I’ve had an old second fridge in the garage for a long time now, and I’ve been meaning to try out the Fridge BuyBack scheme to get rid of it. It’s extremely energy-inefficient.
If your fridge meets the requirements (over 10 years old, over 250 litres, working second fridge) and you have less than 6 steps to get the fridge out of your house, the scheme will pick it up, recycle the gas and parts properly, and pay you $35. Nice!
The idea is that old, inefficient fridges can be permanently taken out of use to reduce electricity consumption. The gases can be safely removed, and the rest of the fridge can be properly recycled so it doesn’t end up in landfill.
Because I was going to be home from work yesterday, we booked the pick it for then. Two blokes and a truck arrived about 8:30am, collected the paperwork and heaved the fridge into the back. They were really friendly and efficient – the whole thing only took about 5 minutes!
The cheque should arrive within two weeks.
Now $35 might not sound like much, but to me I just swapped a crappy old space-hogging fridge for a new fruit tree. I didn’t even have to help move the fridge. That’s a swap I’d take anyday!
If you live within the Fridge BuyBack scheme service area, give them a call.
Edwin (Little Handy Tips)
Good stuff Darren.
Saving the environment by recycling the fridge and also getting some cash in your pocket too. It’s a great scheme and I think they were advertising it a little some time ago, but not you never hear about it anymore. Good to know that the scheme is still around.
Also I wonder what’s behind the 6 steps rule? If it was 5, I can understand that it could just be a random number they picked. But 6 seems like they worked it out from somewhere…
amanda delaforce
Dear Darren,
I work for fridge Buyback and unfortunately we can only pick WORKING SECOND fridges this is because the program is supported by the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund and is designed to save power by removing a fridge from circulation not by replacing it.
It is a great program so ring us on 1800 708 401 0r look at our website http://www.fridgebuyback.com.au.
Darren
@Amanda: Thanks for dropping by. I’ve updated the info in the post to make it clear that it needs to be a working second fridge. As always, readers are encouraged to visit the linked site for full details of the scheme.