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Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Don't bin it, bring it
Don't bin it, bring it is a
new national campaign to help you recycle your old WEEE.
Find out more about the "Schools WEEE Free Week" campaign that is being
run across Medway, available for all Medway schools, where taking
part helps them educate, recycle and win.
WEEE: the fastest growing waste stream in the UK
WEEE is something that everyone has. It can be anything
electrical that is no longer working or wanted, from an old
television, kettle or fridge, to an energy saving lightbulb, an old
remote control or even the batteries in it. It is the fastest
growing waste stream in the UK and around 1.8million tonnes is
generated every year.
Look out for the bright pink small WEEE banks which have an
opening of 300mm x 240mm and are located at:
Please DO NOT place batteries into these banks.
You can recycle your household batteries at any of Medway's
libraries or at Gun Wharf reception as well as in most retail
outlets.
Any larger items should continue to be taken to one of the three
household waste recycling sites.
Regulations
The
WEEE (Amendment) Regulations 2007 are intended
to help reduce the amount of WEEE going to landfill and to ensure
that items of WEEE that are collected separately are dealt with
properly. More information is available from the
Environment Agency's WEEE page.
Hazardous waste
Some WEEE is classified as hazardous or special waste
because it can contain: polychlorinated biphenyl
(PCBs); ozone-depleting substances (ODS), found in fridges and
freezers; asbestos; cadmium; lead; and cathode ray tubes (CRT),
found in televisions and older computer monitors.
Disposal options
Take it to a designated collection site
You can take
your WEEE to one of three designated household waste and recycling centres where they
are collected in a large secure container. This is done free of
charge, as the cost of recycling WEEE is met by the producers of
the items. From there they are taken away and recycled, with none
of it going to landfill.
Sell it or give it away
You could
also get some cash for your WEEE by selling it on the internet or
in the local paper or you can offer it to someone for free through
internet-based re-use and recycling schemes.
Ask your retailer
When purchasing new goods, you should ask the retailer how
to dispose of your old items. Retailers must either provide a free,
in-store take-back service or direct you to a local household waste
recycling site. If you have a new appliance delivered, you may have
the old appliance taken away for a small charge.
Find out more about retailers' responsibilities from the
Environment Agency's retailers responsibilities page.
WEEE disposal in operation
Collected WEEE is taken to a processing plant where
it is dismantled and recycled. 
If you want to see exactly how this happens and find out
more, visit Sittingbourne-based Specialist Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment Processor, SWEEEP.
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