A trial to reduce the environmental impact of old electrical items will be made permanent after North Tyneside’s recycling rates nearly doubled.
North Tyneside Council has praised residents for their support of the Recycle Your Electricals project, which collected more than 9.5 tonnes of small electricals in a year — 43% more than the previous year.
This includes the equivalent of 4,731 toasters, which were recycled instead of going to general waste. Over 12,000 vapes were also collected and recycled.
Residents are reminded to remove any batteries from their electrical items and recycle them separately. Batteries shouldn’t be binned as they can ignite when crushed during the collection or sorting process.
The council secured £14,000 from Material Focus to introduce 65 small electrical recycling points and 29 vape recycling tubes across the borough, including council buildings, schools, community centres, and sheltered housing schemes.
The scheme will now be a permanent part of the council’s operations.
Councillor Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside, said: “This scheme was introduced as part of our commitment to tackling climate change and reducing electrical waste. The response from residents has been fantastic, and the results have exceeded our expectations.
“The e-waste bins and vape tubes are being well used, helping to cut harmful waste and support a more sustainable future. It makes sense to continue the scheme as part of our everyday work.”
The project is one of over 40 UK initiatives funded by Material Focus, the not-for-profit organisation behind the Recycle Your Electricals campaign. North Tyneside joins other councils making it easier for 10 million UK residents to recycle electricals.
Anything with a plug, battery, or cable can be recycled and turned into something new. Items like toasters, kettles, hairdryers, and irons can be dropped off at locations across the borough, including libraries, leisure centres, schools, and community centres. Batteries must be removed and recycled separately.
Find your nearest recycling point.
Did you know?
• The average UK home has 30 unused electricals—that’s 880 million items in total.
• 39% of people bin electricals, leading to 100,000 tonnes of waste each year.
Find your nearest recycling point.