Published: Thursday, 14th November 2024
More than 19,000 small electricals have been recycled and reused in Medway, thanks to the small electrical recycling bins at Medway’s libraries and community hubs.
The project launched in November 2023 and encouraged residents across Medway to visit their local library to use the dedicated recycling bins for their unwanted or broken small electricals.
More than 600 small electrical items from the recycling points have also been donated to Gillingham Street Angles for families in Medway. Although funding for the project has now ended, Medway Council is happy to confirm that the recycling bins will remain in all of its libraries and community hubs.
This project has demonstrated how committed the local community is to recycling their small electricals, when simple recycling methods are made accessible. The consistent local reminders from Hypnocat, the Recycle Your Electricals mesmerising pink, fluffy mascot, who featured in railing banners, radio ads also helped to make residents aware that anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled and turned into something new.
Small electricals including toasters, kettles, sandwich makers, hairdryers or irons can be recycled simply using the 15 collection points - you can find your nearest point here.
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, using one of the small electircal recycling bins.
This project was one of more than 40 in the UK funded by Material Focus, the not for profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign. Medway Councils dedicated small electrical recycling bins in libraries and community hubs, joined other projects around the country in making it easier for 10 million UK residents to recycle their electricals.
The aim of the nationwide Electricals Recycling Fund is to significantly reduce e-waste and its environmental impact by making it easier for consumers to recycle their electricals. The projects that have been funded by Material Focus include a variety of recycling methods, from kerbside collections to more drop-off points in schools, community centres, and bring banks. Overall there will be more than 400 new collection points plus kerbside collections for 5.5 million UK residents.
Recycle Your Electricals research has shown that 80% of consumers believe recycling is a good thing, and many of us already recycle things like paper and plastic. Research has also shown that most of us have unwanted electricals we want to get rid of. On average there are at least 30 electricals hidden away in drawers in UK homes, a total of 880 million items across the UK - with a simple repair many could be donated or sold to people who could put them to good use. And yet 39% of people bin electricals, rather than recycle or reuse them leading to more than 100,000 tonnes of electricals thrown away every year. The aim of these projects is to overcome these issues by making it easier to repair, donate or recycle electricals.
Fantastic news
Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said: “It is fantastic news to see that more than 19,000 small electricals have been recycled and reused through this project over the last year – making it simple for people to recycle is great for our climate. I am really pleased that these recycling bins will still be available at all of our libraries and community hubs – and I would encourage residents to make sure they keep using them!”
Engaged and supportive
Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, said: "Dedicated recycling bins in all of Medway’s libraries and community hubs has proven that small electrical recycling is important to the area and its residents. We are delighted with how engaged and supportive the local community has been and how the investment from the Electrical Recycling Fund has funded the local project. As e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream, we hope to continue to see a rise in the amount of electricals recycled across the UK.”
To find your nearest recycling point search recycle your electricals.