Reusing and Recycling Other Types of Wastes
Electronic Equipment
An estimated 1 million tonnes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is discarded by householders and commercial groups per year. Of this, 43% are white goods (fridges, freezers) and 19% is IT equipment. The disposal of electronic appliances in landfill sites contributes to a number of environmental problems. As well as wasting resources, such goods contain toxins that make finding suitable landfill sites difficult.Re-use of IT equipment extends their product-life and can provide access to individuals and groups that may not be able to afford new equipment.
The Government have produced a free publication on 'Unwanted Computer Equipment - a Guide to Re-use' (see http://www.dti.gov.uk Tel: 0870 1502500) and quote reference URN00/485
If you have unwanted IT equipment which you would like to recycle, you can contact the following organisation to arrange recycling:
Durham Furniture Help Scheme (01388 721509) will take any electrical appliances in working order for redistribution to the needy.
Bowbin Computers - Tel: 01207 282512 or email bill.oakes@bowbin.demon.co.uk
NB: If your computer equipment is very old computer the organisation listed above may not be able to accept it.
Mobile Phones
The mobile phone industry estimates that there could already be as many as 2 million old, disused or broken mobile phones and increasing. Research suggests that consumers replace their handsets approximately every 2 years. Waste mobile phones should be recycled to avoid wasting resources and to deal with the toxic component (in batteries and components such as the LCD display).There are a number of ways of recycling mobile phones. There is a national recycling initiative within the mobile phone industry with many phone companies and networks operating take- back schemes in most retailers.
You may want to consider supporting a charity. You can donate to a number of different charities through www.cartridges4charity.co.uk Charities which they recycle for include, among others, The Children’s Centre, Teenage Cancer Trust, British Red Cross, British Lung Foundation and the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. A similar scheme is also run by Child Advocacy International. Their CRUMP campaign (The Campaign to Recycle Unwanted Mobile Phones) supports a number of relief projects. A free collection can be arranged if you have at least 10 phones to donate. To arrange a collection call their freephone number: 0800 083 2103.
Batteries
Batteries contain a variety of chemicals and heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium, which can cause pollution if disposed of in landfill.Household Batteries
It is currently very difficult to recycle household batteries in the UK however things are changing. We are currently investigating the provision of a household battery recycling facility in County Durham. The environmentally best option is to avoid the use of batteries wherever possible, using rechargeable ones as an alternative.Batteries which can currently be recycled in County Durham are:
Rechargeable Power Tool Battery Packs
Black and Decker are now operating a scheme to collect old battery packs from their power tools. The batteries are sent to a company in France where they are recycled (the steels go back to metals manufacturers and the Cadmium goes back to the battery manufacturer). For more information contact:Colin Thirlaway
Safety & Environment Manager
Black & Decker
Spennymoor
01388 422201
The scheme cannot accept non-rechargeable (Zinc-Carbon) batteries.
Car Batteries
Car batteries can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. The batteries are collected and the lead is recovered.Printer and Fax Cartridges
In the UK every year over 6 million toner cartridges are used. It is estimated that about 50% of these end up in landfill sites. Cartridge consumption is currently rising in the UK by 15%. Toner cartridges from printers, copiers and fax machines are a valuable waste product.SCOPE Toner Donor Scheme
To get involved in the SCOPE Toner Donor scheme is easy. Simply contact the hotline number: freephone 0800 781 2600 for information and to arrange collection. You can either arrange a special collection or be sent Freepost envelopes (which can hold up to six inkjet cartridges).Cancer Research UK Cartridge Recycling Scheme
A free collection service (and Freepost service) is available, as is an information pack which lists all of the cartridge types accepted. Phone Laserexchange direct as they collect the cartridges. Tel: 0113 2319828Help the Aged
A free collection service on more than 10 cartridges is available, or drop the cartridges off in their high street charity shops. Call 0870 7700446 for details.Christmas Cards and Christmas Trees
Boots and WH Smith stores collect old Christmas cards in January. Several District and Borough Councils also collect cards and Christmas trees for recycling. The County Durham Local Agenda 21 Partnership produces a ‘Festive Factsheet’ each year (in December) giving up to date details of these seasonal recycling schemes (Tel: 0191 3833361)Foil
As a rule you should not put aluminium foil into can recycling banks in County Durham (although this is possible in some other parts of the country). Stuffing aluminium foil inside cans is definitely not a good idea. Cans and foil are two totally different grades of aluminium and need to be kept separate to allow recycling.In the past, Oxfam shops have collected foil for recycling but this is no longer the case. The national organisation responsible for promoting aluminium recycling (Alupro) has a list of organisations which collect aluminium foil for recycling in the UK. There are currently no such listed sites in County Durham. There are three foil collection sites in Sunderland (run by Sunderland Community Furniture Services, Unit 13c, Southwick Industrial Estate, North Hylton Road, Sunderland SR5 3TX Tel: 0191 549 4343). The collection sites are located at Sainsburys (Silksworth Lane), Asda (Leechmere Road) and Carpark, Ocean Park (Seaburn). Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland will accept clean Aluminium Foil for recycling at their Woodhouse Lane site, call (01388)603003.
Paint
There are currently no facilities to recycle paint in the County. However, Save Waste and Prosper (SWAP) has prepared a manual with advice on how to set-up and operate a Community Re>Paint scheme. A Community Re>Paint scheme seeks to divert unwanted surplus paint from the waste stream and redistributes it free of charge within the community. SWAP has advice on usable materials and caution on unusable materials please see the Swap website for more information.Telephone Directories
Phone directories and yellow pages should not be put into public recycling paper banks in County Durham (the glue in the spine and the yellow dye causes problems with the recycling process).White 'phone directories can be put into all of the household kerbside collections in County Durham.
Please contact your local authority Recycling Officer for the current arrangements made for yellow pages recycling.
