SOMERSET'S FRIDGE MOUNTAIN (16/01/02)

Wednesday, January 16th 2002

Conservative Councillors in Somerset are extremely concerned at the under-funding of the Government’s latest ill-conceived plan for the disposal of fridges.

Old fridges are now to be treated as hazardous waste. The disposal process will cost over £30 per fridge. This ensures that no retailer is likely to pick up your old fridge. The burden falls, once again, on Somerset County Council.

Government has made only £6 million available until March. However, with 2.1 million fridges scrapped per year, local authorities are in fact looking at a bill in excess of £55 million.

Conservative leader John Smeaton commented, ‘Government in its wisdom has generously allowed the County Council £40,000. Whereas, based on the number of fridges likely to be disposed of within Somerset, the cost to the County will be in excess of £400,000. This is another example of a Government unloading its responsibilities on to local authorities without providing either the funding, or the ability to raise funds, to deal with the problem.’