Can You Put Electrical Items In General Waste?
Key Takeaways
- Electrical items should not be placed in your general waste bin for kerbside collections.
- With 62 million metric tons generated across the world in 2022, the volume of discarded electronic material has nearly doubled since 2010.
- Electrical waste can be disposed of safely with professional collections, at licensed recycling centres, or by donating working items.
No, electrical items should not be placed in your general waste bin. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can cause hazards if placed in waste for kerbside collections.
Electrical appliances like washing machines and vacuum cleaners can be disposed of safely using a professional waste collection service, or by transporting waste to household waste recycling centres.
Small electrical items such as mobile phones could be donated or disposed of at specialist recycling collection points.
Whilst up to 80% of a phone is recyclable, it’s critical to ensure this item is recycled safely. In landfill, not only do electrical items pose a hazardous threat, but also have a major impact on our environment.
Why Can’t I Put Electrical Items In My Recycling Bin?
You can’t put electrical items in your recycling bin for several important reasons related to both safety and the recycling process. Electrical items, such as appliances, phones, and batteries, contain components that are hazardous and require special disposal.
These items often have toxic materials, like mercury or lead, which can contaminate local recycling streams and harm the environment if not handled properly.
When these items are mixed with other recyclables in a wheelie bin, they can cause damage to sorting machinery or create fire hazards. For example, lithium batteries found in many electrical products can cause fires if crushed or exposed to heat during processing.
Moreover, placing electrical items in a plastic bag or simply tossing them into your local recycling bin disrupts the efficiency of the system. Many local recycling programs do not accept these items and may impose penalties for incorrect disposal.
It’s important to take electrical items to designated e-waste collection points, where they can be properly recycled or refurbished if still in working order. This ensures that valuable materials like metals and plastics are reclaimed safely, and hazardous substances are disposed of responsibly.
Bulky Waste Collections For Electronic Waste
At Collect and Recycle, we specialise in recycling electrical waste safely for businesses. If you generate bulk loads of WEEE waste, including computers, fridges, freezers, laptops, vapes, and much more, we can provide a collection nationwide.
Our specialist team will collect the waste safely, ensuring it is transported to licensed disposal and recycling facilities. This means the waste can be professionally repurposed into new products and reintroduced back into the market.
