ROSEMEAD, Calif.–Southern California Edison customers who buy a new refrigerator this spring can get their old one picked up for free and $50 to boot, the utility announced today as part of its efforts to get people buy newer, electricity-sipping models.
“We’ve helped Southern Californians recycle nearly a million refrigerators,” said Gene Rodriguez, SCE’s head of Energy Efficiency and Customer Solar. “An extra, old fridge uses twice the energy as a newer model and can waste about $180 a year keeping a six-pack of soda cold.”
Customers can pair the $50 recycling incentive with SCE’s $50 rebate for buying a new Energy Star-qualified refrigerator, according to SCE, which also enables customers to donate the $50 recycling incentive to the utility’s program for helping poor people pay their utility bills.
Disposing of refrigerators in landfills is prohibited by state law, largely because of the chemical refrigerant used internally and the foam insulation around the box.
To have an old refrigerator picked up, go to www.sce.com/save or call (800) 810-2015.
