| Every year approximately 3 million fridges are | | | | is also worth noting that the majority of fridges still |
| disposed of in the UK (and a further 3 million bought). | | | | contain substances that could be harmful if handled |
| It's estimated that the average lifespan of a fridge is | | | | incorrectly. |
| 11 years, however a substantial proportion remain in | | | | Take to the Local Tip / Household Waste Recycling |
| use for more than 20 years. Many of the substances | | | | Centre (HWRC) |
| contained in fridges are very harmful for the | | | | If you're feeling strong and have suitable transport |
| environment if disposed of incorrectly. This article | | | | (beware of the risk of chemical spillage!), you can |
| explains a bit more about what those substances | | | | take your old fridge to your local civic amenity site / |
| are, the legislation governing fridge disposal, and the | | | | HWRC for disposal free of charge. Make sure to |
| various ways of how to dispose of a fridge | | | | check beforehand though whether your HWRC site |
| responsibly. | | | | accepts fridges because not all do. |
| | | | Electrical Retailer's Service |
| What are the harmful substances in fridges? | | | | If you've bought a new fridge, the retailer may offer |
| Most fridges made before 2000 contain | | | | a service to take the old one away when the new |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (‘CFCs') or | | | | one is delivered. Expect to pay an additional |
| Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (‘HCFCs') in their | | | | £15-£30 for the service. |
| insulation material and/or their refrigerant. CFCs and | | | | Local Authority Collection Service |
| HCFCs are manmade compounds comprising carbon, | | | | As a resident, your local council is obliged to provide |
| fluorine, chlorine, and hydrogen. Non-toxic and | | | | a collection service for your old fridge. The good |
| non-flammable, they were used extensively in | | | | news is that councils don't tend to charge too much |
| aerosols, refrigerators and solvents until it was | | | | to do this (eg. London borough of Barnet charges |
| discovered that the CFC molecules were being | | | | £40) but the downside is that response times are |
| broken down by Ultra Violet (UV) radiation and | | | | typically quite slow (normally at least a week or two) |
| releasing a chlorine atom that was reducing ozone in | | | | and you will need to move the fridge outside |
| the atmosphere. Ozone depletion causes increased | | | | yourself prior to collection. |
| levels of harmful UV-B radiation to reach our planet. | | | | Waste Removal Company |
| As a result, an international Treaty (the Montreal | | | | Alternatively you can contact a specialist waste |
| Protocol) was signed to phase out their production. | | | | removal company like AnyJunk to remove your |
| How can I tell if my fridge contains harmful | | | | fridge. The advantage of using a specialist is that |
| substances? | | | | their response times should be much be faster than |
| If your fridge was made before 2000 it is highly likely | | | | the council, they can collect from within the property, |
| that it contains Ozone Depleting Substances | | | | and obviously they'll do all the manhandling for you. |
| (‘ODS') like CFCs or HCFCs in its insulating foam | | | | You should expect to pay around £40-£50 + VAT |
| or refrigerant. Your fridge should be marked with a | | | | for the service. Beware of anyone charging less than |
| plate stating the manufacturer, model, serial number | | | | this because the actual costs to waste contractors |
| and what type of refrigerant has been used. The | | | | of disposing of fridges are relatively high, so lower |
| most common codes are: | | | | prices probably indicate improper disposal. In any |
| Pre-1994 | | | | event, to fulfil your Duty of Care remember to |
| R11 = CFCs contained in insulation | | | | check they are properly licensed with the |
| R12 = CFCs used as a refrigerant | | | | Environment Agency and to ask for a Waste |
| 1994-2000 | | | | Transfer Note detailing your collection and specifying |
| R22 / R141b / R142b = HCFCs contained in insulation | | | | the waste removed was a fridge. |
| R134a = HFCs used as a refrigerant | | | | What happens to a fridge when it's recycled? |
| What legislation is relevant to householders disposing | | | | Unless your fridge is passed on for reuse and |
| of their old fridge? | | | | assuming you use one of the responsible disposal |
| There are 3 key pieces of legislation that cover | | | | routes outlined above, your fridge will end up being |
| fridge disposal: | | | | transferred to a dedicated refrigeration recycling |
| 1. Duty of Care – Waste (Household Waste) | | | | plant. Despite the harmful substances used in |
| Duty of Care (England & Wales) Regulations | | | | production, over 95% of an average refrigeration unit |
| 2005 – all householders getting rid of waste (not | | | | is recyclable, whether it contains CFCs/HCFCs or not. |
| just old fridges!) have a duty of care to ensure that | | | | Fridges are deconstructed within a sealed |
| it is disposed of properly. In practise this means that | | | | environment so that any Ozone Depleting Substances |
| you need either a) to take it to a licensed waste | | | | can be safely removed. The remaining materials are |
| facility (eg. local civic amenity site), or b) to ensure | | | | separated mechanically into individual product streams |
| that any 3rd party you use to remove the waste is | | | | including plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and |
| registered as a waste carrier with the Environment | | | | foam to be recycled or reused. Here is a more |
| Agency and provides you with a appropriately | | | | detailed summary of what occurs: |
| completed Waste Transfer Note for the collection. | | | | 1) The compressor is separated from the fridge, oils |
| Breach of your duty of care is a criminal offence and | | | | and gases are removed under vacuum, and CFC |
| can also lead to civil liability if your waste ends up | | | | gases are removed from the oil using ultrasonics |
| being disposed of incorrectly (eg. fly-tipped). | | | | – some compressors can be reused after this |
| 2. Removal of ODS – EC regulation 2037/2000 | | | | process |
| – all refrigeration units containing Ozone Depleting | | | | 2) The fridges are shredded in an enclosed nitrogen |
| Substances (ie. CFCs and HCFCs) must have those | | | | atmosphere and CFC gases present in the insulating |
| ODS removed in a controlled manner before the | | | | foam are released |
| appliance is scrapped. Failure to comply with these | | | | 3) The shredded contents are dried and the CFCs |
| regulations carries a fine of up to £2,500 and | | | | and nitrogen are captured and carried off for |
| eligibility for prosecution. | | | | separating |
| 3. Recycling and Recovery – The Waste Electrical | | | | 4) Insulating foam powder is separated by a sieve |
| and Electronic Equipment regulations (‘WEEE | | | | and is collected for disposal |
| Regs') – place an obligation on manufacturers, | | | | 5) Ferrous metal is separated by an overhead |
| retailers, distributors, local authorities, waste | | | | magnet and non-ferrous metal is separated from the |
| management companies, importers, exporters and | | | | plastics for recycling |
| business users to reuse, recycle and recover fridge | | | | 6) CFCs are separated from the nitrogen by cooling |
| units wherever possible. | | | | to –160 centigrade when the CFCs liquefy and |
| What are my options for responsible disposal? | | | | can then be destroyed by high temperature |
| Here are the various ways that a householder can | | | | incineration |
| dispose of their old fridge responsibly: | | | | And Finally… |
| Donate or Sell | | | | If you've managed to read this far, you're obviously |
| First and foremost, if your old fridge is in working | | | | a dedicated fridge disposal enthusiast – so why |
| order, you could give it to a friend, neighbour or | | | | not got the whole hog and click here to view an |
| family member. There are also a number of websites | | | | interactive animation of the world's largest fridge |
| dedicated to reusing working appliances such as | | | | recycling plant in Newport, Wales. Trust me – it's |
| Freecycle. Some second hand dealers may be | | | | worth a look! And of course, if you have any more |
| interested in your appliance if it's in good condition. | | | | questions or thoughts, please feel free to post a |
| You could also sell it yourself by placing an advert in | | | | comment on our Anyjunk Blog or give us a call. |
| the local paper, on a local website such as Gumtree | | | | Sources: Institute of Refrigeration, History of |
| or open up to a wider audience using eBay. There | | | | Samsung, Comet, Green Uses for Waste, Waste |
| can be complications with these methods including | | | | Online, Sims Recycling. |
| difficulties arranging transportation for bulky items. It | | | | |