Fridges and Freezers

It is absolutely fine for people to give away their working fridge or freezer to anyone else. However, if it's not working and they are advertising it for scrap, it then slips into the 'not legal' category of items.

Background

As of 1st January 2002 European Union regulations have prohibited the disposal of old fridges via scrap yards and landfill sites. The regulations are aimed at reducing the damage done to the ozone layer by the use of chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) and hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFC's). Their use was banned in the manufacture of all appliances, including fridges; and the new rules dictated that controlled substances have to be removed and recovered from appliances and equipment before disposal. Initially, the UK was under-prepared to cope with the new regulations, but there are now some operators who are licensed to collect and treat old fridges.

In 2003 the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) was introduced which set targets for the collection and recycling of appliances. At the same time restrictions were introduced relating to the use of hazardous substances in the manufacturing process of electrical equipment.

What fridges and freezers are covered by this directive?

It covers fridges and freezers which contain CFCs and/or HCFCs either in the refrigerant of the cooling system or as a blowing agent in the insulating foam. Many manufacturers stopped using CFCs as refrigerant in the mid-1990's but HCFCs continued to be used as a blowing agent for the insulating foam for several years after. For this reason the majority of refrigerators currently entering the waste stream will require treatment.

What substances are affected?

It affects the supply and use of all ozone depleting substances. These substances tend to be used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam blowing, as solvents and in fire fighting. The substances covered include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

How can someone tell if a fridge/freezer contains ozone depleting substances?

The age of the appliance is a fairly good guide. Prior to 1994 almost all appliances used CFCs as both refrigerant and as a foam blowing agent. After 1994 these were mainly replaced with HFC as refrigerant and HCFC foam blowing agent. Modern fridges now use HFC or hydrocarbon refrigerants and hydrocarbon blowing agents. Most fridges are also marked with an 'appliance rating plate' on the back of the appliance containing information about the appliance, i.e. model and serial number. In most cases it will also state what refrigerant was used in the appliance. Fridges that are marked with R12 or R134a on the plate will most probably have CFC or HCFC in the insulation foam and should be treated accordingly.

How can someone dispose of their old appliance?

Suppliers of new fridge/freezers are reluctant to take back old appliances free of charge because of the cost incurred to them for disposal. To dispose of fridges and freezers there are two other options for householders. Contact a specialised fridge recycling contractor in your area for legal disposal of it, or take your fridge/freezer to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

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So - best advice is probably not allow non-working fridges or freezers to be offered and certainly not allow them to be offered 'for scrap'. Spare shelves, icetrays, doors and handles from them might be useful, though!

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