Customers can now get money to recycle their spare fridge and save on future electric bills. SMUD will pay customers $35 for their spare, operating refrigerator or freezer. Old refrigerators can add up to $125 to an annual electric bill because they use up to three times more power than newer models. SMUD wants to help customers lower their bills and their energy demand. When older refrigerators and freezers are taken out of service and recycled, the customer saves money through lower electric bills. The entire community benefits from decreased power demand on the grid, especially when supplies are at their lowest levels; hot summer afternoons.
SMUD's goal is to recycle 8,000 refrigerators and freezers, saving more than 1.3 megawatts of electricity annually. That's enough electricity to power 1,000 average-sized homes. Interested customers should act soon to take advantage of this program while funds are still available. The offer will run until the 8,000-refrigerator/freezer goal is reached and no later than December 31, 2009.
SMUD has contracted with JACO Environmental to pick up the appliances from customer's homes and recycle the old units. JACO is an experienced appliance recycler and they will schedule pick-up and transportation of the appliance to their facility. JACO will then recover and recycle all component parts and properly dispose of any potentially harmful chemicals found in the cooling system and insulation.
Program Guidelines:
The refrigerator or freezer must be in working condition and be 10-27 cubic feet.
Up to two units may be recycled per residential address.
The refrigerator recycling program is done on a "first-come-first-served” basis.
SMUD customers can sign up for the program by contacting JACO at 1-800-299-7573 or visit www.smud.org and click on "Rebates" tab.