Fridges and Freezers

 

Fridges and Freezers

Fridges and freezers can be recycled by a specialist process. Please see below for common questions and where you can recycle your old appliances.

Where do I take my old fridge/freezer?

Perth & Kinross Council accept all domestic fridges, freezers and fridge freezers at Recycling Centres free of charge. If you would prefer us to uplift them, we will do so for a non-refundable charge under the special uplift service. Please contact The Customer Service Centre on 01738 476476 for more details.

Why does a fridge/freezer have to be recycled?

Due to the Ozone-Depleting Substances (Qualifications) Regulations 2009 SI 216: Schedule 1 ozone depleting substances such as CFC's must be removed from domestic refrigeration equipment before there are scrapped. Fridges and freezers are also termed special waste under the Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004. These regulations mean that fridges/freezers have to be taken to a specialist recycling facility where they can be safely dismantled and recycled.

Additionally for the average refrigeration unit, over 95% of the unit is recyclable, as plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals can be recovered, whether or not it contains CFC's.

How can I tell if my fridge/freezer contains CFC gases?

The age of the appliance is in general an important determinant:

• prior to 1994 almost all appliances used CFCs as both refrigerant and as foam blowing agent
• after 1994 these were mainly replaced with HFC as refrigerant and HCFC foam blowing agent
• modern fridges are generally manufactured using HFC or hydrocarbon refrigerants and hydrocarbon blowing agents

Most fridges are also marked with an 'appliance rating plate' - a metal plate or sticky label which is found on the back of the appliance. The plate contains information about the appliance, for example 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

Where is the fridge/freezer recycled?

The appliance is taken to a specialist reprocessor - Viridor Electrical Recycling Ltd where the gases are extracted and the unit is broken up into plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals which can then be used to make other products.