Recycle electrical goods, says council

AS Santa calls with new electronic gifts people in Warrington are being urged to recycle unwanted electrical items as part of a national campaign.
In the year up to October Warrington Borough Council, via its household waste recycling centres, has diverted more than 940 tonnes of waste electronics from landfill.
The amount of electronic waste thrown away in the UK is increasing by about five per cent each year.
Last year in the UK more than 1.2 million tonnes of new electronic equipment was bought – which is the equivalent of 150,000 double-decker buses.
Only about half of this amount was reused or recycled responsibly, with a large amount ending in landfill – where lead and toxins contained can damage soil, water and wildlife.
The council is encouraging people to recycle or donate unwanted electronic items during the Christmas and New Year period.
Cllr David Keane, executive member for environment and public protection, said: ‘In Warrington, our residents already do a great job of recycling but this campaign highlights that there is always room to do more and reminds us that electronics can be recycled too.
“So why not have a clear out and recycle any unwanted electronic gadgets in the run up to Christmas by taking them to your local Community Recycling Centre.”