WCC wants your WEEE
Warwickshire’s residents can now get even more switched on to the benefits of recycling everything from old rechargeable toothbrushes and calculators through to toasters and kettles.
Warwickshire Waste Partnership believes many households are hoarding long expired electrical and electronic items, which could be put to good use through recycling.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Many people are throwing everything from calculators, old toasters and irons, through to computers and televisions into their general waste bin, which then just goes to landfill.
“If all the electrical items hoarded away or disposed of were recycled, the used materials would be converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources”.
“If used electrical items are not recycled, new products are made by extracting fresh, raw materials mined from the Earth”.
Warwickshire County Council has been recycling electrical items for some time before the implementation of the WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, which came into force in the UK on 1 July 2007.
The Directive aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment by increasing re-use and recycling, and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill. The directive also applies to fridges and freezers**
Warwickshire County Council provides facilities at all nine household waste recycling centres across the county to enable residents to recycle electrical items more easily*.
If working electrical items are no longer required, there may be a local organisation or charity, which can offer a reuse service. If your item is too large to transport, your local district or borough council may be able to offer you a bulky waste collection service.
For further information about the WEEE Directive and for details regarding the locations, opening times and types of materials we can accept at our Household Waste Recycling Centres in Warwickshire please visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/recycling.
If you have any questions about recycling and disposal please contact the Waste Management Team at WCC on tel: 01926 412593 or email waste@warwickshire.gov.uk.
** Wellesbourne HWRC does not accept fridges or freezers
* Vehicle restrictions apply