Oxfordshire County Council has changed the tip rules on the disposing of fridges and freezers this summer.
Along with the rest of the country, the country is feeling the impact of a nationwide shortage of specialist facilities able to process and recycle unwanted fridges and freezers.
As a result, Oxfordshire County Council is temporarily limiting the number of these items it can accept at its household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).
The council has written to government to ask for action to be taken.
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Residents booking a fridge or freezer slot will see the daily availability online up to one week in advance, rather than the normal two-week window.
Other materials and HWRC bookings are not impacted by this.
Households will be limited to one fridge or freezer booking every three months, although they can bring up to two of these items with each booking.
The council has also asked Oxfordshire’s district and city councils to make similar temporary restrictions on the collection of fridges and freezers to their bulky waste services.
Residents will need to check the situation in their area with their district or city council.
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Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: "We are exploring every avenue to address the backlog and support residents to continue recycling.
"I have written to the government to suggest steps they could take to alleviate the situation at a national level.
"Unfortunately, our capacity for treatment nationally has been reduced by a third and we have now had to introduce temporary restrictions at our HWRCs to help manage a growing backlog as we seek to maintain the service for residents.
"We would also like to thank residents for their understanding and working with us through this nationally challenging period."
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People are reminded they can use retailer takeback schemes when buying a new appliance or resell or donate working units.
Retailers must offer a like-for-like collection service, although they may charge for collection from the home.
Last week, Oxfordshire County Council announced it was temporarily stopping accepting the items from people living outside the county to prioritise Oxfordshire residents.
All the measures will be kept under constant review, and the council will make existing customers aware of any updates through the HWRC booking system.
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Customers are reminded to book a slot online on the council’s website before visiting their HWRC.
Residents without internet access can book slots by phone by contacting the council’s customer service centre on 01865 519800 between 8.45am and 5pm, on Monday to Thursday, and 8.45am to 4pm on Fridays.
Oxfordshire customers are also reminded to bring proof of address with them when visiting an HWRC.
This can be a driving licence or recent utility or council tax bill, with visitors from outside the county now being charged £15.
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