ApplianceSmart Factory Outlet and Appliance Recycling Centers of America Gearing Up for Minnesota Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- ApplianceSmart Factory Outlet and Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA) are gearing up for the Minnesota Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program, which kicks off on Monday, March 1.

Through the Minnesota Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program, which is being funded by more than $5 million in federal stimulus money, consumers can reserve a rebate application to receive up to $200 for purchasing a qualifying ENERGY STAR® refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher or clothes washer from a Minnesota retailer.

Operating old, energy inefficient appliances can add a significant amount to monthly energy bills. Refrigerators manufactured before 1993, for example, typically use two to four times more electricity than newer ENERGY STAR® models and can cost their owners $150 to $225 per unit annually in excess energy costs.

Brad Bremer, Vice President of Retail Operations for ApplianceSmart, a subsidiary of ARCA, said: "Consumers are really excited about the Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program, and we are encouraging people to visit the state's website at www.mnappliancerebate.com or calling 877-230-9119 early on March 1 to reserve their rebate before funds are depleted. We have been receiving a tremendous number of calls asking when the program will begin and how people can participate.

"ApplianceSmart is offering an additional in-store instant rebate of 15% on all models that qualify for the Minnesota Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program. To meet increased consumer demand, we have boosted our inventory of ENERGY STAR® washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers at our seven Minnesota factory outlets. Because all of our appliances are available to take home immediately, we are expecting a sharp increase in store traffic from consumers who need their new appliance the same day they buy. We have enhanced our website (www.ApplianceSmart.com) to include program information, and our sales team is prepared to answer questions and assist customers in completing their rebate forms. Through ARCA, the recycling segment of our business, we also provide recycling services that can earn consumers an additional rebate for recycling an old refrigerator or freezer."  

While Minnesota consumers can receive rebates of $200 for clothes washers, $150 for dishwashers, $50 for freezers, and $100 for refrigerators for the purchase of qualifying ENERGY STAR® units, providing proof that a replaced refrigerator or freezer has been recycled earns an additional rebate of $50 for freezers and $100 for refrigerators. ARCA is a premier international provider of environmentally sound appliance recycling services, which ApplianceSmart offers at no charge to its customers when a new unit is purchased.

Consumers may also be able to collect an extra financial incentive if their utility offers an energy efficiency appliance recycling program. For example, combining rebates offered through the state with a utility-provided incentive may earn a consumer up to $250 for purchasing a new refrigerator and recycling an old one, if their utility program permits. Minnesota utilities that sponsor appliance recycling programs for their customers may offer additional incentives for the permanent removal of an operating refrigerator or freezer from the grid. ARCA currently provides services for programs sponsored by Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power, Minnesota Power, Aitkin Public Utilities, Mt. Iron Public Utilities, and Two Harbors Electric Department. Some restrictions apply to these programs; details can be found at www.arcaincutility.com.

Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, President of ARCA, commented: "We are pleased to be able to support the Minnesota Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program through both our retail and recycling operations. ARCA's recycling services are fully compliant with the EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program, which promotes the highest level of environmental protection in the disposal of old refrigeration appliances. Through our processes and systems, less than 5% of every refrigerator we recycle enters the landfill."

The Minnesota Department of Commerce's Office of Energy Security (OES), the state agency responsible for administering the Trade-in & Save Program, estimates that more than 25,000 Minnesota households will receive rebates through the program. The Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is expected to save more than 2.2 million kilowatt hours in energy, almost 44 million gallons of water and more than 4.7 million pounds of carbon annually.

About ARCA

ARCA (www.arcainc.com) is one of the nation's largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities. The Company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. Through its ApplianceSmart operation (www.appliancesmart.com), ARCA also is one of the nation's leading retailers of special-buy household appliances, primarily those manufactured by Maytag, GE, Frigidaire and Whirlpool. Special-buy appliances, which include close-outs and factory overruns, typically are not integrated into the manufacturer's normal distribution channel. ApplianceSmart sells these new appliances at a discount to full retail, offers a 100% money-back guarantee and provides warranties on parts and labor. As of February 2010, ApplianceSmart was operating 19 factory outlets: six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; one in Rochester, Minn., market, four in the Columbus, Ohio, market; six in the Atlanta market; and two in San Antonio, Texas.

SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America