Such is the seriousness of the situation that the Treasury may meet some of the costs while metal recyclers are actively looking for CFC in foam removal equipment as fridges are usually shredded at metal recycling sites.
The Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) regulations means that from January 2002, CFCs will have to be recovered from fridge and freezer insulation foam before the equipment can be recycled.
But the UK does not have any capacity at present to remove and safely dispose of the CFCs in refrigerator foam. The decision to remove CFCs from foam was made in July this year which means that there are now only three months before the regulations come into effect. While urgent meetings are taking place between industry and the government to try and come to a solution, if systems are not in place to deal with the regulations by January the UK could face prosecution under the Montreal Protocol.
15-35 per fridge
The legislation does not say who will pay for the cost of removing the foam from the fridges. Current estimates range from 15 to 35 per fridge, but the cost will depend on the proposed standards. Unlike the case with the forthcoming electronics directive, there is no producer responsibility so far for fridges and it appears that local authorities will be legally obliged to pay for their disposal. But as councils have not budgeted for the extra cost, the government will have to provide money because although local councils can charge for the collection of household waste they cannot refuse to take it. So important is the issue that senior Treasury officials have attended crisis meetings.
Both retailers and the Local Government Association have expressed concern that the new regulations could lead to fly-tipping by companies which have fridges under their charge when the legislation comes into effect.
On the case
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said: “We have been a bit slow, but we are on the case. The United Nations Environment Programme technical committee is looking at technology and standards and under a fast-track scheme standards should be agreed by the end of the month. Companies will then know what they will need to do. An enforcement mechanism will also be looked at.”
She added: “There are a number of take-back schemes already in existence and we want them to continue. Local household waste centres don't have the technical means to take out the foam and we need some mechanism to get the fridges from the sites to where the foam can be taken out. We are looking at where we can get extra money to help local authorities. The WEEE electronics directive necessitates a take back scheme and it seems a bit daft to stop them now.”
Although some retailers have threatened to end their take-back schemes unless the government meets the foam removal costs, DEFRA said that this was unlikely but added that it wants retailers to work with local authorities.
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