Merthyr Tydfil Council has temporarily stopped bulky waste collections for fridges, fridge freezers and standalone freezers, citing severe restrictions across the UK’s appliance reprocessing network. The change took effect on 16 July and will remain in place until further notice.
What has changed and when
The council says any bookings already in the system will still be honoured, but new roadside collections for the specified appliances have been suspended with immediate effect. Residents are being directed to the authority’s Household Recycling Centres at Dowlais and Aberfan to dispose of these items.
Limits at recycling centres and trade waste
To help manage storage at the recycling sites, a temporary limit of one fridge, fridge freezer or freezer per household will apply at the two centres. The council has warned it may impose further restrictions if storage capacity is reached.
| Service | Current position |
|---|---|
| Bulky roadside collections | Suspended for fridges, fridge freezers and standalone freezers (from 16 July) |
| Household Recycling Centres (Dowlais and Aberfan) | Accepting these items, limited to one per household |
| Trade waste acceptance scheme | Temporarily suspended for fridges and freezers |
Why this is happening
The council attributes the suspension to a national shortage of reprocessing capacity for refrigeration appliances. That shortage has left local authorities around the UK with reduced options for recycling old fridges and freezers, forcing temporary local measures while the position is monitored.
Practical options for residents and businesses
The authority encourages residents to consider alternatives to disposal where possible. The council suggests:
- selling a working appliance privately;
- donating to community groups, reuse shops or charities;
- checking whether a retailer or manufacturer offers a take-back service when buying a replacement.
Businesses are advised to seek alternative arrangements while the national restrictions remain in place and are reminded that the council’s trade waste acceptance for these appliances is also suspended until further notice.
The council will keep the situation under close review and may tighten or relax restrictions depending on storage capacity at its sites and changes in national reprocessing availability. Residents with existing bookings do not need to take further action as those visits will still take place.
For the latest local service updates, households are advised to check the council’s website or contact the household recycling centres directly.
