Cool Recycling: Refrigerants Away in Warwick
Sustainable Warwick will collect appliances containing refrigerants to recycle as part of Operation Clean Sweep.
By Michael Helme
As part of Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Operation Clean Sweep, Sustainable Warwick will be collecting refrigerant-containing appliances so then ca be properly recycled. This service is available to everyone in the Warwick Valley, and it covers items such as window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water coolers, mini-fridges and canisters of refrigerants. We’ll also accept full-size refrigerators, but only at the drop-off events by Warwick DPW. This year Hudson Technologies, one of the largest refrigerant reclaimers in the United States, will perform the refrigerant recovery work on a pro bono basis.
When and Where: Drop-off events will be held at the following locations and times:
Monday, April 22, 3-7 PM Warwick DPW
63 Public Works Rd, Warwick
Thursday, April 25, 4-6:30 PM Florida Village Barn on
Maple Ave in Florida
Saturday, April 27, 9 AM to Noon Warwick DPW
63 Public Works Rd, Warwick
Saturday, April 27, 1-4 PM Greenwood Lake Village DPW
70 Elm St, Greenwood Lake
Residents and businesses may bring appliances to the drop-off events during these scheduled times. (Please do not leave appliances there at any other time.) We charge no fees for this service but will gladly accept donations. Throughout the rest of the year, Orange County residents can take appliances to one of the County Transfer Stations and pay $15/appliance for proper recycling. We hope everyone will take advantage of the convenient drop-off at no cost during the Coolest Recycling Drive.
For residents who cannot deliver their appliance to one of the drop-off events, especially senior citizens, efforts will be made to schedule a home pickup visit. Email us (CleanEnergy@sustainablewarwick.org) or visit the Sustainable Warwick website to register for a pickup (sustainablewarwick.org/coolest-recycling).
Why: The chemicals used as refrigerants are thousands of times more powerful as greenhouse gases than CO2. For example, if 2.5 pounds of R410A is released to the atmosphere, they will act like 11,000 pounds of CO2, or roughly the same emissions of driving the average car for a full year. A single air conditioner can hold a couple pounds or more of R410A, so we want to help everyone properly recycle their refrigerant-containing appliances. The 2023 Coolest Recycling Drive prevented the equivalent emissions of 500,000 pounds of CO2, and we are looking forward to the 2024 Drive being even cooler!
Other residents of Orange County are also welcome to take refrigerant-containing appliances to a drop-off event held from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, April 20th at Chester Town Hall, 1786 Kings Highway, Chester, NY 10918. This event is a collaboration between the Chester Conservation Advisory Council and Sustainable Warwick.
Please email questions about the Coolest Recycling Drive to Michael Helme (CleanEnergy@sustainablewarwick.org).
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