The facility in Telford is part of a new venture between the electrical retailer AO and recycling firm TRG, and will process other waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) items including washing machines, tumble driers and dishwashers.
According to AO, the facility will recycle 700,000 fridges a year from AO customers and third parties – a fifth of the estimated 3.5 million appliances thrown away by UK households annually.
The shredding machine, which the company said was built ‘exclusively’ for AO Recycling by Austrian firm Andritz, smashes fridges to their constituent metals, plastics and insulation foam using heavy duty rotating steel chains which operate inside a sealed chamber. Materials are then separated and sorted at the plant for recycling.
The plant offers end to end recycling of fridges and other large domestic appliances – with all hazardous materials including oils, refrigerants and gases removed at the site for safe disposal.
Packaging will also be sorted at the AO Recycling site, while some appliances will be refurbished and sold on as second-hand items.
Investment
Anthony Sant, Sales & Marketing Director at AO Recycling, said: “This is a game changing boost for UK recycling which has in recent years suffered from chronic under investment in new plant and machinery. This plant will make a significant contribution to addressing these capacity issues.”
Mr Sant contined: “As a country we can’t afford to duck this issue any longer. We must act to ensure we have the capacity to safely and properly recycle the domestic appliances we no longer use. If we don’t, we will have a major waste management and environmental crisis on our hands.
“AO is determined to make sure this doesn’t happen and with this new venture we will make a major contribution to UK recycling efforts.”
“The crucial thing about the new plant is nothing is wasted – and that is because we have developed one of the most efficient processes there is. Every appliance which comes in here gets a new life: either as raw material for a brand new product or as a used item for resale.”
Online electricals retailer AO acquired Shropshire-based WEEE specialist The Recycling Group (TRG) earlier this year. The two firms joined to form AO Recycling, which is considered to be the UK’s largest fridge and WEEE recycling company.
Subscribe for free