Pull the Plug…and then what?
By Christie Remley, Manager of Communications & Public Relations
Many MVEC members participate in the
Pull the Plug appliance recycling program each year. But have you ever wondered what happens to your old appliances once they are picked up? MVEC partners with CLEAResult to pick up and recycle members’ old appliances. Energy Advisor Al Reiter and I recently toured CLEAResult’s recycling facility in Marion, Iowa, to learn more about their process.
The Pull the Plug program includes window air conditioners, refrigerators, and chest freezers. The fridges and freezers must be standard size, between 10 and 30 cubic feet. All appliances must be in working and cooling condition. An MVEC member initiates the process with CLEAResult by calling to schedule a pickup (855-838-7817) or using our new online request form found at mvec.coop/appliance-recycling-form. CLEAResult will then schedule a pickup date with the member. Typically, most appliances are picked up in one to two weeks.
When the driver arrives to collect the item, please make sure there is a clear path and have the appliance clean and emptied of contents. They will confirm the member’s MVEC account information, provide them with a check (yes, that’s right-we pay members to recycle their appliances!) and load up the appliance at no cost to the member. Why does MVEC offer the Pull the Plug program? Primarily, it is an incentive for members to remove inefficient appliances from the electric grid in favor of newer, more efficient appliances.
But, what happens after they have hauled the appliance away?
This is where the second benefit of the Pull the Plug program comes in. MVEC member appliances are taken to CLEAResult’s Marion recycling facility. No appliances are refurbished or re-sold. All are recycled. The team at CLEAResult goes about the task of tearing apart and demanufacturing each appliance according to all state and federal regulations. All hazardous materials such as refrigerant, capacitors and mercury switches are removed, and materials are sorted out. For example, with refrigerators, CLEAResult removes ½ pound of refrigerant from each fridge which takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to complete. They then remove the doors, recycle any glass shelving, remove compressors and mercury switches.
CLEAResult then ships all the usable metals and components to local scrap or materials vendors to be turned into new items. Hazardous materials are collected and shipped to an approved EPA waste facility to be properly disposed of.
While the work is not glamorous, it is worthwhile. The facility has three lines and various stations where the team can decommission up to three refrigerators at a time.
Calvin Ehlts, Plant Manager, CLEAResult, estimates that it takes about an hour per appliance to decommission (including pickup time). “We have a defined process that we go through where each appliance has a de-manufacturing mark, which is tied to a specific CLEAResult technician, and that is registered with the state. We take our work seriously and are proud to do our part to help protect our environment.”
We can attest to the volume of appliances that CLEAResult recycles. On our tour, we saw a mammoth 40,000-pound bail of crushed decommissioned appliances.
MVEC’s Pull the Plug program is a win for members and a win for the environment!