American Electric Power Opens Ohio E-Waste Recycling Plant

American Electric Power (AEP) has opened a new recycling facility in Groveport, Ohio, in partnership with JACO Environmental, which will operate the plant.

With the opening of the facility AEP Ohio, the Gahanna-based unit of AEP, is offering customers $60 through August when they recycle their old refrigerators and freezers through its appliance recycling program, according to a news release. The program, which offers free home pickup of working refrigerators and freezers for utility customers, has recycled 72,000 refrigerators and freezers since it launched in 2009. Units are transported to the new recycling facility.

Mill Creek, Wash.-based JACO safely removes hazardous waste materials from the old appliances, reclaiming 95 percent of the materials in the appliance for reuse in new products.

“This new recycling facility not only increases our ability to keep up with demand, but it demonstrates our dedication to Ohio’s energy efficiency efforts,” said Deanna Gilliland, AEP Ohio program manager.

Appliances to be recycled must be in working order and have inside measurements between 10 and 30 cubic feet. Customers are limited to two units per household.