Norfolk council stores 2,000 fridges at recycling centre

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 15:32 · Archive

Norfolk County Council is storing between 2,000 and 3,000 fridges and freezers due to a national shortage of specialist processing capacity.

Norfolk County Council is storing between 2,000 and 3,000 fridges and freezers at the former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre near Coltishall, a stockpile that has become known as 'Mount Chillimanjaro'. The problem arose after three centres that specialise in processing cooling appliances closed, creating a national shortage of treatment capacity.

The appliances contain hazardous gases and insulating foam that require specialised handling. Some producer compliance schemes, which fund electrical waste collection and recycling on behalf of manufacturers, have consequently delayed or stopped collections from council sites. Norfolk County Council has had to scale back which recycling centres accept fridges and freezers; since the first week of August, only Norwich North, Norwich South, Caister, Dereham, Hempton, King's Lynn and Thetford have been able to take them.

The situation has eased slightly, a spokeswoman for Reform-led County Hall said, though the national capacity problem has not been resolved. The council has secured extra processing capacity through Recycling Lives Services, a producer compliance scheme, allowing some fridges and freezers to be sent for specialist treatment. Council leaders are pushing the government to tackle the issue.

How it is being reported

• WATCH: Norfolk’s ‘Mount Chillimanjaro’ still holds 2,000 fridges and freezersNorfolk's fridge mountain has eased slightly, but council leaders are pushing the government to tackle the issue.Norwich Evening News · 24 Oct, 15:00
• WATCH: Norfolk’s ‘Mount Chillimanjaro’ still holds 2,000 fridges and freezersNorfolk's fridge mountain has eased slightly, but council leaders are pushing the government to tackle the issue.Eastern Daily Press · 24 Oct, 15:00

In this story: Norfolk County Council · Mayton Wood Recycling Centre · Recycling Lives Services · Norfolk

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