Local Students Gain Hands-On Lesson Recycling Old Appliances

Johnson College in Scranton hosts annual community appliance disposal and recycling event.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:20pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, out-of-focus photograph showing the blurred silhouettes of students working on an old appliance, surrounded by a warm, hazy glow of light, conceptually representing the hands-on learning and community engagement of the event.Students at Johnson College gain practical experience recycling old appliances while helping their local community dispose of potentially hazardous materials.Scranton Today

Students and school officials at Johnson College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, held a Refrigerant and Recycling Event on Saturday where community members could drop off old appliances. The students were able to recover refrigerant from the units and remove reusable components, providing them with valuable hands-on experience while also helping the community safely dispose of potentially hazardous materials.

Why it matters

Events like this allow students to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting while also benefiting the local community. Proper disposal of old appliances, especially those containing refrigerants, is important for environmental protection.

The details

During the event, students recovered refrigerant from the old units dropped off by community members and removed components that could be reused. Organizers stressed the importance of carefully disposing of refrigerants, which can be harmful to the atmosphere if released improperly.

  • The Refrigerant and Recycling Event took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • This was the second year the event has been held at Johnson College.

The players

Johnson College

A technical college in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that offers programs in fields like HVAC and refrigeration.

Sean Bosshard

A Johnson College HVAC student who participated in the event.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Oh, it's great. It's really helpful for us cause we get to use what we learned in the classroom right here, and it's helpful for the community because they get to throw out their old ACs.”

— Sean Bosshard, Johnson College HVAC Student

What’s next

Johnson College plans to host the Refrigerant and Recycling Event again next year, continuing to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities while serving the local community.

The takeaway

Events like the Refrigerant and Recycling Event at Johnson College demonstrate how educational institutions can partner with their communities to provide valuable services, give students real-world experience, and promote sustainability through proper disposal and recycling of old appliances.