3 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

(From an older article)-

"General Electric, Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA) and the EPA have teamed up to modify ARCA Advanced Processing’s (AAP) regional recycling center in Philadelphia and shrink the footprint of appliance recycling.

In addition to scrap metals, the AAP recycling center can now salvage almost all plastics from recycled refrigerators, thanks to the addition of a cutting-edge UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT) system.

By using URT – a technology developed in Germany and successfully utilized in Europe, South America

and Asia – recyclers can reduce the typical landfill waste of a refrigerator by approximately 85 percent by weight.

But the system goes beyond reducing plastic waste. It also dramatically reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) and ozone-depleting substance (ODS) emissions.

The modified plant is a partner with the EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal(RAD) program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with appliance disposal.

The plant, which is the first URT system to operate in North America and the largest URT facility in the world,

is expected to recycle more than 150,000 refrigerators and 750,000 other appliances in its first year alone.

The plant will accept appliances from 12 states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, thanks in part to a partnership with Home Depot – which will send all the old appliances it removes from homes to the plant for recycling."

http://earth911.com/...ance-recycling/

http://www.geapplian...ator-recycling/

[mariaandrea]

Wow. That's impressive. Now if only they would expand the program toward the west. At the very least, here in Seattle and Western Washington we're very receptive to recycling - already have many really great programs - but that's something I'd love to see as well. I remember hiking in the woods as a kid and running across old refrigerators and appliances. Not so much any more, but then, they didn't used to take away old appliances when they delivered new ones, like they do now.

[zararina]

Maybe consumers can expect that those recycled appliances are much affordable. Better if those are also made "greener" compared to the old products. Its a great program/initiative and lot more companies/manufacturers can follow this program since it can greatly reduce waste.

[Grandma Hugme]

This is a strange question, but have you seen on YouTube where someone converted an old refrigerator into a root cellar?  They took out all the mechanics and tubing and then drilled holes in the bottom so any condensation could exit.  The holes were covered with fine screening to prevent bugs getting in. They wrapped the frig with a tarp to help prevent rust. They also drilled a hole connected to a tube going up to get air (with a hood) so air could circulate inside. They dug a small cave to fit the refrigerator into and then the space between the frig and earth was filled in with dirt after connecting the outside air pipe.

The mechanical parts and tubing that were removed would be the only things that need to be recycled cautiously.  The plastic lining remains in the frig so does not go to a landfill.  Since we are looking at the loss of our power grid after a hurricane or worse, and also growing more of our own food in organic gardens, having a root cellar to store food in seems logical.

Grandma Hugme
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