The National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) is calling on the Government to help local authorities cope with mounting pressure on the UK's fridge and freezer recycling infrastructure.
More appliances are entering the system than can currently be processed, a problem worsened by hot-weather sales spikes and reduced treatment capacity during heatwaves.
Some Producer Compliance Schemes have suspended fridge and freezer collections from council sites, forcing many local authorities to stop accepting the appliances at Household Waste and Recycling Centres or pause collection services altogether.
NAWDO warns that without Government intervention, stockpiles could grow, collections could face further suspension, and fly-tipping risks may increase.
The organisation is urging ministers and compliance schemes to maintain collections, fund storage costs, and cover additional council expenses – preventing residents from effectively paying for disposal twice. It also called for urgent investment in UK processing capacity to prevent a repeat crisis.
