Dive Brief:
- Appalachian Power created an incentive program that encourages customers across three states to recycle appliances.
- The utility company will give consumers a $50 reward to recycle outdated refrigerators and freezers.
- Appalachian Power partnered with an appliance recycling firm located in Mill Creek, WA- JACO Environmental, who will haul the bulky appliances out of homes and to a recycling facility for processing. JACO expects 95% of all materials from every unit will be recycled.
Dive Insight:
Charleston, WV-based Appalachian Power provides services for one million consumers across Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. The company said that households that discard the inefficient appliances could potentially save up to $150 annually in electricity costs. The recycling service is provided to utility consumers free of charge.
Similar programs have started in other states. One that seems to be a success was a program launched in Pennsylvania. Records indicate that as of November 2013, a utility company in Northeastern PA has recycled over 200,000 appliances since its program was established in 2008. This particular incentive program offered cash payments to haul away old refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.