MARION, Iowa – Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy Company held an open house last week to showcase the Conservation Services Group/JACO Environmental appliance recycling facility in Marion, Iowa. The 30,000-square-foot facility implements the latest technology to meet the demands of appliance recycling programs in Iowa.
Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy offer appliance recycling programs to their customers. Designed to encourage Iowa residents to get rid of old, inefficient appliances, the programs offer a $25 rebate and complementary appliance removal to customers who recycle qualified window air conditioners. Customers receive a $50 rebate for every refrigerator or freezer recycled.
“Keeping an older refrigerator or freezer in the garage may seem convenient, but it can consume up to two to three times more energy than newer units and cost up to $100 more a year to operate,” said Rick Leuthauser, manager, energy efficiency, MidAmerican Energy. “Customers can lower their monthly utility bills and reduce their carbon footprint by recycling older or secondary home appliances.”
Qualified refrigerators and freezers must be in working order, clean and empty, with an inside measurement of between 10 to 30 cubic feet. Following pickup, the appliances will be properly disposed of at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved facility in Marion.
“In addition to saving money on energy bills, our appliance recycling programs provide a convenient way for customers to dispose of their outdated appliances,” said Jeanine Penticoff, director of energy efficiency, account management and economic development, Alliant Energy. “Since these popular programs began more 13 years ago, customers from both utilities have recycled more than 90,000 appliances.”
Semi-robotic technology safely disassembles outdated, energy-wasting refrigerators, freezers and window air conditioning units, returning approximately 95 percent of appliance components to the manufacturing stream.”
To schedule a pickup or learn more about the program, customers should contact their electric provider. Alliant Energy customers should call 1-866-ALLIANT (866-255-4268). MidAmerican Energy customers should call 1-800-621-2757.
