Richmond upon Thames has suspended fridge and freezer collections and stopped accepting the appliances at its recycling centres, as a national shortage of specialist treatment capacity continues to disrupt services.
Richmond upon Thames Council has temporarily suspended its fridge and freezer collection and disposal services, becoming the latest local authority to restrict access amid a continuing shortage of UK recycling capacity.
Announced on 26 October, the suspension means residents can no longer book a council collection or drop off unwanted fridges and freezers at Townmead Road Household and Recycling Centre.
The appliances will also not be accepted at any West London reuse and recycling centre while capacity restrictions remain in place.
In its announcement, Richmond Council said processing sites across the UK were under pressure, leaving fewer facilities able to treat and recycle cooling appliances safely.
Residents have been asked to use retailer take-back schemes where possible when purchasing replacement appliances, or store unwanted units safely at home until services resume. The council has warned against leaving fridges and freezers on roads or public land, which could be treated as fly-tipping.
No date has been given for the resumption of services.
Wastecare
The council sends its fridges and freezers to Wastecare as part of a contract between the company and the West London Waste Authority, which Richmond is a part of.
A significant fire broke out at the WasteCare hazardous waste transfer station in Thatcham, West Berkshire, on September 28, 2026
Councils affected by the fridge recycling crisis
Richmond is among a growing number of local authorities that have suspended or restricted services during 2026 as the shortage of specialist processing capacity has left councils struggling to find outlets for unwanted appliances.
Other authorities that have announced similar measures include:
- Carmarthenshire County Council suspended acceptance of fridges, freezers and other cooling appliances at its recycling centres and through its bulky waste collection service.
- Gloucestershire County Council announced a temporary suspension at its household recycling centres in August.
- Worcestershire County Council suspended acceptance of cooling appliances at its household recycling centres in August.
- North Tyneside Council temporarily stopped accepting fridges and freezers at its North Shields Household Waste Recycling Centre.
- Warwickshire County Council suspended acceptance at its household recycling centres in August, although services resumed in September.
- Derbyshire County Council introduced a limit of one fridge or freezer per registered resident at its household recycling centres.
- Oxfordshire County Council introduced restrictions limiting how frequently households could book to dispose of these appliances.
- Joint Waste Solutions announced a temporary pause in household collections across Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Surrey Heath and Woking.
The measures have differed between areas, with some councils stopping acceptance altogether while others have introduced limits or temporary collection pauses. Restrictions have also changed over time, so residents should check their local authority’s latest guidance before travelling to a recycling centre.
Fires and plant closures reduce treatment capacity
The shortage follows a series of commercial and operational setbacks that have reduced the UK’s specialist treatment capacity.
The liquidation of Unimetals Recycling removed a major processing outlet, while fires at treatment facilities have further constrained the market.
In February, a fire forced the closure of EMR’s fridge recycling plant at Darlaston in the West Midlands. The loss of the facility added to pressure on a sector with a limited number of specialist outlets.
Two months later, Wiser Recycling’s treatment facility at Thetford was severely damaged by fire, further affecting the availability of processing capacity for waste electrical and electronic equipment, including refrigeration appliances.
Fridges and freezers require specialist treatment to remove refrigerants and manage insulating foams safely before their components can be separated for recycling. This limits the number of facilities able to process them and makes it difficult for councils to redirect material when treatment capacity is unavailable.
The disruption has left local authorities facing difficult choices over collections and acceptance at household waste recycling centres. Where treatment outlets cannot be secured, councils may have to suspend services or arrange additional storage while they seek alternative solutions.
The restrictions also create practical problems for residents replacing old appliances, particularly where retailer take-back is unavailable or unsuitable.
Residents urged to use retailer take-back schemes
Richmond Council has advised residents buying replacement appliances to use retailer take-back schemes wherever possible.
For those unable to arrange an alternative, unwanted fridges and freezers should be stored safely at home, where practical, until collections resume.
The council has specifically warned residents not to leave appliances on the highway or public land, as this may be treated as fly-tipping.
The suspension forms part of a wider response to the capacity shortage, with Richmond saying the temporary pause is intended to reduce demand while processing capacity recovers.
However, the lack of a confirmed restart date leaves residents uncertain about when normal services will return.
New capacity planned
Enva has secured an environmental permit for a new fridge recycling facility in Dartford, designed to process up to 35,000 tonnes of fridges and other electrical waste annually. The plant is expected to open in February 2027, but additional capacity will not be available immediately.