HC Deb 06 July 1989 vol 156 c274W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of any examples of good practice by local authorities in the United Kingdom, concerning the safe disposal of refrigerators and freezers so as to minimize the release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere during their disposal.

Mr. Atkins

I have been asked to reply.

Several local authorities have set up schemes for the collection of discarded refrigerators and freezers with a view to recovering, recycling or disposing of the CFCs they contain. Officials in the Department of the Environment are considering whether advice to local authorities in this area would be appropriate.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received concerning the introduction of safe disposal sites for refrigerators and freezers.

Mr. Atkins

I have been asked to reply.

I have received representations from companies and members of the public about the risk of CFCs escaping from discarded refrigerators and freezers. There are however technical and logistical difficulties in recovering and recycling CFCs from domestic refrigerator coolant systems, and from the accompanying foam insulation. Together these account for only around 3 per cent. of total CFCs in use in the United Kingdom.

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