Greentech Lead America: San Diego Gas & Electric
(SDG&E) and Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA) announced the
150,000th appliance collection at a customer’s home.
“This is a significant milestone for us and is an
example of the many ways we are working together with our customers to make responsible
choices that help the environment,” said Caroline Winn, vice president of
customer services and chief customer privacy officer for SDG&E.
Within the past two years, 34,000 SDG&E customers have
recycled appliances, saving the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas
emissions from nearly 4,500 passenger vehicles. These customers saved an
average of more than $200 on their annual energy bill.
The Appliance Recycling Program provides SDG&E
residential electric customers a rebate to recycle their old, working
refrigerators, freezers and/or room air conditioners. A $35 rebate is provided
per refrigerator/freezer, and a $25 rebate is provided for room air
conditioners that are collected in conjunction with a refrigerator/freezer.
According to SDG&E customer Michael Thomas, the
financial incentive and free haul-away were key reasons that motivated him to
sign up for the Appliance Recycling Program.
SDG&E’s Appliance Recycling Program is managed by ARCA
through its ARCA California subsidiary located in Compton, Calif. ARCA, one of
the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances, is dedicated to
preserving the environment through energy efficiency and proper appliance
disposal.
“The environmental benefits from recycling
refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are enormous and include safe
management of hazardous materials and reduced energy consumption. In addition,
our processes prevent the release of ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse
gases, PCBs, mercury, batteries and oil into the environment,” said Jack
Cameron, ARCA president and CEO.