The Council is asking residents to delay disposing of unwanted fridges and freezers, where practical and safe to do so, because of a national shortage of facilities that process these items.
The issue is affecting councils across England after several specialist treatment sites were taken out of operation, significantly reducing national capacity.
Household Waste Recycling Centres remain open. However, Leigh Marshes Household Waste Recycling Centre is temporarily unable to accept fridges and freezers. Residents who need to dispose of these items can take them to Stock Road Household Waste Recycling Centre.
The council is working closely with its waste contractor, SUEZ, as well as Defra, the Environment Agency and industry partners to minimise disruption and maintain services. Temporary storage arrangements have also been introduced while treatment capacity remains limited.
Residents are encouraged to consider alternatives before arranging disposal. Where possible, they should:
- continue using appliances that are safe and in working order
- explore opportunities to repair, reuse or donate working appliances
- ask retailers whether they can collect old appliances when delivering replacements
- delay disposal until the national situation improves.
Bookings for fridge and freezer collections through the bulky waste service are currently suspended temporarily.
Cllr Cheryl Nevin, Cabinet Member for Civic Pride, said: "This is a national issue that is affecting councils across the country, and we are proactively doing everything we can to minimise disruption for Southend residents.
"If you have a fridge or freezer that is still safe to keep for a little longer, delaying disposal where possible will help reduce pressure on the system while the industry works to restore capacity. We're grateful to residents for their patience and support."