Hammersmith & Fulham has today unveiled an innovative new project designed to help more than 90,000 households across the borough recycle small electrical items safely. The initiative, which includes the distribution of striking pink electrical recycling bins, aims to make recycling more accessible and flexible for residents.
The dedicated pink recycling bins will be delivered to residents living on select estates, providing a convenient and easy way to dispose of small electrical items. You can find your local recycling bins here.
This initiative will allow residents to safely recycle items such as batteries, small appliances, and electrical devices with plugs, cables, or batteries.
Veolia, the borough’s waste and recycling partner, will be responsible for delivering and installing the bins.
As part of the project, a monthly Mobile Recycling Centre will be launched to collect small electrical items from areas where space constraints prevent the installation of permanent bins.
This ensures that all residents, including those in areas without space for bins, will have the opportunity to recycle their electricals.
Hope to ‘it easier for 10 million more people to recycle their electricals’
This project is one of over 40 similar initiatives funded by Material Focus, the non-profit organisation leading the “Recycle Your Electricals” campaign.
Material Focus has provided £42,900 to support the Hammersmith & Fulham project, which is part of a nationwide effort to make it easier for 10 million UK residents to recycle their electrical items.
“We are pleased to support Hammersmith & Fulham in addressing the pressing issue of e-waste,” said Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus.
“By investing in improved collection and drop-off services and exploring new recycling methods, we are taking a significant step towards creating a more sustainable future by making it easier for 10 million more people to recycle their electricals.”
‘Electrical items are highly flammable and can cause fires’
To raise awareness about the new recycling services, residents will receive information through leaflets and posters featuring HypnoCat, the Recycle Your Electricals mascot.
HypnoCat, a pink, fluffy character, is on a mission to encourage residents to recycle their electrical items and take part in this important initiative.
Scott Edgell, General Manager for South London at Veolia, emphasised the importance of recycling electrical items.
“Electrical items are highly flammable and can cause fires, so by using new electrical recycling points, residents can do their bit to help the environment whilst protecting the people who collect and treat their recycling and waste.”
Over 100,000 tonnes of e-waste being thrown away each year
The UK faces a growing e-waste problem, with an estimated 880 million unwanted electrical items gathering dust in homes across the country.
On average, households have 30 electrical items tucked away in drawers, many of which could be repaired, donated, or recycled.
Unfortunately, research shows that 39% of people still dispose of electricals in the bin rather than recycling or reusing them, contributing to over 100,000 tonnes of e-waste being thrown away each year.
The aim of the nationwide Electricals Recycling Fund is to reduce e-waste and its environmental impact by making it easier for people to recycle their unwanted electrical items.
Through projects like the one in Hammersmith & Fulham, over 400 new collection points and kerbside collections will be introduced, reaching 5.5 million UK residents.