Commenting on behalf of Ecogenesys, Laura Crehan, Head of Strategic Operations said;
“As widely reported, the UK fridge recycling sector has experienced unprecedented disruption from late 2025 and throughout 2026 resulting in vastly reduced treatment capacity. In the last nine months, a number of recycling facilities have closed or restricted operations due to both incidents and planned maintenance, resulting in a significant loss of UK treatment capacity. In total, over the last six years, four plants have closed completely, while fridge volumes continue to increase.
This has been compounded in recent weeks by the summer season, where we typically see an increase in waste fridges due to high temperatures. There are currently more waste fridges being disposed of through the Local Authority recycling network than can be recycled. As a result, some UK Local Authorities have ceased accepting fridges for recycling.
Ecogenesys is the UK’s largest WEEE Producer Compliance Scheme, operating on a not-for-profit basis. We have excellent links to all UK fridge recycling plants and continue to work to minimise the impact on our Local Authorities and Members, however the gap between waste fridges and treatment capacity will continue for some time. As such, we have been working closely with Defra and the Regulator to develop short term solutions.
This UK-wide issue is impacting all industry stakeholders and we are hopeful that once the peak summer season eases, there will be some improvements to recycling capacity. Further investment planned in UK plants for 2027, including construction already underway, will provide a more permanent solution, however investment in further facilities will be required to meet future requirements and prevent a similar situation repeating.”
