Forum Topic

Disposing of electrical waste?

I've a bag under my desk of electrical waste I want to get rid of - a couple of very old phones, wires, other assorted electrical nic-nacks.Question is: where?1) I want to be a good citizen and not just throw them in the black bin2) Electrical recycling unit at Morrisons seems to be permenantly locked - I've gone several times over the months and it is never open3) Bag seems too trivial to book and appointment and drive to a dumpI've been stuck like this for months, despite the environmental problems of #1 and #3 they seem the only choicesAny other suggestions?(Yes I know there are phone recycling places online which will even pay for your old phone but these are so OLD they aren't even listed.)

Allan Kelly ● 1253d16 Comments

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2022/03/currys-trials-recycling-scheme-that-pays-shoppers-for-old-tech/

Philippa Bond ● 1204d

Great Shout Lorna!https://londonrecycles.co.uk/repair-week/partners/?partner=currysCash for Trash 16.3.22 - 15.4.22

Philippa Bond ● 1215d

Currys have just announced a scheme which might be helpful:The scheme, called Cash for Trash, will last from March 16 to April 15 and asks anyone in the UK to bring in any old, broken or even unused electronics to their nearest Currys store.They offer a voucher you can redeem in store, but even if you don't want to do that, it's an opportunity to get rid of unwanted stuff...

Lorna Dodd ● 1217d

https://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/reduce-waste/weee/weee-recycling/

Philippa Bond ● 1237d

https://my.morrisons.com/weee-regulations/Have a look it says that you will have to ask a staff member.BTW it does not matter if phones are old.  Just make sure that they have no personal info on them.  The recyclemyelectricals website hopefully will help with this.Old phones will be taken apart for their metals to be recycled.There is a music charity which is interested in any ipods people no longer want to be reused for those with dementia and recovering from strokes.  Chiltern Music is advertised by Jazz FM - check it out.Morrisons used to have a lot of recycling banks in the car park area but there was always seemed to be  a problem with overflowing bins.  I remember Clare Gittins writing a good article on it for this website.I notice it also says that Morrisons will recycle coffee pods.  I'm not sure what this means.  Perhaps someone will explain.  I don't like coffee! I think they are probably aluminium with the real coffee inside.  If it was me I'd separate the two and put the coffee in the garden or in the food waste bin and the clean aluminium in the recycling bin squeezed into a ball as I do with all other aluminium.

Philippa Bond ● 1237d

All the responsibility used to be the Councils' to dispose of just about whatever you gave them to dispose of whether it works or not, was repairable or not - or just was the wrong colour, perfectly useable and you did not want it/were bored with it.  Taxpayers have to pay for this in their Council Tax.Now that so many people buy on credit and it is a normal way of life for many to no longer save up for something we not be as  careful in choice, there must be more items bought in haste and regretted later. So more stuff needing to be disposed of.  Just look at the amount of stuff bought online for Christmas and unwanted or the wrong size etc.  There are people who just bin their unwanted presents - but hopefully fewer now!Some charity shops DO take electrical items - but you must check.  The have to check them out and have them PAT tested before they can sell them.  There are other suggestions for what to do with things you do not want.  There is also information from Paul Lewis on what to do to clear personal details from electronic items before giving away or recycling.Our waste needs to be used as a Resource and even if not reusable electrical and electronic items will have metals which can be retrieved so that we do not deplete further the earth's finite resources.  We are working towards a Circular Economy.https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

Philippa Bond ● 1238d

Apologies the Bromyard address is of course Avenue not Road.The www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk website is not a Council one but that of the  electrical and electronic retailers and distributors as they have responsibilities under law.https://www.complydirect.com/news/changes-to-retailer-take-back-obligations-for-weee-from-2021/

Philippa Bond ● 1238d

Bromyard Road Acton W3 7JY is listed but that isn't really clear enough as an awful lot of road is covered by that postcode!  I think there are others listed which are probably not best described either for finding easily especially for pedestrians.https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201171/recycling_services/292/re-use_and_recycling_centres_and_sites/5

Philippa Bond ● 1240d

Your Councillors should be able to tell you about what is on the Council and our Waste Authority's websites just as I've posted - which you can also find yourself!West London Waste Authority is our Waste Authority - has representative Councillors on it from the six London boroughs who make it up:  Ealing, Hillingdon, Richmond, Harrow, Hounslow and Brent and now has a Facebook page as well as their website pages which are in the process of being updated.There is a short window for anyone wanting to apply for funding towards recycling projects:https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/about-material-focus/apply-for-funding/We are supposed to be moving towards a circular economy keeping the earth's finite resources in use for as long as possible.It is interesting if there is another electrical bank that isn't listed on the Council's website.

Philippa Bond ● 1240d

There is a very good bin for small electrical waste items - including kettles, hairdryers etc. It's not listed on the Ealing Council website but it's on the corner of the Vale/Uxbridge Road and Bromyard Avenue.

Clare Gittins ● 1241d

Thanks for the electrical recycling info.  I'll try that. My experience of Freecycle is that people reply saying they want the items but then persistently fail to show up at the agreed time to collect. Thanks also to the person who suggested contacting my Councillor. I've done that and will update this thread when I receive a response.

Julie Kaiser ● 1243d

I had forgotten that our Waste Authority (West London) has an agreement with TRAID where they will pick up some electrical recycling together with a clothing collection.  Check out what their requirements are.There is also a list of where the electronic/electrical recycling banks in Ealing should be:https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201171/recycling_services/292/re-use_and_recycling_centres_and_sites/5It is also well worth checking out the West London Waste Authority website (although it needed further updating last time I looked) for other recycling information.https://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/The information on what to do with used cooking oil for example is particularly good so that you don't contribute to fatbergs and cause blocked and overflowing drains.There is lots of info including second hand furniture collection.

Philippa Bond ● 1250d

www.trashnothing.com is an easy interface for Freegle/Freecycle.  It is always best to find someone who wants what you no longer want first (and you'd be surprised).www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk is a great website with lots of useful info.  You enter your postcode into a box and it will show you shops close to you which will take your electricals for recycling.  Some will take all your electricals and some will only take them when you buy a like for like replacement there (and not necessarily at the same time).  Check!  There is also info on the above website about deleting personal information before recycling.Do mark up cables and chargers when you acquire them.  Otherwise finding an electrical recycling bin may go to your head (or someone else's) and you could find like me that you are left with an electric toothbrush with no charger which it is a pain to find a replacement for.Don't forget to always ask when you buy and have electrical goods delivered by a company if they will take back your old item for recycling.  Sometimes there is a small charge but it can save a lot of hassle.There must be other electrical recycling banks in Ealing - opposite South Ealing tube station is one. Beware they are not big enough to take many items.Good luck!   

Philippa Bond ● 1250d

Bit of wild shot but if you are a member of Freecycling or similar local sites try posting there. Very often people take old phones etc for a variety of reasons and whenever I have a bagful of old computer and mobile phone cables etc to my surprise, there are always people who will take to reuse.

Joe Conneely ● 1252d

No but you could try asking your local councilor. We would all be interested in the reply.

Chris Hurley ● 1252d

I have exactly the same problem, but can't even book a slot at a recycling centre because I don't have a car, motorbike or cycle. Pedestrians are barred from recycling at Greenford - which is totally ridiculous. Before the covid change to a booking system I regularly walked to the Acton recycling site with bits and pieces of electrical, metal and green waste. Does anyone know what those without wheels are supposed to do now?

Julie Kaiser ● 1253d