Minister weighs introducing fee to dispose of certain household appliances

The Infrastructure Minister is exploring the possibility of introducing a charge for the disposal of certain household items, including fridges and televisions.

Constable Andy Jehan told politicians on the scrutiny panel that the government’s finances could benefit from such a measure, noting a “hole” in current funding.

He explained that charging residents for the removal and disposal of electrical goods, particularly appliances containing coolants like fridges, could help reduce waste while generating revenue.

“Cooling appliances are more complex to recycle because of their mechanisms,” Constable Jehan said. “At the moment, commercial fitters bring us multiple appliances at once, which fill a trailer and cost thousands of pounds to export for processing. In most other places, there would be a disposal fee for this.”

He emphasised the need to balance cost and environmental concerns: “We don’t want fly-tipping to occur, but we must consider the cost of safe disposal and the opportunities for recycling. This isn’t about charging for the sake of it; it’s about encouraging people to reduce waste and reuse where possible.”

Constable Jehan also cited the example of televisions, which arrive in large numbers at disposal sites. “In some jurisdictions, residents might be charged £10 for a TV,” he said, highlighting the potential model for local implementation.