Ameren recycles 30,000th refrigerator

An energy efficiency milestone was achieved when the Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy Refrigerator Recycling Program collected the 30,000th refrigerator/freezer unit for recycling.

The milestone refrigerator was picked up at the home of Jane Haslem in Quincy. The Quincy customer will receive $50 from ActOnEnergy. Furthermore, she will save $150 or more annually in electricity bills by retiring her Energy Hog refrigerator.

The recycling of the 30,000 refrigerators and freezers prevented 7,800 tons of metal and other waste from ending up in landfills. Ameren Illinois now pays an electric customer $50 for any standard size refrigerator or freezer. The appliance must be plugged in and operating at the time it is picked up for recycling. Customers are not required to replace the unit.

Nonprofits also can earn extra green while helping make Illinois greener by joining the new Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy Refrigerator Recycling Referrals program.

When an Ameren Illinois residential electricity customer recycles a spare refrigerator or freezer through the ActOnEnergy program, the participating nonprofit organization of the customer’s choice will receive $10.