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Appliance Recycling Center Dedicated, Serves PECO, FirstEnergy, PPL Electric Customers
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Eastern Pennsylvania's first appliance recycling center, opening this week in Hatfield, Pa, will recycle older, energy-guzzling refrigerators and freezers for PECO, PPL Electric Utilities and FirstEnergy customers.
The facility, operated by JACO Environmental Inc. for PECO, will eventually serve about 80 percent of the state’s electric utility customers. The facility is expected to create about 40 new green jobs.
Through PECO Smart Appliance Recycling, PECO will pick up and recycle older, working refrigerators and freezers for free and pay customers $35. Also, while there, PECO will pick up older working window air conditioners and pay customers $25.
In addition to the immediate savings, customers are expected to save about $150 each year on their energy bills. PECO Smart Appliance Recycling is part of PECO Smart Ideas – a full suite of programs to help customers save energy and money.
Department of Environment Secretary John Hanger, state Public Utility Commission Chairman James H. Cawley, and executives from PECO, FirstEnergy and PPL Electric Utilities attended the ceremony at 2705 Clemens Road in Hatfield. All three utilities contract with JACO to run their programs to recycle old, inefficient refrigerators, freezers and room air conditioners.
“PECO is proud to be part of this historic effort to help customers save money and energy,” said Romulo L. Diaz, Jr., vice president Governmental and Regulatory Affairs for PECO. “The PECO Smart Appliance Recycling program is just one part of our full suite of programs to help customers understand how they use energy, save energy and, most importantly, save money.”
“PPL Electric Utilities is proud to be part of this historic effort to help customers save money and energy and refocus attention on the benefits of energy efficiency,” said Bob Geneczko, vice president of Customer Services for PPL Electric Utilities.
“Since PPL Electric Utilities’ program started in early November, more than 4,200 units have either been recycled or scheduled for pickup,” he said. “That’s an amazing testament to the interest in using energy more wisely, which has the added benefit of being good for the environment.”
Refrigerators and freezers made before 1990 use three times more electricity than newer appliances. About 95 percent of each unit is environmentally recycled by JACO, including metals, plastic, oils and the foam insulation.
“Old refrigerators contain substances such as mercury, oil and ozone-eating CFCs. As a result, they pose a significant threat to the environment when improperly discarded,” said Michael Dunham, JACO’s director of Energy and Environmental Programs. “This new program helps save energy and the planet.”
PECO Smart Appliance Recycling is part of PECO Smart Ideas, a full suite of programs to help customer save energy and money. The programs are part of the company’s support of Pennsylvania’s energy efficiency and demand response targets – Act 129.
Act 129 requires all state electric utilities to develop programs to help customers reduce energy use by 1 percent by May 31, 2011 and 3 percent by May 31, 2013. Utilities also must reduce energy demand during the 100 highest-use hours of the year by 4.5 percent by May 31, 2013. The programs cost residential customers about $1.50 additional on their monthly energy bills. To learn more about all the programs visit
To learn more, visit the PECO Smart Ideas webpage. PPL customers interested in recycling their kilowatt-hungry refrigerators, freezers or air conditioners can call 1-877-270-3522 or visit the PPL appliance recycling webpage.
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3/15/2010 |
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