How To Recycle Your Electrical Appliances

Choosing to recycle is the most eco-friendly and responsible way to discard broken or obsolete electrical items, ranging from large kitchen appliances to smaller handheld devices. In this blog post, we explain how and why to recycle your electrical items.

Why should we recycle electrical items?

Every year in the UK, 170 million new electrical items are purchased, but less than one-third of these are recycled when they come to the use of their use.

Electrical and electronic devices are composed of a broad array of materials, many of which can be repurposed. For instance, a clothes iron contains enough steel to manufacture 13 steel cans.

By recycling outdated and unneeded electrical items, you contribute to environmental conservation by preventing potentially harmful waste from being dumped in landfills, which can cause soil and water pollution.

What's the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive?

Introduced in 2007, the WEEE Directive dictates the conduct of manufacturers and retailers in European countries concerning recycling.

The WEEE Directive, which is regularly updated, aims to reduce the amount of harmful electrical waste that ends up in landfills. While the regulations may not directly impact consumers, they simplify the recycling of your outdated electrical goods.

Which electrical items can be recycled?

Nearly all electrical items with a plug or a battery can be recycled, including:

• Large household devices such as refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, dishwashers, and washing machines.
• Smaller household appliances such as irons, toasters, kettles, and vacuum cleaners.
• IT and communication equipment such as laptops, fax machines, printers, and mobile phones.
• Entertainment-related equipment like portable speakers, stereo systems, televisions, DVD players, and gaming consoles.
• Tools like drills, saws, lawnmowers, and sewing machines.
• Personal grooming devices like electric toothbrushes, hairdryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons.

'Can it be recycled?' checklist

Your electrical item can be recycled if you can answer 'yes' to any of these questions:

• Does it have a plug?
• Does it utilise a charger?
• Does it use batteries?
• Does it carry the WEEE wheelie bin logo (a crossed-out wheelie bin)?

How do I recycle my electrical item?

There are several straightforward options available for recycling electrical goods:

• Bring your item to your local recycling centre – find your nearest location on the Recycle Now website.
• Under the WEEE directive, all retailers are required to provide a means for customers to dispose of their old household electrical and electronic equipment when they buy a new similar item. This can be via a collection service or a store take-back scheme. Check with your retailer for specifics (they might charge for the collection service).
• Some local councils provide a household recycling collection service for small electrical items. Contact your local council for more information.