As a nation we are a bunch of hoarders. Take a look around many of our homes and we are likely to find a whole host of old television sets, home entertainment equipment and computers. For many of us, it is not that we are too lazy to dispose of these items; it is that we simply do not know how to dispose of them safely. As a result, they end up getting hidden away in the loft or garage until we come to a point where we are forced to dispose of them. New research, carried out by REPIC, one in five of us dispose of our old electrical equipment in a general waste bin. In addition to that:
- 43% of the 1,000 people surveyed said that they did not recycle their old electric equipment because they did not know where to dispose of it.
- 57% of people wanted to find out more about how they can recycle electrical equipment – rising to 60% amongst the younger generation.
- Just fewer than 50% of respondents said that they weren't aware that mobile phones could be recycled.
"Overall the survey findings are very encouraging. There are plenty of good intentions and the majority of people are keen to find out which electrical products can be recycled and how they should be disposed of. It's also great to see that young people in particular are curious to find out more. It is clear that consumer awareness is the key to improved collection volumes. Most people want to 'do the right thing', all they need is the right information" – Dr Phillip Morton, CEO of REPIC. Where to Dispose Of Your Electrical Goods Before you even think about disposing of your electrical goods, you should always remove any personal data. Once this is done, there are a number of options available to you:
- Give Them To Charity: There are many charity shops that are happy to accept electric items and furniture. You can find details of some such organisations here.
- Search Online: Websites such as Freeycle and Freegle offer the chance to pass on items to others for free. Alternatively they can be sold on eBay or Gumtree.
- Ask Family and Friends: You never know, the item you are looking to dispose may be just what someone is looking for. It pays to ask around!
- The High Street: If you would prefer not to do so online, in many instances electrical items can be disposed of by visiting high street shops such as Cash Converters and CeX.
If you item has a plug, uses batteries, requires charging or has a picture of a crossed out wheelie bin on it, there is a good chance it can be recycled. So rather than hoarding it away, try and find a way to safely dispose of it. 