Independent electrical retailers are being left to store growing numbers of old fridges and freezers as a shortage of UK recycling capacity causes disruption to collections, Bira has warned.
The British Independent Retailers Association said retailers are increasingly struggling to arrange collections of damaged and end-of-life white goods, leaving appliances taking up valuable space on shop premises.
The problem has been particularly acute for cooling appliances such as fridges and freezers, after the UK WEEE recycling sector lost a number of treatment partners over the past year.
According to Bira, the resulting shortage of processing capacity has already led some councils to suspend household fridge and freezer collections. The Environment Agency has responded by allowing businesses to apply to temporarily store fridges on unlicensed sites while disruption continues.
Retra, Bira’s specialist electrical retail division, said several of its members had contacted the association after being unable to arrange collections.
Andrew Goodacre, Chief Executive of Bira, said: “Independent electrical retailers have always taken their environmental responsibilities seriously, but they are now being left to store broken and unwanted white goods because the wider recycling infrastructure simply cannot keep up.
“This is a problem retailers have had no part in creating, yet they are the ones absorbing the consequences on their shop floors.”
Under WEEE regulations, producers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers have responsibilities relating to the collection and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. The rules cover products ranging from major domestic appliances to smaller electricals, IT equipment and lighting.
Jeff Moody, Commercial Director at Retra, said the disruption was creating a practical problem for independent electrical retailers where storage and showroom space is often limited.
“We have already had members contact us directly about this,” he said. “Space in a shop is precious, and every fridge or freezer sitting there waiting for collection is space that can’t be used for anything else. Retailers need clarity from the recycling sector on when normal service will resume.”
Mr Moody said additional treatment capacity is expected to come online during 2026, which should help alleviate the pressure.
“In the meantime, we would urge the recycling schemes to keep retailers properly informed so they can plan around the disruption,” he added.
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