TULSA, Okla., May 31, 2011 – Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) is teaming up with the city of Tulsa and the Metropolitan Environmental Trust (the M.e.t.) to offer Tulsans a way to earn cash for getting rid of their old, energy-wasting refrigerators and freezers.

The Cool Cash Program will allow residential customers in Tulsa who sign up to place working refrigerators (or freezers) at the curb for pickup by the City, and in return they’ll receive a $25.00 rebate from PSO.

The program begins Wednesday, June 1, 2011 and will run through Wednesday, August 31, 2011, or until funding is depleted. Each unit collected during the program will be recycled.

"We know a lot of people have a refrigerator or freezer in their garage that they keep around just for beverages or to store a little meat and, oftentimes, these are older units that are not very energy efficient," said Kathy Champion, manager of Consumer Programs at PSO. "This program gives people a chance to get rid of those old energy wasters, save on their electric bill AND get paid for helping the environment."

Under the program, working refrigerators and freezers of at least 7.75 interior cubic feet in size (no "dorm room" style mini-fridges) can be scheduled for pickup by calling the City of Tulsa at 918-596-9777. The first 800 eligible participants to sign up will receive the $25 rebate.

"The city of Tulsa looks for ways to provide solid waste solutions to our customers," said Eric Lee, Solid Waste Customer Service manager. "We are pleased to partner with PSO and the M.e.t. and to promote the bulky waste collection program as an avenue for recycling underutilized refrigerators and freezers."

Each unit collected during the Cool Cash refrigerator recycling and rebate program will disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, with the refrigerant

extracted for re-use and with the metal to be crushed, melted down and used to make other products. The M.e.t. is coordinating the recycling portion of the program.

"What we try to do is help find environmental solutions through partnerships," said Michael Patton, executive director of the M.e.t. "With the City taking care of the collections, PSO handling the rebates and the M.e.t. coordinating the recycling, we’ve come together to develop a program that is well-planned – AND one that offers significant benefits for those who participate as well as for our environment."

Refrigerator recycling facts:

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the typical refrigerator manufactured prior to 1995 contains 140 pounds of metal, 20 pounds of glass and three pounds of plastic that could be recycled. Refrigerators and freezers made prior to 1995 typically contain 0.5 pounds of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-12) refrigerant that can be safety removed and recycled.