Nine Utilities Join EPA in Responsible Appliance Disposal
Each year Americans dispose of some 13 million older refrigerators and freezers, many of which contain chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs, that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and nine utilities have launched a Responsible Appliance Disposal program to promote environmentally sound disposal of these household appliances, which the agency says will reduce emissions as well as save consumers money.
Refrigerators and freezers manufactured before 1995 contain chlorofluorocarbons that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to greenhouse gases. In addition, about 23 million U.S. households have older secondary units in their basements or garages.
The new partnership will help utility companies encourage the retirement and proper disposal of these older units while ensuring that CFCs, both in the insulation foam and in the refrigerant, are captured and destroyed or recycled.
The new partners are Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, PacifiCorp, Nevada Power/Sierra Pacific Power, the Snohomish Public Utility District, Fort Collins Utilities, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Austin Energy, and San Diego Gas and Electric.
Program partners will provide the EPA with data on the quantity of CFCs recovered and destroyed or recycled. The program also will promote the recovery and proper disposal of PCBs, mercury, and used oil contained in the appliances.
Older household refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers consume three to four times more energy than newer units. These older appliances rely on refrigerants and foam blowing agents, used in the insulation foam within the cabinet walls, that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global climate change if emitted to the atmosphere.
Newer refrigerators and freezers contain different refrigerants and foam blowing agents that are less harmful to the ozone layer, but are still potent greenhouse gases.
Federal law requires that when handling household appliances at the end of their useful lives, all refrigerant be recovered prior to dismantling or disposal and mercury, used oil, and PCBs be properly managed and stored.
To date, says the EPA, more than 45 utilities across the country have implemented appliance disposal programs, 15 of which are still ongoing. These programs target the removal and safe disposal of old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers by offering appliance owners a financial incentive of $35 for the collection of their old units, and/or by providing rebates toward the purchase of a new unit that has earned the federal Energy Star label for superior efficiency.