There comes a time in every appliance's life when it's just too old to be useful anymore. SaskPower was at the Spring Expo to tell people about their refrigerator and freezer recycling program, and encourage people to get rid of those older, less efficient appliances.
The program is easy to take part in, explains Leeann Lebersback with SaskPower. Anyone with a fridge which is 15 years old or older can call to get their fridge and freezer taken to be recycled. SaskPower will come and take up to four of the appliances, and residents will get $50 for each appliance taken away.
There are a few limitations. The refrigerators must be over 15 years old and in working condition. If one wants to recycle a freezer, they must also recycle a fridge at the same time. Lebersback says that as long as all of the appliances are at the same address, they can be included together, so someone who only has a freezer can get together with a friend or neighbor with a fridge and so long as they're all at the same house, they can be taken.
The concept behind the program is to remove those older, inefficient appliances from the grid, and encourage people to get more efficient in how they store food. Lebersback says that the old appliances can use up to double the amount of energy that newer, more efficient models use, so people get savings on their power bill above and beyond the $50 for the old appliance.
"The idea is to take that power off of the grid," she says.
She also emphasizes that the recycling of the old appliances is done in a responsible manner. The metal, major components, and refrigerant are all completely recycled.
People can sign up for the program and arrange to get their old appliances recycled by calling 1-877-SKRECYCLE. She notes that space runs out quickly, so people need to sign up soon. For people unsure of their appliance's age, the operator will help them get the information and confirm that it is a model which qualifies.
