AO, the UK’s most trusted electrical retailer, has surpassed 10 million household appliances processed at its wholly-owned recycling plant in Telford, Shropshire.
Laid end-to-end, the 10 million appliances recycled at the facility would stretch approximately 11,000km – roughly the distance from Telford to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
To mark the milestone, AO wrapped the 10 millionth appliance to pass through the site – a washing machine – in gold.
AO is the only UK electrical retailer to wholly own its own recycling plant, allowing for direct control over what happens to a customer’s old appliance from collection through to processing, rather than outsourcing the work to a third party.
How the facility works
Each year, around half a million fridges are processed through AO’s 80-tonne fridge-crushing machine, Bertha. A further 500,000+ washing machines, tumble dryers and cookers pass through the site annually – recycled, or in many cases skilfully refurbished and resold through trade and outlet shops as part of AO’s reuse and repurpose programme.
“We’re incredibly proud to have processed 10 million appliances in a decade,” said Robert Sant, Group Recycling Director at AO. “It’s been amazing to watch our operation grow over the past ten years and this feels like a really significant milestone.”
Operations Manager Darren Baden-Smith, Operational Assistant Manager Martyna Fejfer and Director of Commercial David Ware with the wrapped washing machine
Output from Bertha moves on to AO’s nearby plastics recycling and refining facility, which uses electrostatic and sink-float technology to separate and sort around 10,000 tonnes of fridge plastic every year. Following a £2 million investment in an extruder last year, AO now produces high-quality HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) pellets — the raw material for a wide range of new products.
Plastic processed at the site is currently used to manufacture bathroom extractor fans, sold under brands including Manrose and Vent-Axia, with plans to expand into floorcare and broadband products.
“Investing millions of pounds in an extruder last year marked another big step forward in our circular capabilities, as it allows us to create more substantial, longer-lasting products,” Sant added. “Our ‘North Star’, as it were, is still to take plastic from an old fridge, process it and feed it into a new one. We’re still not quite there yet but that goal gets closer all the time.”
How customers can recycle with AO
Customers buying a new appliance can add AO’s Remove & Recycle service at checkout – included at no extra cost for AO Members. Anyone not buying a new appliance can use AO’s standalone Collect & Recycle service to book a collection on its own, from £30.
Frequently asked questions
How many appliances has AO recycled? AO has recycled more than 10 million household appliances at its recycling plant in Telford, Shropshire, since the facility became operational in late 2016.
Is AO the only UK retailer with its own recycling plant? Yes. AO is the only UK electrical retailer to wholly own its own electricals recycling facility, rather than outsourcing recycling to a third party.
What happens to plastic from recycled appliances at AO? Plastic recovered from appliances processed at AO’s Telford facility is refined into HIPS and ABS pellets at AO’s plastics recycling facility, and is currently used to manufacture products including bathroom extractor fans, with plans to expand into floorcare and broadband products.
How can I recycle an old appliance with AO? Customers buying a new appliance can add Remove & Recycle at checkout, included free for AO Members. Customers not buying a new appliance can use AO’s standalone Collect & Recycle service from £30.
What is Bertha? Bertha is AO’s 80-tonne fridge-crushing machine at its Telford recycling facility, processing around half a million fridges every year.