What should I do with them?

When buying new white goods, you may want to request that the suppliers remove and dispose of your old item for you. They do not have a legal obligation to do this, but may be willing to, potentially saving you money on disposal.

Or:

1. Recycling Centres
White goods from households can be taken free of charge to any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in Cambridgeshire. Fridges are then collected from the HWRC by a licensed company.

2. District/City Councils
If you are unable to transport your white goods, your District/City Council will provide a bulky items collection service, although there may be a charge for this. Please specify in advance if your bulky item is a fridge.

3. Private Companies
You may need to contact the company directly to find out if they deal with this kind of waste.


Legislation regarding Fridges:

In January 2002 a new law was introduced regarding the disposal of fridges and other items containing ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

There is now a ban on the use of ODS for the manufacture of fridges and freezers, but any old equipment is likely to contain these substances.

The new law states that all the ODS must now be 'recovered for destruction' to prevent them being released into the environment.

At present the producers of fridges are not legally responsible for their disposal, so the local authority is left to cover the costs. This is likely to cost £1million extra per year for Cambridgeshire alone and confirmation of full government funding is still pending.

Please dispose of your fridges in a safe way, through one of the options above. If fly-tipped, fridges can be dangerous for children, as well as the environment and wildlife in the area.

For detailed information you can go to the DEFRA website.