Wandsworth Council Expands Recycling of Small Electricals

Kerbside collection introduced along with recycling banks across borough

It is estimated that every household has at least 30 unwanted electrical items. Picture: Wandsworth Council

August 12, 2024

Wandsworth Council is aiming to reduce the number of small electrical items disposed of in landfill by increasing the opportunities for recycling.

It announced this month the rollout of its kerbside small electrical recycling collection service for all eligible households, along with community recycling banks at publicly accessible locations across the borough and libraries.

The new collections are a part of the council’s Cleaner Borough Plan to improve rubbish and recycling services. Residents who live in a property eligible for kerbside collections can recycle unwanted or broken small electrical items on their usual collection day, by simply putting their items out alongside their rubbish, in a plastic bag, which can be recycled.

The household collections follow the installation of 20 bright pink small electrical recycling banks in locations such as car parks and on housing estates and 11 banks at libraries across the borough.

This is one of over 40 UK projects funded by Material Focus, the not-for-profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, who have provided £75,000 of funding to support the electricals recycling expansion in Wandsworth. Wandsworth joins other projects around the country in making it easier for 10 million UK residents to recycle their electricals.

Residents will be able to recycle unwanted or broken small electricals like old headphones, chargers, electric toothbrushes hairdryers and anything with a plug, battery or cable up to the size of a hairdryer, coffee maker or four-slice toaster.

Residents will be made aware of how and where they can recycle their electricals through information on leaflets and posters featuring HypnoCat, the Recycle Your Electricals mesmerising pink, fluffy mascot.

The aim of the nationwide Electricals Recycling Fund is to significantly e-waste and its environmental impact by making it easier for residents to recycle their electricals. The projects that have been funded by Material Focus include a variety of recycling methods, from kerbside collections to drop-off points in schools, community centres, and bring banks. Overall, there will be over 400 new collection points plus kerbside collections for 5.5 million UK residents.

Research has shown that most of us have unwanted electricals we want to get rid of. On average there are at least 30 electrical items hidden away in drawers in UK homes, a total of 880 million items across the UK - with a simple repair many could be donated or sold to people who could put them to good use. And yet 39% of people bin electricals rather than recycle or reuse them leading to over 100,000 tonnes of electricals thrown away every year.

Councillor Judi Gasser, Wandsworth’s Cabinet member for Environment, said, “Unwanted electrical items are one of the fastest growing sources of waste in the world – and the UK - so we are taking action to address this.

“Working with Material Focus to roll out kerbside recycling and install these new bins is one of the many ways we hope to move towards achieving our ambition to become a Carbon Neutral Council by 2030, and a Net Zero Borough by 2043.

“And with the help of everyone locally, working closely with residents to reduce our environmental footprint, together we can create a community that cares for the environment.”

"We are pleased to support Wandsworth Council’s new kerbside collection service for small electricals, as well as expanded recycling banks across the borough, both of which address the pressing issue of e-waste.” said Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus. "By investing in improved collection and drop-off services and exploring new recycling methods, we are taking a significant step towards creating a more sustainable future by making it easier for 10 million more people to recycle their electricals."

To find your nearest recycling point click here. https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/