Did you upgrade your home devices this Christmas or treat yourself to a January sale bargain? An estimated 180 million electrical and electronic products are sold annually in the UK, so what happens to the old devices?
As a result of the growing number of household gadgets purchased in the UK each year, electrical equipment has become the fastest growing waste stream. From games consoles, TVs and laptops to novelty gifts, cables and headphones, these old devices could have a second life. If broken they can still be recycled and stripped for valuable parts, even small devices can contain precious material such as copper, lithium and stainless steel to help reduce the impact of e-waste.
E-waste includes computers, laptops, mobile phones, televisions and home appliances. In fact, anything with electrical components, a cord or a plug. We all have unused electrical waste, and we can all do our bit to repurpose or recycle.
The dangers of e-waste in landfill:
- Batteries and circuits pollute ground water
- Batteries are flammable and unsafe in landfill
- Devices are made of plastic which takes longer to decompose
- Toxins from e-waste enter the atmosphere
- Lead is released into the environment
What can we do?
- Donate our unused devices to a family member, friend, neighbour or charity
- Sell electronics to be reused and resold
- Take broken or redundant devices to a recycling centre to be recycled
- Take your old device to your new device retailer under the WEEE directive
Find your nearest recycling centre
All of Durham County Council’s recycling centres accept electricals. Please be aware that only those residents living in the Durham County Council area are permitted to use these household waste recycling centres and you may be asked to produce proof of address when visiting. To find your nearest centre follow Recycling centres (tips) – Durham County Council.
Electricals that can be recycled at council centres:
- Household batteries
- TV’s and monitors
- Fridges and electrical appliances
- Vapes and e-cigarette containers (all sites except Frosterley)