Handy tips on recycling electrical items
March 20, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Anything requiring either batteries or mains power to operate is classified as an electrical or electronic item. When it becomes waste it is known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). In the UK alone we discard over a million tonnes of WEEE every year and the amount is growing.
If put into landfill, precious metals and plastic are wasted, doubly bad if you think about the impact mining for more metals has on the environment. More than ever, it’s important that we recycle correctly. Here’s how:
- If you live in North London DHL and NWLA operate a scheme through which they collect and recycle your WEEE for free. You can’t get fairer than that! Find more info at 123 recycle for free.
- Look out for manufacturer recycling schemes. Some will collect for free or a predefined charge, others require the equipment to be brought to a store.
- Ask your council to collect it. They are legally bound to do so, but may charge a fee.
- Take it to a recycling centre. The website Recycle Now allows you to enter your postcode, find your nearest centre and discover which items you can recycle both there and at your kerbside.
- If it’s still working, donate your equipment to a charity shop or to another lucky citizen via the fantastic Freecycle network.
- If you’re worried about not having a digital TV, there’s no need to throw your old set out. Any analogue TV can receive digital signals via a digital box.
- You can even make money with unwanted electrical goods on sites such as eBay and Gumtree. Once you get it all together you may be surprised how much extra cash it adds up to.
Great tips. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle! Something that is just a small amount of extra work for us, yet will make a huge difference if we all jump aboard the recycling wagon! We produce stylish clothing made partly from recycled materials – so you can help save the world, by looking great.