Euro ruling poses fridge problems (From Western Telegraph)

Euro ruling poses fridge problems

The countryside could soon be littered with scores of unwanted fridges, councillors fear.

New European regulations mean all fridges now have to be disposed of under strict controls to prevent pollution from CFCs.

But retailers are no longer taking back old fridges because of the costs, and Pembrokeshire county councillors fear people will be tempted to dump them on farm land.

The councils director of transportation, Huw Roberts, said the country was unprepared for the new legislation. There are currently no facilities in Britain to process unwanted fridges.

The Government has advised local authorities to provide storage provision for up to 18 months until facilities become available. The council does operate a heavy household collection service that will collect old fridges free of charge.

But Councillor Simon Hancock warned that people already dump furniture and household items, despite the service. Along with other councillors, he feared scores of fridges would end up being dumped.

Councillor Norman Parry said it was a great concern and the council had to be prepared for it.

Mr Roberts refused to be drawn on whether the council would collect fridges that were dumped on farm land.

He said: The reason I am not making a statement is I cannot say what would happen, if say a farmer comes along and says he has had 1,000 fridges dumped on his land.

The council estimates it will take around 10,000 household fridges every year and the increase in costs is likely to be between £270,000 and £370,000. A grant from the National Assembly is not expected to be over £25,000, but the director of transportation said he is hopeful additional money will become available.