Throughout 2026 the UK fridge recycling sector has experienced significant disruption. With numerous plants ceasing operations due to business closure, strategic diversion or mechanical failure. As a result, processing capacity across the UK has been significantly constrained, with some Local Authorities experiencing disruption to their fridge recycling services.
These plant outages have coincided with the peak summer period for fridge disposal. Higher temperatures typically result in increased volumes of waste fridges entering the Local Authority and retailer takeback networks, while extreme heat can also reduce processing efficiency and increase the risk of plant downtime.
The combination of increased disposal volumes and reduced processing capacity has placed significant pressure on the UK’s fridge recycling infrastructure.
This is a sector-wide issue and is not specific to any individual Producer Compliance Scheme. Ecogenesys continues to work closely with its Local Authority partners and treatment providers to maintain collection and treatment services.
Ecogenesys is a not-for-profit Producer Compliance Scheme collecting waste fridges from Local Authorities across the UK. During the peak summer season, we have largely maintained collections for our Local Authority partners, although a small proportion have experienced some disruption as a result of reduced UK processing capacity.
In response, we have implemented enhanced operational management measures, including increased communications with our LAs and partners to provide continued service via contingency processing at alternative plants where available.
The cooler weather now in the UK, means we expect pressure on the system to ease as disposal volumes reduce and processing availability improves.
Looking further ahead, additional UK processing capacity is expected to become available in 2027. Based on our analysis of current and projected capacity, we believe this will bridge an element of the processing shortfall in the UK.
In the short to medium term, Ecogenesys is progressing a number of measures including:
- Short term storage of units ahead of treatment
- Export to authorised European treatment facilities, with a TFS application submitted via our partners GAP Group;
- Development of new UK fridge processing infrastructure: providing our producers and Local Authorities increased access and security of supply routes
Graeme Milne, CEO of Ecogenesys, added:
“The UK fridge recycling sector has faced exceptional pressures this summer, but we expect the situation to begin to ease as the seasonal peak passes.
“It is important that Local Authorities, Producer Compliance Schemes and treatment providers continue to work collaboratively to manage capacity and develop practical solutions.
“In the immediate term, additional storage and, subject to regulatory approval, access to European treatment capacity can help manage the current pressures. Longer term, however, the UK needs new domestic fridge processing infrastructure to create a more resilient system.
“Ecogenesys is actively progressing each of these measures and will continue working closely with our Local Authority, producer and treatment partners.”
Ecogenesys - Sustainability and Compliance Services
