How can I recycle my electrical items?

Bury residents have been praised for their recycling efforts but are keen to know more about disposing of their electrical items.

A new survey has revealed that a quarter of Bury people simply throw their old radios, kettles, mobile phones, irons and hairdryers into the general waste bin. However, half of the respondents said they did not know how to recycle electrical items, and 58% wanted to find out more.

The UK-wide survey carried out by REPIC, the UK’s largest WEEE producer compliance scheme, also found that 39% of the respondents thought that mobile phones couldn’t be recycled and over a third weren’t aware that cookers, tumble dryers and dishwashers could be recycled.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing waste stream in the UK – yet when it comes to recycling, it’s currently given the least attention in UK homes. Impressively, 90% of people surveyed in Bury always recycle paper, cardboard, tins and bottles and 65% recycle kitchen and garden waste, but only 41% of respondents said they recycled electrical goods.

Reassuringly, the environmental impact of e-waste was a concern for the majority of people questioned - 46% thought that it was hazardous for the environment and wanted more information on this.

Dr Philip Morton, CEO of REPIC, said: “Overall the survey findings are very encouraging. There are plenty of good intentions and the majority of people are keen to find out which electrical products can be recycled and how they should be disposed of. It’s also great to see that young people in particular are curious to find out more.”

Councillor Tony Isherwood, Bury Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Most people want to ‘do the right thing’, as shown by both this survey and the recent impressive rise in recycling rates across the borough.

“The variety of goods that can be recycled these days is huge, and every item recycled helps to protect our environment and save money in disposal costs.”

Residents of Bury can recycle unwanted electrical items at any household waste recycling centre across Greater Manchester, including Every Street in Bury and Cemetery Road in Radcliffe.

Full information on recycling WEEE can be found on REPIC’s Responsible Recycling website: http://www.responsible-recycling.co.uk/

ENDS

Press release issued: 3 September 2015.

Picture: At a recent REPIC recycling event held at Springside Primary School are pupils (from left) Valiant, Abigail, Farhan, Rushney, Fletcher and Katy. Behind them are (from left) Sarah Hastry (Y4 teacher), Glenn Stuart (head of waste management), Talat Afzal (recycling awareness officer), Councillor Wiseman (deputy mayor) and Philip Morton (CEO of REPIC).

Note to editors:

REPIC is a not-for-profit company established in January 2004 by leading companies in the electrical and electronics industry to meet their producer obligations under the WEEE Directive.