The EPA Refrigerant Recovery Rule
Under EPA Section 608, refrigerants (including older R-12 Freon and modern R-134a and R-410A) must be recovered by an EPA-certified technician before a refrigerator is scrapped. This applies to any unit larger than 5 pounds of refrigerant — which includes virtually all household refrigerators.
It is illegal for any company to crush, shred, or scrap a refrigerator without first recovering the refrigerant. Any junk removal company that hauls refrigerators should hold EPA 608 certification or contract with a certified recovery service.
Xcel Energy Appliance Recycling Program
Xcel Energy's Colorado appliance-recycling program currently offers a $50 utility rebate for an eligible working refrigerator or freezer collected at no charge. The customer must be a Colorado residential electric customer and own the unit; the program allows up to four working units per household per program year.
A window or room air conditioner may be collected with a qualifying refrigerator or freezer, but Xcel does not offer an additional rebate for the AC. The current program does not list dehumidifiers as eligible appliances. Check Xcel's program page for eligibility and scheduling.
Other Recycling Options
- ▸ENERGY STAR Retail Take-Back: When purchasing a new refrigerator, many retailers (Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's) offer haul-away of the old unit for free or a small fee.
- ▸Scrap metal yards: Will accept refrigerators after refrigerant has been professionally recovered — do not take a unit with refrigerant to a scrap yard without prior recovery.
- ▸Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Accepts working refrigerators that are less than 10 years old. Free pickup available in some areas.
What Troops Junk Removal Does
All refrigerator and freezer removals go to a Denver-area recycling partner that handles refrigerant recovery before the units are recycled for scrap metal. Troops handles hauling, not refrigerant recovery.
We haul refrigerators from kitchens, garages, and storage units across the Front Range. Text us a photo and we'll give you a flat-rate quote within the hour.