Residents are being asked to check their disposal options before trying to get rid of fridges, freezers and other cooling appliances.
The call comes after a national shortage of specialist treatment and storage capacity has forced councils to temporarily suspend some collection services.
Until further notice, fridges, freezers and other cooling appliances cannot be accepted through Malvern Hills District Council’s Bulky Waste Collection Service.
Residents with existing affected bookings will be contacted directly about refunds or alternative arrangements.
Worcestershire County Council has also suspended the acceptance these items at all household recycling centres across the county.
Where possible, residents should follow the SCRAP approach by using retailer take-back schemes when buying a replacement appliance, considering repair, passing on working appliances, or safely storing items at home until services resume.
To help make sure waste is handled properly, residents using a private waste carrier should check they have a valid waste carrier licence with the Environment Agency and ask what will happen to their waste.
WasteGuard, an MHDC tool, can help with this by allowing residents to obtain quotes from waste carriers who have been checked for a valid licence and responsible waste disposal practices at the time of listing.
Cllr Jeremy Owenson, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We appreciate this is difficult for people who need to dispose of a fridge or freezer, particularly when space at home may be limited. The important thing is that these appliances are handled safely and responsibly, which is why the service has had to be paused while the national treatment and storage issue continues. If anyone is considering using a private waste carrier, please check they have a valid waste carrier licence and ask what will happen to the waste before agreeing to a collection.”
The council will share further updates when more information is available.
Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling for updates.
Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/wasteguard for more information about Wasteguard.
Date published: 20 August 2026
