Divers carrying out routine underwater checks on a tidal weir in Glasgow discovered "dozens and dozens" of illegally dumped household appliances in the Clyde, but with visibility down to less than 12 inches, it was difficult to gauge the extent of the problem, the Independent reported Tuesday.

Under European law, it is illegal to destroy or recycle old refrigerators until coolant chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are expertly removed.

Fridges or freezers more than five years old contain CFCs, a prime source of ozone depletion and a threat to the river's marine food chain.

Officials fear unscrupulous door-to-door salesmen are cashing in on people's ignorance of new European regulations and lack of awareness of the city's free collection service for domestic appliances.