People across North Yorkshire are being encouraged to donate or recycle unwanted electronic items during the Christmas and New Year period.
The amount of electronic waste thrown away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the UK. A nationwide campaign – ‘Weee Recycle’ – has been launched to ensure that more unwanted or waste electronic items are either reused or recycled.
Electrical equipment still in working order can be donated to some charities and furniture reuse organisations. To find the nearest charity or reuse organisation that will accept electrical items visit www.letstalklessrubbish.com/reusedirectory. Broken electricals can be recycled on one of the twenty household waste recycling centres in North Yorkshire. To find the location and opening times of the nearest site visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/hwrc.
A waste electronics recycling TV advert has been produced as part of the ‘Weee Recycle’ campaign to coincide with Christmas and New Year – a time when many people receive new electronic items as gifts.
County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, Executive Member for Waste Management:
In 2010/11, residents in North Yorkshire, via the twenty household waste recycling centres, have managed to divert 4, 291 tonnes of waste electronics from landfill.
With the number of electrical goods being thrown away increasing by 5% each year, donating them for reuse or recycle is becoming more important.
Further information about recycling unwanted or broken electronic items, can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/hwrc or on the recycling bank locator at www.recyclenow.com
