The 500,000 contract will see the International Waste Management Group processing 46,000 trade and domestic fridges a year from councils including East Lothian, Mid Lothian, West Lothian and Scottish Borders, as well as Edinburgh city council.
The fridges will be processed at the IWM Group plant in Dalkeith, which uses technology from German firm SEG to recycle about 125,000 units per year.
Councilor Robert Cairns, executive member for environmental services at Edinburgh city council, said: “I am delighted that Edinburgh has been able to take the lead and co-ordinate this venture which will deliver considerable cost savings and increased recycling for all the local authorities involved.”
The introduction of the European Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations in 2002 means that fridges and freezers can no longer be landfilled or shredded without the removal of the CFCs and other coolants.
Mr Cairns explained: “When electrical products such as fridges reach the end of their lifecycle they pose a threat to the environment and a waste of natural resources. This risk comes from both the hazardous content of many of their components as well as from the sheer volume of products being disposed of.”
Because of a lack of suitable treatment facilities for redundant fridges in Scotland when the regulations were introduced, Edinburgh was forced to stockpile 15,000 units at a depot in Powderhall, of which 10,000 came from outside the city. A temporary mobile recycling unit was used at the site to clear some of the 'f;ridge mountain'.
Edinburgh city council has said that it hopes to join forces with the other local authorities in Lothian and Borders to tackle other waste issues.
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