Darren Crisp and his father Harry of Harry's Electrical Appliances in Norbury fear the borough is about to be swallowed up by dumped fridge freezers. New EU regulations requiring CFCs in the insulation foam be removed before disposal means Harry's and other similar retailers cannot accept customers' old fridges and freezers when they buy new ones.

Darren said: "The inconvenience of people not being able to find a dump prepared to take them could mean we are going to see lots of them being dumped in the street, which is a hazard and an eyesore."

And Harry's, on London Road, built up a backlog of the rusty old things when they found their usual dumps were no longer taking them.

Contracts and Operations Manager of Environmental Services Waste Disposal Division Rod Lulu, who usually disposes of around 1,200 fridge freezers a year, said residents should contact him to arrange for collection.

He explained: "Unfortunately the UK hasn't got the technology to remove the CFC's from the foam, and local authorities are waiting for advice from the Environment Agency.

"None of the Croydon shops are taking them off people's hands so we are storing them.

"But we're running out of space."

Members of the public should contact the Bulky Waste Collection Service on 020 8255 2700 or 020 8288 8700 for free collection.

November 13, 2001 10:00