Councils across England are facing significant challenges in managing the disposal of broken refrigerators and freezers, as a backlog continues to grow due to increased demand and limited recycling capacity. The surge in appliance breakdowns over the summer heatwave has led to a sharp rise in the number of fridges sent for recycling, straining an already stretched system.

At least 26 councils, including Nottinghamshire, Bradford, Gloucestershire, and Durham, have introduced temporary restrictions on fridge collections from both homes and recycling centers while they address stored inventories. The disruption has been exacerbated by a reduction in operational recycling plants; three of the country’s ten specialist facilities responsible for dismantling these appliances have closed recently, significantly reducing processing capacity.

Refrigerators and freezers require careful handling during disposal because they contain gases that pose environmental risks if not managed properly. This necessity limits the number of facilities equipped to safely dismantle them, contributing to the bottleneck. Some councils have resorted to costly short-term storage solutions, while others have asked residents to delay bringing forward their appliance disposals.

Jon Hubbard, chair of the Local Government Association’s neighbourhoods committee, described the situation as a “system failure with fridge recycling.” He noted that the infrastructure was operating with minimal contingency capacity and that the recent closures have left the system unable to handle current volumes.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) acknowledged the difficulties faced by local authorities and stated that it is collaborating with councils, the Environment Agency, and industry partners to mitigate the impact. Measures include permitting temporary storage sites and developing longer-term strategies to enhance recycling capacity.

Ministers emphasized their awareness of the issue and their commitment to minimizing disruptions to household waste collection services. However, with the ongoing effects of the summer heatwave and the closure of key dismantling facilities, councils are expected to face continued challenges in managing appliance recycling in the near term.