How to Get Cash for Old Appliances? Everything You Need to Know

Roughly 9 million refrigerators end up in the landfill every year. That is 9 million too many! What if we mentioned if you are a lucky individual in the below states that you could make a quick $20 to $50 for your old refrigerator?

You didn’t read that wrong. There is 11 cities and states in the United States that will pay you $20 to $50 for your old refrigerator. Here’s everything you’ll need to know about who buys old appliances and how you can get paid for yours.

What States Give You Money for Old Fridge?

As I previously stated there are 11 cities and states that will give you money for your old fridge. These states include the following:

• Missouri
• Illinois
• Wisconsin
• Michigan
• New Mexico
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Kentucky
• New York City
• Fort Collins, Colorado
• Long Island

How Does Refrigerator Recycling for Cash Work?

Of course, all you care about is how you can turn in your old fridge and collect your hard-earned money, but let’s stop for a second and talk about how this works and how it came to be.

What you will soon find out that these places that pay you for your fridges and even freezers are power companies typically. Yes, we said it, power companies. They are looking to collect your old freezers and refrigerators.

Before we dive into how this works for each state, I want to remind you, if you do not see your state listed. It does not mean you are out of luck. You can contact your power company and see if they have an appliance recycling program that rewards people like you for recycling your fridge and freezers.

How to Get Cash for Old Appliances by State

Each state does things a little bit different. But without further ado, here’s the list you’ve been waiting for.

Fort Collins, Colorado

It pays to get rid of your old freezer or fridge, if you are in the Fort Collins area. Within the past 20 years, many old appliances have been upgraded to a more energy efficient model. The older models end up taking up more energy and in return costing you, your precious money.

The ARCA Recycling is where you will need to contact to get the ball rolling on this project. They will come to pick up your old freezer or fridge. They will then mail you a check of $35 within six weeks after picking up your old appliance.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You will receive $35 per each qualifying freezer and refrigerator.
• Must have an account with Fort Collins Utilities.
• Must own the freezer or fridge in question. You cannot rent.
• The fridge and freezer must be standard household size. Which means it must be at least 10-30 cubic feet.
• Must be in working order.
• Must be cleaned and emptied prior to pick up.
• Must have waterline disconnected.
• Only 2 fridge and/or freezers will be accepted per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call ARCA at 1-888-646-1657.

Illinois

Are you a customer of Ameren? You’ll love to know that Ameren will pay you $50 and haul off your old refrigerator or freezer at no cost to you.

After pickup, you will be mailed a check of $50 within six weeks.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be an Illinois Ameren Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (10-27 cubic feet).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Your freezer or fridge must be plugged in to verify it is in working condition.
• You must have an adult in the house when pickup is initiated.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call Ameren at 1-844-379-0047.

Indiana

If you have Vectren Electric, you can earn $50 for your old working fridge or freezer.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be a Vectren Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (10-30 cubic feet).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Fridge and freezers must be electric and not gas.
• You must have an adult in the house when pickup is initiated.
• Only 2 fridge and/or freezers will be accepted per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call Vectren Electric at 1-888-277-0526.

Kentucky

If you reside in the state of Kentucky and have PPL as your electric company, you too can make some money off your old energy-hogging fridge and freezers. PPL will pay you $30 and haul the appliance away.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be a PPL Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (7.75 cubic feet and up).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Only 2 fridge and/or freezers will be accepted per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online in your PPL Electric account or you can call PPL Electric at 1-800-356-5467.

Long Island

If you reside in Long Island and have PSEG as your electric company, you too can make some money off your old energy-hogging fridge and freezers. PSEG will pay you $50 and haul the appliance away within 4 weeks after picking up. You can even be eligible for a $35 online voucher for qualifying units.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be a PSEG Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be picked up at the address you have on file with PSEG.
• Your freezer or fridge must be manufactured before 2010.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (10-30 cubic feet and up).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Your freezer or fridge must be plugged in.
• Your freezer or fridge cannot be a sub-zero model.
• Only 3 fridge and/or freezers will be accepted per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call PSEG Electric at 1-866-761-2722.

Michigan

Unlike the other states, Michigan still participates in the recycling of appliances. However, instead of only one electric company participating, there are many electric companies that are on board with this program.

These companies include the following:

• Alpena Power Company
• Baraga Electric Utility
• Bayfield Electric Cooperative
• The City of Crystal Falls
• The City of Dowagiac
• The City of Gladstone Department of Power & Light
• The City of Harbor Springs Electric
• Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities
• L’Anse Electric Utility
• Michigan Gas Utilities
• The City of Negaunee Electric Department
• The City of Norway Department of Power & Light
• SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company
• UMERC – We Energies Service Area
• UMERC – WPS Service Area
• UMERC (Gas Customer) – WPS Service Area
• Upper Peninsula Power Company
• Xcel Energy
• Xcel Energy (Gas Customer)

This program is thanks to Efficiency United. They will pay you $50 rebate for your old fridge and freezers.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• Must be a customer of one of the above electric companies.
• Can only send in 2 of each type of appliance per year.
• Must be in working order.

You can schedule your pickup online.

Missouri

Are you a customer of Ameren? You’ll love to know that Ameren will pay you $25 and haul off your old refrigerator or freezer at no cost to you.

After pickup, you will be mailed a check of $25 within 8 weeks.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be an Illinois Ameren Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Your freezer or fridge must be plugged in to verify it is in working condition.
• You must have an adult in the house when pickup is initiated.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call Ameren at 877-215-5752.

New Mexico

Are you a customer of PNM? You’ll love to know that PNM will pay you $50 and haul off your old refrigerator or freezer at no cost to you.

After pickup, you will be mailed a check of $50 within 4-8 weeks.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be a PMN Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (10-30 cubic feet and up).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Your freezer or fridge must be plugged in to verify it is in working condition.
• You must have an adult in the house when pickup is initiated.
• Can only send in 2 of each type of appliance per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call Ameren at 877-838-1139.

New York City

In New York City it is a little bit different than the other states. Here you will need to be a property manager or own a multifamily building.

You will need to have a minimum of 20 fridges, and you will get $60 each.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• Must be a property manager or own a multifamily building
• Minimum of 20 fridges

You can schedule your pickup online.

Ohio

Like Indiana, if you have Vectren Electric, you can earn $50 for your old working fridge or freezer.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be a Vectren Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (10-30 cubic feet).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• Fridge and freezers must be electric and not gas.
• You must have an adult in the house when pickup is initiated.
• Only 2 fridge and/or freezers will be accepted per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call Vectren Electric at 1-888-277-0526.

Wisconsin

Are you a customer of Focus on Energy? You’ll love to know that Focus on Energy will pay you $50 and haul off your old refrigerator or freezer at no cost to you.

After pickup, you will be mailed a check of $20 within 4-6 weeks.

Program Requirements

The program has some minor requirements you must meet. They are the following:

• You must be a Focus on Energy Electric customer.
• Your freezer or fridge must be in working order.
• Your freezer or fridge must also be full-size (10-30 cubic feet).
• Your freezer or fridge must be empty and cleaned.
• You must have an adult in the house when pickup is initiated.
• Only 2 fridge and/or freezers will be accepted per year.

You can either schedule a pick up online or you can call Vectren Electric at 1-800-354-1898.

Read More: Stop Spinning Your Wheels: 3 Easy Ways to Recycle Old Tires for Cash

My City or State is NOT on the List? Can I Not Make Money?

Not entirely. If you don’t see your state or city on the list that doesn’t mean you are out of luck. This means you will need to do a little bit of digging.

It’s best to first start with contacting your electric company and asking them if they have any sort of appliance recycling program.

If you don’t want to contact your electric company it’s best to search the net using “your state/city, electric company, appliance recycling program” and see what pops up.

Final Thoughts

As you can tell most of these programs are not for non-working refrigerator recycling. Nearly all programs require your old fridge or freezer to be plugged in and in working conditions.

You won’t be rich off this, but it is a good way to keep your electric bill low, make a little bit of cash, and to get your old appliance hauled out by someone else.