Ban on fridge and freezer recycling collection

A national backlog in the safe disposal of fridges and freezers has led to some councils refusing to collect them as part of their bulky waste service.

South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse district councils said they have been asked by the county council to stop picking them up.

It follows a similar move by Cherwell District Council, after disruption at specialist recycling centres across the country.

A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils said they will monitor the situation, "including any potential impact on fly-tipping" and will review collections "as soon as processing capacity becomes available".

Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed it has asked the city and district councils to restrict household bulky waste collections for fridges and freezers for the next six weeks.

A spokesperson said "most have agreed" but advised residents to check the situation in their area.

Fridges and freezers are difficult to recycle and need specialist treatment to safely process them. This takes place at a handful of specific Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATFs).

That's because of the gases and foams used in them are harmful to the environment if they are not treated properly.

Experts say that fires at plants in Darlaston in the West Midlands and Thetford in Norfolk, as well as Unimetals Recycling going into liquidation in November, has led to the backlog.

But Savannah Coombe, editor of Let's Recycle.com, said not all local authorities are facing a problem.

"It really depends on the storage capacity of your local area. So if your local council can hold onto these fridges .. then it won't be an issue. But unfortunately, some local authorities, including in Oxford[shire] .. are feeling the effects," she said.

Coombe said the problem could also lead to more fly tipping in the region. "That is a local authority responsibility to deal with. So if it comes to that, then they will have a problem with the law."

District and city councils are responsible for bulky waste collections - including fridges and freezers - as well as tackling the problem of fly tipping.

But Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for disposing the items and has now said restrictions will be in place on people using the region's waste and recycling centres.

Earlier in the month, the local authority stopped accepting fridges and freezers from people living outside of the county at Oxfordshire's tips, describing the problem as a "national crisis".

A spokesperson has now confirmed a booking system will be in place for Oxfordshire residents, with a maximum number of disposals each day, depending on the storage capacity available.

The authority said there was a "significant backlog" across the sector, with some councils around the country suspending acceptance of all fridges and freezers at their tips, including neighbouring Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.