FAQs
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Contact Utilities to schedule an appointment to recycle your old refrigerator and/or freezer.
All Utilities electric customers can recycle a qualifying refrigerator/freezer.
No, but if you do, look for the ENERGY STAR® label to lower your electric bills.
No. The program reduces electricity use by disposing of older refrigerators and freezers that are now in use. Contact the Larimer County Landfill for information on safely disposing of non-working appliances.
A pre-1989 refrigerator uses up to four times the electricity of a new refrigerator. Federal standards for refrigerator and freezer efficiency changed in 1989, 1993, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2011. Each time the standard changes, appliances become more efficient.
Old refrigerators and freezers use a lot of electricity. With a newer model, you'll lower your electric bill and Utilities won't have to purchase as much electricity for that appliance, which reduces emissions from fossil-fuel electricity production.
The Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling Program is part of a broad effort to reduce electrical energy consumption 10% by 2012 and peak electrical demand 15% by 2012 in the Utilities service area. See the City's Energy Policy (PDF 63KB) for details.
The recycling process de-manufactures the appliance, recovering about 98% of materials. The program recovers the primary refrigerant, recycles non-hazardous materials (such as metal, plastic, glass and oil), and destroys hazardous materials (such as mercury and PCBs) and ozone-depleting CFC-11 contained in the foam insulation.
