Commercial fridge disposal: a business guide to duty of care
Bottle coolers, display chillers and cold rooms count as hazardous waste. Here’s what the law expects from your business, and the paperwork that proves it.
· 2 min read · By the WEEE Want Your Waste team
The short version
- Your business stays legally responsible for waste until it is properly disposed of, even after it leaves your site.
- Commercial refrigeration is hazardous waste, so in England it moves on a hazardous waste consignment note.
- Keep consignment notes for at least three years. They’re your evidence if anything is ever questioned.
What duty of care actually means
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, every business that produces waste has a duty of care. You must store it safely, hand it only to an authorised person, describe it accurately, and take reasonable steps to stop it being mishandled further down the chain. “I paid someone to take it” is not a defence if that someone wasn’t licensed.
Why commercial fridges are hazardous waste
Commercial units such as bottle coolers, display chillers, ice machines and blast chillers contain refrigerant gases and often oil in the compressor. Many older units also contain ozone-depleting substances in the insulation foam. That puts them in the hazardous waste category, which carries stricter paperwork than ordinary trade waste.
The paperwork you need
- A hazardous waste consignment note for each collection (in England), signed by you and the carrier.
- The carrier’s waste carrier registration number. Check it on the GOV.UK register before collection day.
- Confirmation of where the waste is going: a permitted treatment facility.
- Copies kept for at least three years, either on paper or digitally.
How to choose a compliant collector
- Ask for their waste carrier registration number and check it yourself.
- Ask where the units are taken and whether the site is permitted to treat refrigeration equipment.
- Make sure the paperwork is issued on the day, not “sent later”.
- Get a fixed price per unit before booking, so there are no surprise charges on the day.
Our commercial fridge disposal service covers single units through to full kitchen refits, and we can quote for cold room panels and catering equipment on the same visit.
| Item | First unit | Each additional |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial refrigeration (from) | £129 | £100 |
| Cold room panels | Quoted | Quoted |
Common questions
How long do I need to keep hazardous waste consignment notes?
In England you must keep hazardous waste consignment notes for at least three years.
Can I be fined if my contractor fly-tips our old fridges?
Yes. Failing your duty of care is a criminal offence, and businesses can face unlimited fines in court. Always use a registered carrier and keep the paperwork.
Do you collect from sites outside Buckinghamshire?
Yes. We cover London, the South East and the Midlands regularly, and can arrange collections nationwide.
