UK Announces Official Opening of Telford Fridge Recycling Plant

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The UK Environment Minister Therese Coffey has announced official opening of UK’s biggest fridge recycling plant. The state-of-the-art plant in Halesfield business park, Telford is considered as a major step in the country’s efforts to increase recycling of discarded large electrical appliances. In addition to fridges, the plant will also process washing machines, dishwashers, tumble driers and other household electrical appliances.

The new recycling facility is a joint venture between the electrical retailer AO.com and the recycling company The Recycling Group (TRG). The plant has a capacity to recycle 700,000 fridges per year from AO customers and third parties. This is equivalent to almost one-fifth of the estimated 3.5 million appliances thrown away by UK households every year.

The plant has been in operation since last summer and has already led to creation of over 200 new jobs in the region. Apart from providing major boost to economy, the facility has boosted Telford’s reputation as a centre of excellence for recycling.

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The recycling plant houses a powerful shredding machine which uses heavy duty rotating steel chains to break fridges and other appliances into their constituent metals, plastics and insulation foam. The materials are then separated and sorted at the plant for recycling. The process also ensures removal and safe disposal of all hazardous materials including oils, refrigerants and gases at the site itself. The plant also recycles cardboard packaging. In addition, it repairs and refurbishes appliances for resale.

Coffey, while congratulating AO, noted that the business will help in increasing the recycling capacity of fridges and other electrical household appliances. She emphasized the need for coordinated efforts by businesses, consumers and government to boost recycling rates, in order to protect the environment for future generations.

The Telford plant is the biggest investment in UK fridge recycling in more than a decade.