A WORCESTER councillor says he fears dumped fridges could litter the city after laws come into force in the New Year preventing their disposal at landfill sites.

Derek Prodger claims new European legislation could increase fly-tipping in the city because frustrated householders will have nowhere to dispose of the unwanted applicances.

Hazardous

Under the legislation, which comes into force on New Year's Day, fridges will be classed as hazardous goods because of chemicals in their casing and landfill sites will refuse to accept them.

But Councillor Prodger, who has responsibility for waste as the city council's portfolio holder for community services, warned there would be nowhere to dispose of the fridges safely when the legislation came into force.

He called for urgent action to provide suitable facilities.

"There's a risk those turned away by landfill operators are going to dump the fridge in a ditch or at the side of a road," he said.

"We need to provide somewhere for members of the public to take old fridges to be disposed of as a matter of urgency.

"Something must be sorted out very, very quickly.

"I'm very concerned that failing to provide a facility will result in an increase in fly-tipping.

"We've waited until the 11th hour to do something about the problem - and now it's too late."

Mike Harrison, from the city council's operational services division, accepted people with old fridges would have difficulty disposing of them, but promised the situation was being addressed.

"We will still be able to collect fridges, but there is nowhere we can dispose of them in a way which meets the legislation requirements," he said.

National scale

"A company is being set up which will be able to dispose of fridges properly on a national scale, but won't be in operation for some time.

"So in between the legislation coming into force and the company operating, we'll have to stockpile them."