DTE Energy, an energy company providing gas and electric services to homes and businesses, has increased the incentive it pays to its Detroit Edison customers for turning in their old, energy guzzling refrigerators and freezers for recycling to $50 from $40, and hauling them away for free.

DTE Energy, which will provide this offer till 25 December 2010, expects to help its customers save more than $150 annually by enabling them to discard old energy intensive appliances that waste as much as three times the energy as newer models designed to higher energy-efficiency standards.

Each customer can dispose of a maximum of two units for recycling and the appliances to be recycled must be in working order with an inside measurement of 10 to 30 cubic feet to be eligible for removal.

Detroit Edison customers can schedule a time for a crew to pick up an older, working refrigerator or freezer or by visiting the energy efficiency website of the company that will pay an additional $20 each for any old room air conditioners or dehumidifiers.

The company recycles approximately 95% of each refrigerator or freezer and returns them to the manufacturing stream at a plant operated by national appliance recycler JACO Environmental to protect the environment from mercury and other toxins that the appliances contain.

DTE Energy manager of appliance recycling program Heidi Muir said that turning in one or more of these old appliances is a great way for customers to make their home more energy efficient.