Biffa estimates that under its present contracts, this will amount to about 50,000 units in 2002. Biffa will deliver its waste fridges and freezers to EMR facilities, which are located throughout the UK. Until EMR has installed its specialised fridge recycling plants, it will provide storage capacity for the fridges. EMR has ordered six static recycling plants and one mobile facility and expects that the first plant will be set up in May or June in London at its Willesden site.
The agreement comes in response to the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) regulations which come into force in January 2002 and will see CFC gases having to be recovered from fridge and freezer insulation foam before the equipment can be recycled.
Phil Conran, recycling manager at Biffa, said: “We are very pleased that we have been able to develop this relationship with one of the key players in the scrap metal industry. EMR mirror our desire for the highest environmental standards to be applied in the management of this problem and will ensure that we are able to satisfy our customers’ concerns over the suitable storage and processing of fridges and freezers.”
Andrew Mason, development director at EMR, said he was delighted to have reached the agreement with Biffa, as a further step towards helping to establish a sustainable solution to the issue.
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