North Little Rock, Arkansas – Residents of North Little Rock will need to make new plans for getting rid of old refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning units, as the city’s sanitation department has announced it will no longer collect these appliances.
The change, which is already in effect, comes as a result of updated landfill policies surrounding the disposal of freon—a chemical found in many cooling appliances. Freon, which is used in the refrigeration process, must be properly removed and handled before an item can be accepted by most landfills, and these regulations have made it harder for city crews to process such items during regular pickups.
“The sanitation department will no longer be able to pick up refrigerators, freezers or AC units,” city officials confirmed. The announcement means that residents will need to explore other options when looking to discard these common household appliances.
City officials are encouraging people to contact local recyclers who are equipped to handle the safe removal of freon and the recycling of these large appliances. Two local businesses were suggested for residents needing help: Tennenbaum Recycling, which can be reached at 501-945-0881, and Reeves Recyclers at 501-457-7653.
While this policy change may cause a temporary inconvenience, officials noted that it’s necessary to comply with environmental regulations and keep harmful chemicals out of landfills. Freon, if not properly disposed of, can contribute to ozone layer depletion and other environmental risks.
North Little Rock residents can still rely on the sanitation department for other types of waste disposal and large-item pickup, as long as those items do not contain refrigerants. To find a complete list of what is and isn’t accepted by the city, and to learn more about proper disposal methods, residents are encouraged to visit the city’s official website at NLR.AR.gov.
In the meantime, the city continues to work with recycling partners and encourages responsible disposal practices for all residents.
