Customers hanging on to old, energy-guzzling but still-working refrigerators and freezers are being offered a new incentive to have them recycled.

Dominion Energy has announced a program to pay customers $20 to allow a partner recycling company to pick up refrigerators and freezers that are at least 10 years old, still operating and that have 10 to 32 cubic feet of capacity.

The partner is Recleim LLC, a seven-year-old South Carolina- based recycler that operates three plants to break down outdated refrigerators and freezers and sell the material for use in a host of other products.

Under the partnership, Dominion customers can call (877) 785- 6681 or go online at www.dominionenergy.com/fridge to schedule a free pickup of up to two old working appliances.

Afteraninspectiontoverifythecondition,Recleimwilltakeaway the qualifying equipment for recycling. Dominion then will send a $20 check to participating customers within four to six weeks.

According to Dominion and the company, Recleim uses methods to safely remove harmful materials from obsolete appliances and 95 percent of the remaining components to be marketed for use in laptops, cell phones, concrete mixes and soda cans.

Recleim on its website notes that old appliances also are being turned into motorcycle parts in Detroit, plumbing in Syracuse and carpet fibers in Houston.

Participants could see savings on their energy bill with newer, energy-efficient appliances. Dominion estimates an old refrigerator or freezer can cost $10 to $12 a month to operate.