Significant National disruption to the collection and recycling of used refrigeration appliances.

We would like to make our customers aware of an issue affecting the refrigeration recycling network across England.

The specialist facilities required to safely process end-of-life refrigerators and freezers are currently experiencing significant capacity pressures. A number of treatment facilities have closed, and a recent fire at a treatment facility has further reduced available processing capacity. As a result, collection and recycling services are experiencing delays nationally.

Unfortunately, this is an industry-wide issue and is outside the direct control of Esteem Domestic Appliance Ltd.

We are continuing to do everything we can to minimise the impact on our customers and maintain our normal delivery and installation service wherever possible. However, as part of our service, we remove customers’ old refrigeration appliances for responsible recycling, and we are now experiencing significant difficulty in having these units collected by our recycling contractor.

We have been working with our recycling partner for more than 10 years and in conjunction with them, have always been committed to ensuring that the appliances we remove are handled through appropriate and responsible recycling channels. We are currently holding a significant number of end-of-life refrigeration appliances at our premises while awaiting collection, and our available storage capacity is now approaching its maximum limit.

At present, our recycling partner is unable to provide us with a definite date by which normal collection capacity will be restored. We are therefore monitoring the situation closely and working with them to secure collection capacity as soon as it becomes available.

We have now also raised this unacceptable situation with our Member of Parliament, as we are aware that national statistics for the capability of waste electrical recycling is close to breaking point. We therefore feel that as a responsible service provider we should ensure that this matter is heard at the highest level.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this situation may cause. Please be assured that we are not ignoring the problem and are actively working to minimise any disruption to our customers.

We ask for your patience and understanding while this national infrastructure issue is resolved. Our priority remains providing our customers with the best possible service whilst ensuring that old refrigeration appliances are managed responsibly and through appropriate recycling channels.

We will provide further updates as soon as reliable information becomes available.

Esteem Domestic Appliance Ltd.