Householders on the Isle of Wight won't be left out in the cold because of new European legislation concerning the disposal of fridges and freezers.

The regulations are being introduced because of the environmental harm caused to the ozone layer by the release of CFC gases into the atmosphere.

As a result, an increasing number of retailers are refusing to take away old fridges from a home when they deliver a new one, as once the appliance is in their possession it becomes commercial waste, carrying with it a significant disposal cost.

The problem of disposal then facing the householder is not, however, insurmountable.

They can either deliver the fridge or freezer to one of the Island's three amenity sites run for the Island's council by Island Waste Services, or they can arrange for the item to be collected through the firm's bulky waste arrangements.

No charge is made for a fridge or freezer when it is delivered to an amenity site by the householder, but they can expect to pay for a bulky waste collection.

The council and Island Waste Services have, however, agreed a concessionary rate of £20 including VAT. But this charge is subject to review when other disposal costs are known in the coming months.

Pending the building of special plants across the country, the unwanted firdges and freezers will have to be taken to one of the special storage depots on the mainland.

Eric Mawdsley, council operations manager, said: "In the past a retailer taking back an old fridge or freezer could recoup some or all of the cost by selling on the appliance for export to a Third World country or just from scrap value.

"However, the new EU regulations that come into force on January 1 prohibit such exports, and the cost of disposal will be significantly more than the scrap value."