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Article published September 1, 2010
Recycling center opens in Marshall New facility breaks down old appliances
MARSHALL TWP, Allegheny County — An appliance recycling facility recently opened in the RIDC Thorn Hill Industrial Park, offering help to residents who want to dispose of their old appliances. The new Jaco Environmental Warrendale Recycling Center is a partnership with three of the largest electric utility companies in Western Pennsylvania: Allegheny Power, First Energy and Duquesne Light A dedication ceremony for the facility at 166 Thorn Hill Road was held Aug. 25. It employs 20 people. The goal of the three electric companies is to collect 20,000 outdated refrigerators and freezers from homes by May to help meet energy-saving goals set by the state. The recycling program gives customers of Allegheny Power, First Energy and Duquesne Light an opportunity to dispose of their old working refrigerators and receive a rebate. Since the companies began the rebate program this year, more than 10,500 refrigerator units have either been collected or are scheduled to be. This facility will be Seattle-based Jaco Environmental's second recycling operation in the state. The other is in Hatfield, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. The company has 21 facilities across the United States. Michael Dunham, Jaco's director of energy and environment programs, described the plant's operation as "demanufacturing" because it mirrors the manufacturing process of the refrigerators. The demanufacturing recycles 95 percent of the components of each appliance. The other 5 percent is composed of hazardous chemicals. Those parts, along with insulation and rubber products, are properly disposed, he said. Ty Christy, vice chairman of the state Public Utilities Commission who was at the opening, said the state's goal is to reduce the peak energy demand by 4.5 percent by 2013, which he said will be no small task. By replacing old refrigerators that use three to four times as much energy as new ones, people can save $150 per year in energy costs. In five years, they can pay for the cost of a new refrigerator through the energy savings. Dunham demonstrated the demanufacturing process. The coolants and oils are drained for disposal while the metals, polyurethane foam insulation, metal, plastic and glass are separated and recycled. Some of the products made from the recycled materials include nails, plastics in computer and cell phone covers, glass in concrete mixtures, and metal products such as aluminum cans and rebar. The average time to demanufacture one refrigerator is about 20 minutes. The facility can process about 100 refrigerators per day, according to Dunham. Utility customers who replace their 10- to 30-cubic-foot refrigerators and freezers with energy-efficient units can have old appliances picked up by Jaco employees and receive a $35 rebate for recycling. For information and to schedule a pickup, call 877-270-3521 or the customer can visit his utility company's website.
