Dudley council has issued a statement after concern has grown regarding the ban of fridge, freezers and cooling appliances from local tips.
Currently these items are no longer accepted at tips in Stourbridge and Dudley for the "forceable future" due to "a national shortage of storage and treatment capacity" say Dudley Council.
Recent fires and specialist plant closures have resulted in a system "at a stroke" add waste management service Wastecare.
The council have now issued a full statement regarding the issue.
Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said:
"The council has had to temporarily suspend accepting fridges, freezers and other cooling appliances at our household waste recycling centre, along with collections of these items from residents’ homes, due to a national shortage in specialist treatment capacity.
“These are circumstances beyond our control and this is an issue which is affecting councils across the country, following a significant reduction in the number of specialist facilities able to process waste fridges and freezers."
“The council is currently assessing if it has any suitable storage facilities compliant with Environment Agency regulations, but in the meantime has had to suspend acceptance of these goods until further notice."
“We apologise to residents who had collections booked and are getting in touch to arrange refunds.", added the Councillor
“We are currently exploring alternative solutions, but in the meantime, we would ask residents to hold onto their appliances for the short term or, if buying a replacement appliance, please also ask the supplier to take your old one away.”
He reminds residents that they can keep updated at Dudley Recycles
Unlike other waste, refrigeration appliances cannot be easily diverted to another recycler when capacity becomes constrained.
Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases and insulating foams which must be removed under tightly controlled conditions to prevent emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.
Processing therefore takes place at a relatively small number of highly specialised, approved, authorised treatment facilities (AATFs), designed specifically for cooling appliances.
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