efficiency portfolio approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission in November 2011 to offer residential and commercial customers more options to reduce and better manage their energy use. To learn more, visit lge-ku.com/recycle.