Norfolk's fridge mountain has eased slightly, but council leaders are pushing the government to tackle the issue which has left the authority having to store thousands of the appliances.
A national shortage of places to deal with the discarded white goods means Norfolk County Council is having to hold on to fridges and freezers, with the number fluctuating between 2,000 and 3,000.
The bulk of the appliances are being stored at the former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre, near Coltishall, creating what has been dubbed 'Mount Chillimanjaro'.
Fridges and freezers pile-up at the former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre (Image: James Linsell Clark / SWNS)
As revealed last month, the problem stems from a shortage in specialised processing capacity which can safely handle the cooling appliances, which contain hazardous gases and insulating foam, after the closure of three centres which dealt with them.
Some producer compliance schemes, which arrange and fund the collection and recycling of electrical waste on behalf of manufacturers, have consequently delayed or stopped collections from council sites.
It means Norfolk County Council has had to scale back acceptance of unwanted fridges and freezers at its recycling centres.
Fridges and freezers pile-up at the former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre (Image: James Linsell Clark / SWNS)
Since the first week of August, only Norwich North, Norwich South, Caister, Dereham, Hempton, King's Lynn and Thetford have been able to take them.
A spokeswoman for Reform-led County Hall said the situation had eased slightly, but the national capacity problem has still not been resolved.
The former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre (Image: James Linsell Clark / SWNS)
The council said it is able to send some fridges and freezers for specialist treatment, after extra capacity was secured through Recycling Lives Services, a producer compliance scheme the authority uses.
It means the number being stored is currently closer to 2,000 than the peak of 3,000, but the situation is fluctuating.
Fridges and freezers pile-up at the former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre (Image: James Linsell Clark / SWNS)
The spokeswoman said County Hall is working with producer compliance schemes, Defra (Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs), the Environment Agency and the wider industry, and has raised the issue directly with the government.
She said the council had "worked hard" to avoid having to ban people from taking fridges and freezers to all recycling centres and it was a "priority" to maintain the service while the national situation improves.
Pat Gould, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for countryside, coast and culture (Image: Norfolk County Council)
Pat Gould, the council's cabinet member for countryside, coast and culture, said: "We remain committed to doing everything we can to maintain disposal arrangements for these items in Norfolk.
"We have written to the relevant government minister, asking them to address this issue as a matter of urgency.
"Councils across the country are facing the same challenges, and the government must act to resolve them. We will continue to press for a national solution."
Fridges and freezers stored at the former Mayton Wood Recycling Centre (Image: Denise Bradley)
A Defra spokesman said: "Delays to collection or being unable to dispose of your fridge or freezer are frustrating, and we are pushing producers to fix this fast and keep disruption to a minimum.
"We appreciate the challenges facing local authorities, and are working closely with them, the Environment Agency and industry to manage the impact of capacity shortages, including allowing temporary storage sites."
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