1 1 1Thursday, August 6,2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER Oakville-based ARGA Canada lauded for its recycling efforts Ontario' s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray toured ARCA Canada Friday to see how the Oakville-based company responsibly recycles. Since 2006, ARCA has safely decommissioned approximately 500,000 fridges, freezers and oth er refrigerant-containing appliances. "The saveONenergy Fricfge and Freezer Pick up program is a two-for-one success story," Mur ray said. "Taking old fridges and freezers out of basements, garages and kitchens saves energy, while the ARCA Canada processing and recy cling program makes a very real contribution to fighting climate change." W ithout ARCAs efforts, mercury switches, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) capacitors and more than 40,000 kilograms of toxic refrig erant materials would have been released into the atmosphere, according to the Oakville com pany, along with 26,000,000 kg of metals and 900.00 kg of plastics. Murray said he was interested in how ARCA handles older refrigerant models that have signif icant dimate change implications if its contents are released into the atmosphere. The U.S. En vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates 1.000 properly decommissioned fridges reduces the same amount of greenhouse g?s emissions as removing 1,500 cars from the roads in a year, stated a media release. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was also along for the tour and presented ARCA Canada an Oakville Hydro Energy Conservation Leader ship Award. "We are proud to be home to ARCA Canada, a progressive company dedicated to reducing en ergy use and fighting climate change," he said. Joseph Berta, ARCA Canada managing direc tor, attributed the success of the company' s col lection of refrigerants to the promotion of the re cycling program by local distribution companies across Ontario. The fridge and freezer pickup program was started by the Ontario Power Authority in 2006 and has resulted in approximately 420,000 appli ances being collected. "This represents enough electricity to power almost 22,000 homes for an entire year," said Bruce Campbell, president and CEO of the In dependent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The IESO is continuing the program until Dec. 31. It is free and allows Ontarians to dispose of their older, energy-inefficient appliances. To participate, contact the local distribution company or visit the saveONenergy Fridge and Freezer Pickup website at saveonenergyca. | www.insideHALT0N.com GREAT FAMILY DINING FOR OVER 40 YEARS! Learning,, SYLVAN IS EXPANDING! This is your opportunity to own one of the world's most established tutoring franchises. BREAKFAST · LUNCH · DINNER Visit our new location today! 2420 Lakeshore Rd., W., Oakville Local turnkey franchises and new territories available. 905-827-4851 Mon. - Sat. 8am - 9pm Sun. 8am - 3pm For more information call or email 905-901-5120 · admin@sylvan2learn.com f o r m o r e : i n f o p l e a s e v i s i t W W W .O A K V IL _ L _ E S O C C E R .C A