Dive Brief:
- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA) has partnered with Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's state energy efficiency program, to offer appliance collection services to residents.
- ARCA will collect working refrigerators or freezers that are 10-30 cubic feet. Residents can receive $35 rebates for each qualifying appliance, with a maximum of two units per household per year.
- Focus on Energy says that residents can save up to $150 per year in energy costs by updating their appliances. Energy Star estimates that refrigerators or freezers older than 15 years old use twice as much energy as newer models.
Dive Insight:
This is the latest in a series of recent deals for ARCA after locking down more than a dozen new state contracts in 2016. The company has exclusive North American rights to the UNTHA Recycling Technology, which is one of the most advanced of its kind with high recovery rates for the sensitive material contained within refrigeration appliances.
ARCA is also an approved partner of the EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program that was launched in 2006. The program aims to promote safe recovery of the insulation foam, hydrofluorocarbons and other potentially hazardous substances that are especially prevalent in older models. According to the most recent EPA report, 12 million refrigerators and freezers were disposed in 2015 and nearly 800,000 were processed by RAD partners. This program also covers dehumidifiers and air conditioners.
Based on this wave of new contracts the demand for appliance recycling is strong in the U.S. and new potential is also opening up overseas. A state-of-the-art electronics recycling facility set to open in Hong Kong next year will be equipped with a special processing line for refrigerators and related appliances.
