2010 Media Releases
500 Willoughby Residents Give up Their Beer Fridges
16 April 2010
Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly announced today that the popular Fridge Buyback program has collected more than 500 fridges from the Willoughby local government area. The program provides a rebate for residents to get rid of their old energy-guzzling second fridges.
“More than 500 Willoughby residents have already participated in the Fridge Buyback program. This is a fantastic community response and highlights the growing awareness of both rising energy costs and greenhouse gas issues,” said Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly.
“Collecting these 500 fridges represents an estimated saving of more than 4 000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and will collectively reduce our residents’ power bills by $100 000 each year. If all Willoughby residents got rid of their second fridges, together we could save more than one million dollars each year,” he said.
Households that have been using two fridges can have their old, working second fridges collected. For more information, or to make a booking, residents can phone 1800 708 401 or visit the Fridge Buyback website at www.fridgebuyback.com.au . The fridges collected are professionally degassed and the metals are recycled.
Old fridges are one of the biggest energy users in the home, costing residents an average of $210 each year to operate. Their use also results in one tonne of greenhouse gases being released every year.
Fridge Buyback is targeting the big, old, energy-guzzling fridges in people’s garages, laundries and workshops. They must be working second fridges that have been in regular use, should be 250 litres or more in size and at least ten years old.
Fridge Buyback provides residents with free collection by professional removalists and a $35 rebate if the removal of the fridge involves six steps or less. The fridge is collected for free if there are between seven and 20 steps but no rebate is available. A fee will apply only if the property has more than 20 steps.
Fridge Buyback is supported by the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund and is part of the NSW Climate Change Fund rebates.
For more information, phone Willoughby City Council on 9777 1000.
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Media Contact
Media and Marketing Group Manager
Phone: 9777 7703
Mobile: 0421 492 757
Email: rebecca.hill@willoughby.nsw.gov.au