Fridge makers should pay for disposal, claims city bins chief
FRIDGE makers should be made to cover the cost of their disposal to prevent thousands being dumped on our streets each year, claims a top councillor.
City council bins chief Majid Mahmood has called for new laws to force white goods makers to recover old fridges for free.
He has written an open letter to Environment Secretary Michael Gove asking him to consider new regulations for manufacturers.
In Birmingham alone there were more than 3,000 fridges fly-tipped on roadsides, alleyways and waste ground last year. A similar number were illegally dumped in 2016.
Retailers and recycling charge to take away fridges.
Curry’s charge £15 to take away an old fridge for anyone buying a new appliance. Birmingham City Council charges £25 for its own bulky item collection service.
They are often undercut by unofficial or rogue firms who collect the fridges, strip out the valuable metal engine parts and dump the remaining white cabinets, causing an eyesore for residents and costing the council to pick up.
Last year 110 fridges were dumped in Ithon Grove in Kings Norton in a single night. firms
Councils across the region report similar problems.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, the Labour cabinet member for recycling, said: “We have seen a rise in the number of unscrupulous traders offering residents a cheap collection and disposal service only to then dump or fly-tip their load, pocket the cash and leave the council to clear it up.
“The residents of Birmingham have told us that clean streets are their number one priority, so I urge the Government to seriously consider our proposal that manufacturers/retailers should include the cost of proper and responsible disposal within the cost of appliances. “This would provide the purchaser with the opportunity to dispose of their fridge or freezer at no additional charge, and help save the city thousands of pounds in the process. “Last year alone we recovered and responsibly disposed of 3,000 dumped fridges – it is an unsustainable position and needs some innovative thought and leadership at a national level to help councils deal with this.” The Government earlier this year announced a 25-year environment plan designed to increase efficiency, cut the use of plastics and improve recycling.
Under the plan, manufacturers are expected to consider what happens to their products at the end of their useful life and how they should be recycled or reused.
Forcing them to take responsibility for disposal could lead to increased costs which would likely be passed on to consumers.
The city council has seen a rise in fly-tipped fridges since it cancelled free household bulky waste collections in 2014 in a bid to save £1 million a year.