Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has suspended collections of fridges and freezers due to an ongoing national crisis affecting the disposal of these appliances.

The suspension applies to all bookings made on or after 5 August 2026. The council will honour collections booked before that date, but will be unable to provide the service for fridges and freezers on any bulky waste collections from 5 August onwards.

All other bulky waste items remain unaffected and the bulky waste service continues as normal.

Why has this happened?

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council usually collects fridges and freezers as part of its bulky waste service. These appliances are temporarily stored at the council's depot in Nuneaton, then collected by a recycling provider contracted by Warwickshire County Council, which is the responsible disposal authority for domestic waste.

Warwickshire County Council has formally advised that these collections will not be possible due to the ongoing national crisis, which has now reached its limit. UK capacity to deal with the disposal of these items has reduced significantly over previous months, leading to a lack of outlets. This is due to fires and plant closures.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council does not have the storage capacity to continue collections without a disposal destination. The suspension is in line with Warwickshire County Council's decision to suspend fridge and freezer disposal at all of its Household Waste Recycling Centres, including Judkins in Nuneaton.

What should residents do?

Residents are advised to keep hold of their appliances for the time being where possible and safe to do so. They are also encouraged to make use of recycling take-back schemes provided by retailers if purchasing new appliances.

If storing an appliance, residents should keep it upright and secure, out of reach of children. They should not attempt to dismantle it or remove the pipework, as the refrigerant gases must be recovered at an authorised treatment facility. Where possible, residents should consider repairing rather than replacing their appliance.

Cllr Shane Coates-Jarman, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Enforcement and Public Services, said: "We understand and sympathise that this will be a frustrating decision for residents wanting to dispose of fridges and freezers, and it is not one taken lightly. We thank our residents for their patience and responsible action while this matter is resolved. We will continue to work closely with Warwickshire County Council, which is liaising with Government and industry partners for a resolution."