Duke Energy tore apart an old refrigerator Thursday... and not just because someone thought destruction sounded fun. The demonstration highlights Duke's appliance recycling program.
Duke says it's able to recycle about 95 percent of materials it pulls out of old refrigerators and freezers. Metal is turned into rebar used in building roads. Glass shelves are crushed and used an an aggregate in concrete. Plastics are reused for personal electronics and compressor and other oils and coolants can be recycled for use in other industrial equipment.
Duke's appliance recycling program includes at-home pickup and is free. The company will also send a $30 incentive check to participants.
(By the way, Duke is still looking for the region's oldest fridge.)
