Electrical Waste

Electrical Waste

What is Electrical Waste?

Waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipment is known as WEEE. This includes large items such as TV’s, washing machines and fridges, also small items such as hairdryer, torches, lamps, toasters and toothbrushes.

Technology is always being improved. Years ago people listened to music on records, then these were replaced by tapes, which were replaced by CDs and now people use mp3 players to listen to music. Replacing out of date equipment has increased the amount of electrical equipment being thrown away hugely. About 1 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment is thrown away each year. Until recently this all went into landfill – what a waste! However since 2006 there are laws to stop this from happening. This law says that the collection, treatment and reuse and recycling of unwanted electrical items should not harm the environment. It says that the manufacturers (company that makes the electrical item) should pay for the schemes to protect the environment and that you, the public, can have somewhere free to take your electrical items when they have become unwanted.

Can it be recycled?

Yes! Before recycling any electrical items that still work, see if anyone else wants to have them. There maybe a local company that could take your electrical equipment, repair it and sell it to someone else, see if there is a Furniture Reuse group near you http://www.dff.org.uk/about.html If it is broken, see if it can be repaired, however sometimes this can cost more than it would than do to buy a new item. Remember reuse and repair is always better than recycling.

How is it recycled?

Electrical items are difficult to recycle as they maybe made of up to 20 different materials, such as glass, different metals, plastic etc. Once they reach the processing factory they are taken apart and all the circuit boards, wires, batteries and plastics are removed. The plastic casing on the outside is heated until it melts and this can be moulded into something else. The circuit boards and wires are reused to make other electrical items.

Why should we recycle electrical waste?

Resources and habitats

There are many different types of precious metals found inside electrical equipment, such as gold and titanium. Other equipment contains metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead and these metals are toxic and have to be managed very carefully. All of these metals were dug out from under the ground in huge mines.

If we reuse the metals, we don’t have to dig the mines which harms the environment and takes away habitats from wildlife. For example, Coltan is a metal found in mobile phones, it is dug out of mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo which is an African country. The land has to be cleared before the mines can be dug, which means that the Gorillas that live there have no food or place to live.

Where can it be recycled?

All Devon Recycling Centres take unwanted electrical items. To find out where your nearest centre is click here.