This holiday season, Puget Sound Energy is teaming up with Food Lifeline to fight hunger. And PSE’s customers can help by getting rid of their old, inefficient refrigerators or freezers.

To get started, PSE residential electric customers can schedule free pickup of their old fridge or freezer over the phone or online and earn a $25 rebate. The appliances must be clean, empty, defrosted, and in working condition.

Through Dec. 15, PSE customers can choose to donate their rebate to Food Lifeline; PSE will match that donation for a total of $50 – that’s enough to provide about 200 meals, or feed a family of four for two weeks. Food Lifeline helps support food assistance programs across Western Washington.

Since the campaign started in October, at least 550 old appliances have been picked up, with one out of every three customers donating their rebate.

Recycling old fridges and freezers can help customers save up to $200 a year on their energy bill. All units are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner and most materials of glass, metal, and plastic is collected and reused.

“To be able to help customers save money on their energy bills and feed local families this holiday season, it’s a win for the whole community,” said Jason Teller, PSE Vice President of Customer Solutions.

“PSE’s commitment to ending hunger in Western Washington through programs like this will provide hundreds of meals to those that need it most throughout the region,” said Linda Nageotte, President and CEO of Food Lifeline. “For every $1 donated to Food Lifeline, we can turn that into four meals for a hungry person or family. We’ll make that rebate go a long way.”

With the help of PSE’s customers, Food Lifeline could receive up to $10,000 to feed local families. To schedule a free pickup of your old fridge or freezer, go to pse.com/recycle or call 1-877-577-0510, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The deadline to sign up for an old appliance pickup is Dec. 15.