Hazardous fridge disposal methods anger councillors

DUBLIN City councillors are to demand explanations from council management as to why fridges and freezers were broken up in bin lorries, risking the release of hazardous gases.

Representatives sitting on the environment committee of Dublin City Council (DCC) were responding to an Irish Examiner investigation showing fridges and freezers being disposed of in ‘crusher’ bin lorries.

“I’m very disappointed and very concerned,” said Green party councillor Bronwen Maher. “There is a high risk of release of CFCs by putting fridges and freezers into a bin lorry.”

Fridges and freezers are hazardous waste under EU law and cannot be dumped in a landfill. CFCs gases, which damage the ozone layer, must be removed before disposal.

A council spokesperson said what had happened was against council policy and that a disciplinary inquiry had been set up. He said council policy clearly stated fridges or any gas-emitting electrical product were not to be put in bin lorries.

Ms Maher said she was annoyed when she realised the photographs were taken last Friday, a day after she had raised the matter with council management.

She said she contacted the local depot and they had confirmed fridges and freezers were being put into bin lorries.

She said she then rang the environmental awareness officer and told her.

“She acknowledged it shouldn’t be happening. She rang the depot and told them fridges and freezers were not to go into ‘crushers’ and that flat-bed trucks should be used. She phoned me back to assure me she had got commitments. Now, I hear the pictures were taken on Friday, that they were still doing it. That’s really bad.”

Chairman of the environment committee, Fine Gael councillor Paschal Donohoe, said there was “no excuse” in disposing of fridges and freezers in bin lorries. “We have to make sure that waste is disposed of consistent with EU directives.”

He said the council’s overall record on environmental standards was positive.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Tom Stafford said he had raised the issue with council management three months ago. He said he was told bin lorries were used because there were only two flat-bed trucks for the north side.

Sinn Féin councillor and party environment spokesperson Daithí Doolan said there needed to be more investment in flat-bed trucks.