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Temporary suspension of fridge and freezer collections

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Temporary suspension of fridge and freezer collections

Date: 19 August 2026

Residents are being asked to check their disposal options before trying to get rid of fridges, freezers, and other cooling appliances, after wider disruption in the UK’s specialist recycling network, including facility fires and plant closures, led to a national shortage of specialist treatment and storage capacity.

The issue is affecting local authorities across the UK, including councils across Worcestershire. Fridges, freezers, and other cooling appliances cannot currently be accepted through district bulky waste collections. Worcestershire County Council has also temporarily suspended acceptance of these items at Household Recycling Centres across the county.

Councillor Emma Stokes, Wychavon's Portfolio Holder for Resources, Investment and Innovation, said: “I know this is not the update residents will want to hear, and I completely understand how frustrating it will be for anyone trying to dispose of a fridge or freezer at the moment. This is a national processing issue affecting cooling appliances and is outside the control of local councils. Until further notice, we are unable to accept fridges, freezers, and other cooling appliances through our Bulky Waste Collection Service. We are working with Worcestershire County Council and other partners to understand when the service can resume, and we will update residents as soon as we have more information.”

Where possible, residents should follow the SCRAP approach by using retailer take-back schemes when buying a replacement appliance, considering repair, passing on working appliances through platforms such as Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace, or safely storing items at home until services resume.

To help make sure waste is handled properly, residents using a private waste carrier should check that the carrier is registered with the Environment Agency and that the registration document is still valid and has not expired. Checks can be made at environmental-licences.co.uk or on the Environment Agency public register: https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

WasteGuard, available through the Wychavon website, can help with this by allowing residents to obtain quotes from waste carriers who have been checked for a valid licence and responsible waste disposal practices at the time of listing.

  • Checked waste carriers
  • Local businesses listed through WasteGuard
  • Legal and environmentally responsible waste disposal
  • Helps reduce the risk of fly-tipping in the community

Residents with existing affected bookings will be contacted directly about refunds or alternative arrangements.

The councils will share further updates when more information is available.

  • S - Suspect all waste carriers. Do not let them take your waste until they have proven themselves to be legitimate. A professional waste carrier should happily answer reasonable questions.
  • C - Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency's website.
  • R - Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away. If you suspect that someone who you have spoken to will be disposing of waste illegally, report them to the Environment Agency.
  • A - Ask what will happen to your rubbish and seek evidence that it is going to be disposed of appropriately.
  • P - Paperwork must be obtained. Always get a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details.

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