Media release, 20 Dec 2022
Lots of us start the new year with grand plans for the year ahead. Some of us make New Year’s resolutions, ranging from getting fitter, eating healthier to taking up new hobbies. This year, why not consider making recycling your electricals part of your resolutions?
Recycle Your Electricals has provided some top tips for making your New Year’s resolutions greener by turning them into ‘New Year’s Eco-lutions’. From saving money to giving back to those in need, these ‘eco-lutions’ show us just how easy it is to recycle our electricals by turning traditional resolutions into green ones!
“We are calling on UK householders to recycle their electricals as part of their New Year resolutions. Some of the best New Year resolutions are ones that are easy to achieve, and recycling electricals is one simple step all householders can make to do their bit for the planet. My New Year’s resolution is to declutter my house – so I’m going to finally clear out my cupboard and recycle the old cables and printer I have in there,” said Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus.
E-waste is the fastest growing source of waste in the UK and in the world – with over 155,000 tonnes of household electrical waste thrown away every year and 527 million electrical items hoarded in UK homes. 80% of us already think recycling e-waste is the right thing – therefore, it seems fitting that recycling your old and unwanted electricals is one of your new year’s resolutions.
1) Cash strapped January?
If one of your resolutions is to save a bit of money, especially after Christmas and during the current cost of living crisis, then why not gather up your old working electricals and sell them? Recycle Your Electricals’ research found that you could make up to £620 per household by selling your old electricals. On average, the UK has one unused laptop and one unused tablet per household. The average price that could be achieved by selling a secondhand laptop is £165 while a tablet could fetch an average price of £110. Mobile phones can command an average of £110 and games consoles £125. Find out how to make money from selling your old tech here.
2) Recycle while running!
Getting fit is one of UK householders top New Year’s resolutions, with research showing that 43% of people chose this as their top commitment. Try incorporating doing good in your gym activities by including recycling into your fitness frenzy by collecting up your old cables, headphones or phone, popping them in a bag, and heading to Recycle Your Electricals’ postcode locator to find your nearest, or farthest 😉 recycling drop-off point. Remember, the more electricals you carry the more calories you’ll burn!
3) New you, new skill?
2023 could be your year for learning new things. Learning to repair your old electricals that seem a bit tattered is a great way to learn a new skill. There are Repair Cafes across the UK where you can meet and learn all about repairing things. In each one you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. Head to the Recycle Your Electricals’ Repair page to find out more about repairing your old electricals.
4) Giving back to those in need – Give Back January.
You may want to consider donating your old and unwanted electricals as one of your new year’s resolutions. Especially in the digital age we’re in, this is a wonderful way to give back to those less fortunate – after all, that’s what the festive season is all about. Last Christmas 40% of UK adults bought nearly 40 million items of household tech from Black Friday to Christmas, resulting in 4.2 million unwanted electricals being abandoned. Some 2.2 million of these abandoned electricals are hoarded away, with 2 million of them thrown in the bin. If we donate these items to those in need, the value would be £136 million. Find more information on donating your old electricals.
5) Being more eco-conscious
The environment is at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds right now, and recycling your electricals is a simple way of fulfilling your environmental New Year’s resolutions. If we recycled all our old electricals we would cut as much CO2 as taking 1.3 million cars off the road. Recycling electricals would also create hundreds of new jobs in electrical reuse and recycling – and save valuable raw materials from being lost forever like gold, copper and steel.
Recycling your electricals has never been easier – simply head to Recycle Your Electricals’ website and pop in your postcode to find your nearest drop-off point.
6) Become an eco-advocate
Spreading the message of recycling electricals is just as important as recycling them. Do this by telling your friends and family that ‘anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled’ and letting them know about the Recycle Your Electricals’ Locator. A great way to start 2023 would be working together to stop the e-waste problem.
For more information on how to prepare your old electricals for recycling, selling or donating please visit www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For media enquiries please contact kate@materialfocus.org.uk mobile 07714 708416
About Material Focus and the Recycle Your Electricals campaign
Material Focus is a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to stop the nation throwing away or hoarding all their old small electricals. Material Focus is leading the UK-wide Recycle Your Electricals campaign. The campaign is revealing the value hidden in electricals and is making it easier for us all to recycle and reuse the small electricals we no longer need by providing more recycling points as well as providing practical information on how households can recycle.
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