Recycling

Recycling Household Electrical Equipment (EU WEEE Directive)

With effect from July 2007, the UK’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (W.E.E.E.) Regulations require that all producers of electrical equipment are now obliged to pay for recycling of household electrical goods, where previously this cost was met by councils or items were not recycled at all. These regulations also require that all retailers actively assist in delivering a UK wide WEEE collection infrastructure and encourage the participation of consumers in recycling their electronic equipment.

Wherever possible Green & Easy work with the manufacturers to try to arrange collection of old appliances. Where that’s not possible we comply with this directive (along with thousands of other electrical retail businesses without their own nationwide fleet of vehicles) by contributing towards a national fund to help process this type of waste in the following ways:-

1. By assisting local councils to further develop their existing waste electronics collection facilities, so producers of this equipment meet their obligations
2. By providing comprehensive recycling information including local recycling amenities via the website www.recycle-more.co.uk.

Not all council amenity sites are able to collect all types of waste electrical goods but to find your nearest suitable participating site (including other collection facilities that may not be operated by the council) and for advice on all aspects of recycling at home, please visit http://www.recycle-more.co.uk.  Remember to have your postcode ready to use in the ‘recycling facilities’ locator.

Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and much of it can be recycled, with the resources recovered to make new consumer goods. All electrical items sold now carry the ‘crossed out wheeled bin’ symbol as above to remind users not to simply throw the item away if it’s no longer useful or usable. To ensure your waste electronics don’t contribute to damaging the environment, please use http://www.recycle-more.co.uk and recycle today.

Remember many charities can use old or unwanted electrical equipment to raise useful funds by recycling them so it’s worth checking around your local high street or searching online. To pick just one example from many where you get cash back as well, if you have an old mobile phone try the Oxfam link to fonebank where you can get cash for your unwanted mobile and make a donation at the same time! Try:-
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/other-ways-to-donate/recycle-with-us

If in doubt, or if you need any further help with recycling your old appliance please contact Customer Services on 0845 257 0550.