Call for help as fridge recycling centres close

UK: Local government waste managers are calling on the UK government to assist local authorities as the country faces a widespread closure of fridge recycling centres.

More refrigerators and freezers are currently entering the waste recycling system than there is capacity available to treat them. This is said to have been caused by a series of operational disruptions over the past few years, which has significantly impacted the UK’s fridge treatment and disposal capacity. The situation has been exacerbated by increases in appliance sales and replacements driven by hot weather, when there are reduced processing rates at some treatment facilities during periods of extreme heat.

Fridges and freezers require the removal of refrigerant gases and insulating foams under tightly controlled conditions to prevent emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases. The work is carried out at only a small number of approved facilities equipped with the necessary equipment.

The National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) is calling on the government and producer compliance schemes to assist local authorities by maintaining collections where possible, providing funding for storage costs, and assisting with any additional costs falling on councils.

Last month saw Peterborough City Council refusing to accept fridges and freezers at its household recycling centre, with Carmarthenshire County Council suspending collections of fridges, freezers and other cooling appliances after its recycling centres reached their safe storage capacity.

Already this month, Norfolk County Council has restricted the number of recycling centres that will accept fridges, freezers and other cooling appliances, while Stourbridge and Dudley tips in the West Midlands are currently unable to accept any appliances.

Gloucestershire County Council has announced a temporary halt to fridge and freezer collections at its household recycling centres, and Bath & North East Somerset Council has done likewise at its recycling centres in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton.

Council fridge and freezer waste collections in Nottinghamshire have been suspended for four weeks initially and Somerset Council is only accepting one fridge, freezer or other type of cooling appliance per household at its recycling centres. 

To ease pressure on the network, the Environment Agency is allowing businesses to apply for permission to temporarily store fridges on unlicensed sites.

NAWDO warns that without government intervention, the likely consequences are fridge stockpiles with more collections suspended and household waste recycling centres unable to take these items. “This could lead to fly tipping and harm to the environment,” it says. 

“The Government must also act to address a broken system. Additional UK processing capacity must be urgently explored, so that a repeat of this situation in the future can be avoided,” NAWDO adds.