Government makes 6 million available for fridges but concern is raised

The funding package, announced as part of the Local Government Settlement, will give local authorities extra money to help with storage of fridges until the end of this financial year as a result of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) regulations. The regulations, which come into force on January 1, will see CFC gases having to be recovered from fridge and freezer insulation foam before the equipment can be recycled. As no treatment facilities are currently available, local authorities will have to pay for the storage until treatment facilities come on line.

But the additional funding is just for this financial year, until March 31 2002 and the money will not be paid until next year. Officers are now asking how will it be paid and how will it be shared?

A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), said: “We have made an additional 6 million available for fridges which will cover storage costs in the first three months. We know that more money will be required but we don't know how much. We will review how much local authorities spend on storage and see whether a funding package that is more specifically related to fridges can be agreed. But we really don't know and we want to work with local authorities to find the best way of distributing the money and we are welcome to suggestions from them.”

But this does not help local authorities who now face large costs without being sure if, or when, they will get the money back.

Unclear

One senior local authority officer said: “There is at the moment no funding beyond next March and it appears that the Treasury have said that any more funds will have to be found by DEFRA. It is not clear in the SSA paperwork, where it implies that the fridge money is for 2003/4 funding.”

Local authorities now want a guarantee that they will be reimbursed for the extra 60-100 million that fridges are anticipated to cost over the next two years.

Speaking about the impact of the legislation, Environment Minister Michael Meacher said: “The regulation will be an important step in reducing releases of ozone damaging chemicals from waste fridges and freezers. We have been working with all stakeholders to ensure there is as little disruption to householders as possible when the new requirements come into force on 1 January 2002, and to ensure old fridges will be disposed of safely. ”

He added: “We have provided local authorities with guidance for the safe storage of waste fridges, and have developed CFC-removal standards so that industry can now invest in the required technology. There is no need for householders to worry about disposing of their old fridge. If a retailer cannot be found who will take an old fridge away, local authorities will accept the fridge at the civic amenity site, free of charge. Local authorities will also collect from homes, but they can charge to cover the cost of collection.”

Another recycling officer said: “As Michael Meacher's quote shows, government is relying on us to sort this problem out. So shouldn't they be funding it?”