Time to farewell that old fridge, freezer or air-con this Sunday

Date: Tuesday, 20th October 2009

If you have an old fridge, freezer or air-conditioner, now’s the time to bid it farewell and take part in a free drop-off day.

Townsville City Council has secured funding from the Federal Government to decommission old units and ensure they are disposed of safely.

Residents can bring along up to three fridges, three freezers or three air-conditioners to Hervey’s Range Landfill and Transfer Station this Sunday and the units will be disposed of without charge. No tipping voucher will be required for these drop-offs.

Environment and Sustainability Committee chairman Cr Vern Veitch encouraged residents to take part.

“Gases in older cooling appliances are extremely damaging to the environment and were phased out in new equipment years ago because of their adverse impact on the ozone layer. Irresponsible release of these gases leads to increased risk of skin cancer and other types of cancer,” he said.

“Even the new appliances should be de-gassed for both safety and environmental reasons.

“Residents should take advantage of this day to dispose of unwanted appliances without hurting the environment.

“Responsible disposal helps the environment and our community.”

Decommissioning of refrigerators involves removing refrigerant gas from the system, which ensures the gases are not released into the atmosphere.

Refrigerators typically contain a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) or hydroflurocarbon (HFC) refrigerant. HCFCs and CFCs deplete the ozone layer, while CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs are all potent greenhouse gases that contribute significantly to global warming.