Make sure it’s just the family you spoil this Christmas - not the environment

9 Dec 2009

Waste Awareness Wales (WAW) is urging households to act responsibly this Christmas when it comes to disposing of old gadgets and games consoles.

With the UK public predicted to spend £7.3bn on electricals in the run up to Christmas this year, a new survey from Recycle Now has revealed that more than a third of us (35 per cent) still believe we can’t recycle the small electrical and electronic goods we are replacing, such as kettles, games consoles, phones and garden power tools. 

Our old TVs, computers, mobile phones, power tools and electronic toys and games all make up the 1.8 million tonnes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) generated each year in the UK.

The survey of 1,500 UK adults also reveals that just under 30 per cent of us simply throw broken or unwanted items away in the rubbish, whereas if we switched to recycling these items we could divert over 100,000 tonnes of valuable waste electricals from UK landfills each year, weighing the equivalent of 14,000 double decker buses.  

WEEE is one of the most harmful waste streams still being sent to landfill as it contains hazardous substances such as mercury, lead, beryllium and cadmium. When disposed of to landfill these substances are released into the ground where they pollute the surrounding area.

By keeping old WEEE separate from other household wastes it can be treated, the hazardous substances can be removed and a large proportion recycled rather than sent to landfill.

With Christmas looming, many lucky individuals will be receiving brand new games consoles, computers and other electrical gadgets which can raise the issue of how to dispose of any old redundant electrical equipment responsibly.

Owain Griffiths of Waste Awareness Wales, said: "Whether it's an old mobile phone, electronic toy, power tool, kettle or toaster – we are urging people not to put them out with the general rubbish. At current rates, our landfill space in Wales will be exhausted in just eight years.  Rather than throwing the item away, think first whether you could give it away or swap it with any of your relatives or friends. If not, why not try to sell it online, or put it on and online exchange site such as Freegle or Gumtree.

"Many large electrical retailers provide take-back schemes where they will take away the item which you are replacing. At the very least, the retailer is obliged to advise you of the nearest facility where your old item can be recycled.

"If you have to get rid of an item however, you should always find out if it can be reused or recycled - the majority of electrical items contain a whole host of valuable materials that can be used in the manufacture of other products.

"Most local authorities in Wales offer a WEEE recycling scheme providing designated collection facilities where members of the public can take their unwanted electrical goods to be recycled. To find out where your nearest facility is, use the bank locator at: http://tinyurl.com/WAWbanklocator."