It’s electric - £1k prizes for school and community groups

Bury schools, community groups and good causes - such as not-for-profit organisations and registered charities – could share in £1,000 of electrical products as part of a new responsible recycling initiative.

The community prize pot has been put forward by Bury-based not-for-profit Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling scheme, REPIC.

WEEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the UK and REPIC is a major force behind WEEE recycling - successfully financing the collection, treatment and recycling of around half of the UK’s used electrical items. This year REPIC is celebrating ten years of successful recycling and the giveaway prize pot is the organisation’s way of giving something back to local community groups, as well as encouraging further responsible recycling.

The giveaway will run nationwide across 10 areas in England and Wales and 10 in Scotland, with £1,000 in total grants for each area.

Local scout group, St Joseph’s in Ramsbottom, helped to kick start the scheme. The scout troop needed a new microwave and torches, so scouts Louis Palmer and Sebastian Brett happily carried them away.

Any local school, community group, or good cause can put itself forward for the electrical goodies – or they can nominate another cause. They simply need to say: “What new electrical product/products they need - up to the value of £1,000 - and why?” Followed by answering: “What does WEEE stand for?”

All eligible applications that answer the question correctly will be considered. Full details and terms and conditions are available on REPIC’s Responsible Recycling microsite www.responsible-recycling.co.uk and the closing date for applications is 27 June 2014.

Dr Philip Morton, CEO of REPIC, said: “We’re proud to celebrate ten years of successful WEEE recycling and we wanted to mark it with a worthwhile community initiative and hopefully encourage further responsible recycling of electricals at the same time. It’s great to launch in Bury and we’re looking forward to receiving the entries – whether the request is for something simple like a microwave - or whether it’s a higher value purchase such as washing machine or laptop.”

Glenn Stuart, head of waste management at Bury Council, said: “This is a great chance for schools and community groups to win electrical products that they really are in need of.  It’s also an excellent opportunity to remind our communities that unwanted household electrical goods, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and fridges, can all be taken to any household waste recycling centre in Greater Manchester.”

Details of all the household recycling centres can be found at www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com/recycle/recycling-centres.

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 June 2014.

Picture attached: Louis Palmer and Sebastian Brett of St Joseph’s scout group in Ramsbottom.

Notes to editors:

REPIC is a not-for-profit company
established in January 2004 by leading companies
in AMDEA, SEAMA and Intellect – three of the main trade
associations in the electrical and electronics industry – to meet their
producer obligations under the WEEE Directive.

For further information, please contact Karen Adams or Louise Palmer at HatTrick PR on:

Karen Adams: 07572 443 112 or email karen.adams@hattrickpr.co.uk

Louise Palmer: 07984 665 120 or email louise.palmer@hattrickpr.co.uk