The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is due to write to DTLR – the local government department – to explain what money will be made available to help store the fridges until facilities are up and running to remove CFC gases from the fridge foam.
But, it is unclear to what extent DEFRA will offer funds to meet the extra costs of dealing with the fridges with some estimates putting the removal and processing figure at 20-40 per fridge. Contrary to earlier suggestions today, DEFRA is still finalising its plans.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher told letsrecycle.com that he understands the problem. “The main problem over the ODS directive and fridges is the technology and that we do not have the companies yet that can actually extract the CFCs from the foam which can contain ODS.”
He said that a meeting would be held soon with the companies concerned in a bid to resolve the problem.
A DEFRA spokeswoman said today that fast track work is being carried out on standards by UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme. “One of the issues is that while there are existing facilities in France and Germany these operate to different standards.”
Another issue being examined by DEFRA is the fact that under the legislation, old fridges will become hazardous waste and under the Basel Convention cannot be exported to the developing world. At present many thousands of fridges not wanted in the UK are sent overseas for use. “We are looking at this but exports could come to a halt and this will add to the number of fridges needing to be stored here,” the spokeswoman added.
Paul Deakin, chair of recycling officers association Larac, said that the situation will be very serious in the very near future. “Retailers are considering ending their take-back schemes from December 1. This will have major cost implications for local authorities and we will have to find storage solutions for these. We will need extra funding and this has to be sorted as quickly as possible.”
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