Backlog causes temporary pause of fridge recycling across Bedfordshire
Residents have been asked to delay taking old fridges and freezers to four recycling centres in Central Bedfordshire due to a backlog.
The decision is due to a specialist recycling facility scheduled shutdown to carry out essential cleaning and machinery maintenance, causing a backlog at Central Bedfordshire's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
Normally, fridges and freezers would be diverted to alternative facilities while planned maintenance takes place. However, wider pressures on the recycling sector means this has not been possible.
The recycling company has said it expects the backlog to be cleared with normal service resumed from October 12.
Cllr Tracey Wye, Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, said: ‘This is a minor pause in usual service, and we’d like to thank residents for their patience while the recycling facility completes this work and clears the backlog.
“Residents are being asked to wait a short while before booking a time slot to bring fridges and freezers to a Household Waste Recycling Centre. We anticipate being able to accept such items at our HWRCs from October 12 and will ensure the public is kept informed if anything changes.”
If you have an old fridge or freezer that you were planning to take to a Household Waste Recycling Centre, you should:
> Keep it safely on your property until services resume, if you can do so.
> If you are buying a replacement appliance, ask the retailer if they can collect and recycle your old one.
> Only use licensed waste carriers if arranging disposal through a third party. Using unlicensed operators can lead to waste being dumped illegally, which may result in enforcement action.