Energy Smart

Refrigerator Recycling Program

MEAN, in partnership with its long-term wholesale power electric utilities in Nebraska, created its ENERGYsmart Recycling Program, which pays residents $35 to recycle old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers.

The program is partially funded by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Grant Program. This rebate program is available to residential customers of MEAN long-term wholesale utilities in Nebraska.

Recycling older, inefficient refrigerators accomplishes multiple benefits:
• Reduces electricity usage by removing inefficient and underused appliances from the electrical distribution grid. Homeowners can save about $125 per year per refrigerator on electric bills, according to recycling company JACO Environmental.
• Eliminates toxic materials such as mercury and PCBs from older capacitors in an environmentally responsible way; and
• Recycles metals, plastics and other usable materials.

The program makes it easy for residents to get rid of old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers no longer being fully used. All it takes is a phone call for residents. The old unit is hauled away and the customer is rewarded with $35.

Residents may call JACO Environmental toll-free (1-866-444-9160) or visit www.jacoinc.net to schedule a free pickup.

To have a refrigerator/freezer qualify for recycling, it must be a working appliance. The program is available only to residential customers and while funds last. A $35 incentive will be paid for up to two refrigerators/freezers per household.

For program details, go to www.jacoinc.net or contact your local utility.

*NOTE: A downloadable brochure and poster are available on the right side of this page.

List of Nebraska municipal utilities in the program.