Recycling Electrical, Electronic and White Goods


			Recycle your Electrical, Electronic and White Goods

Safe recycling of White Goods and other Electrical and Electronic Goods is an international priority

In today's societies White Goods and the larger Electrical and Electronic Goods are ubiquitous. Generally speaking their lives are finite and improved versions are released frequently. As a result they are replaced regularly and that means a lot of waste is generated. Unfortunately much electrical waste can be dangerous if it is indirectly released into the environment. Normally they contain substantial amounts of metals (which are toxic in varying degrees) and some items such as refrigerators can contain fluoride gases which have been the main culprits in ozone depletion. Some are quite bulky, for example White Goods, and if dumped, soon take up available, expensive space in landfill sites. The problems have been recognised and international directives calling for the mandatory recycling of electrical and electronic goods now exist (for example see our reference to WEEE below). Recycling can take the form of recovery of the basic materials for new manufacturing or, in some cases, goods can be refurbished for reuse. The range of goods is very wide, from the giant fridge-freezers at the upper extreme down to the handheld gadgets which proliferate. We have categorised various types which can be identified in the menu to the left, and this page concentrates on the larger electrical and electronic goods including white goods.

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Electrical and White Goods Index
General Electrical/Electronic Goods	White Goods

WEEE is referenced several times on this page. WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment; for our reference summary of WEEE click here

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General Electrical and Electronic

The following lists identify some organisations which can recycle electrical and electronic waste, often providing assurance of safe disposal. The latter feature has become more important since the European WEEE directive has been introduced. In many cases the firms work in conjunction with other environmental or charitable concerns.

The Applegate Directory is for the electronics, engineering, plastics and rubber industry sectors in the UK and Ireland. You can advertise in the Directories to promote your business

Bruce Metals Recycling provide a fully integrated, one stop shop, for recycling computer, electronics and telephone equipment, including metals, PCB and spare part recovery, safe disposal of hazardous waste

Electronic Manufacturers Equipment Recycling Group (EMERG) promotes the economic potential of 'end of life assets', working with the recycling industry, material suppliers and product customers

Electronics Recycling Initiative (American again) is to create a national (ie US) database of electronic recyclers, reuse and charitable organisations and municipal programs for management of electronic products

Euro Electronic Services specialise in refurbishment of small electronic assemblies. They dispose of surplus equipment (electronic/mechanical) and refurbish serviceable equipment; all equipment disposal complies with WEEE.

Greenleaf Electronics (formerly Newhouse Electronics) is a UK based distributor/ stockist of refurbished and new and electronic components, specialising in recycling electronic waste. Their services can enable your company to meet legislation on waste disposal

Gwent Electronic Recycling Ltd aim to provide cost effective and environmentally sound global recycling solutions, for excess and obsolete equipment from Original Electronics Manufacturers (OEMs)

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General Electrical and Electronic continued

The Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling Ltd (ICER) is a non-profit association for the electronics industry. It provides information exchange, research involving life cycle assessment through equipment design and content, aiding preparation for the EU WEEE directive. They are a major information source on the WEEE, RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and EuP (Energy-using Products) directives

The International Association of Electronics Recyclers, Inc. (IAER), although US, claims it is the electronics recycling industry's only trade association, promoting environmental quality and regulatory compliance standards

Mann Organisation recycles end of life electronic equipment and reclaims metals, plastics, and other recoverable materials for sale and reuse

RID UK offer a consultancy, collection, dismantling and recycling service for electrical and electronic products with a focus on the industrial market

Sims Group, a multi-national recycling company for WEEE, collect WEEE UK wide and refurbish where possible; if not material is processed in their own WEEE recycling plants. They can recycle all WEEE, fridges, IT equipment, CRTs, base units, keyboards, mice, Audio Visual. They refurbish and resell into schools and low-income families to offset recycling costs. 99% of materials recovered from end of life equipment including plastics and glass.

SWAP cites electrical and electronic waste is a key area of work, developed since 1996 from research on waste electronic and electrical goods arising from businesses and institutions in Leeds and Bradford

SWEEEP Ltd (Specialist WEEE Processing) has invested heavily in the latest recycling plant and is capable of processing over 10 Tonnes of mixed WEEE per hour, including CRT screens. They are able to exceed WEEE directive recovery targets and make WEEE recycling cheaper for their customers.

Waste Watch provide information about recycling, reuse and recovery of electronics equipment, environmental implications, legislation and WEEE, various initiatives, what you can to, contacts etc.

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White Goods

White Goods are large domestic electrical appliances like cookers, washing machines, fridges and freezers. Despite the name they don't have to be white; they can be brown, black or silver in practice. According to the DTI up to 350,000 tonnes of white goods are discarded in the UK each year. Although over 75% of these are profitably recycled, there is a growing demand for refurbished appliances and a number of organisations collect, refurbish and sell such items.

Bath & North East Somerset Council says if you are unable to take your old fridges/freezers to the Recycling Centre for disposal, they can be picked up from your home. They work with The Sofa Project. Search for Fridges .

CREATE (Community Recycling Enterprise and Training for Employment) charitable trust collects, refurbishes and then sells discarded white goods, eg washing machines, cookers, fridges etc. CREATE helps reintroduce long term unemployed people back to the workplace

The DTI's 'Unwanted White Goods: A Guide to Reuse' is intended to provide help, advice and information for organisations or individuals to dispose of their old white goods in a socially responsible way. For a summary, click here

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European Metal Recycling (EMR) provide a facility for a secure, cost effective recycling route for old fridges and information to local authorities etc

Greener World collects all white goods (fridges etc) as well as fluorescent tubes and bulbs, waste paper, glass, drink cans, electrical equipment, etc from offices, hotels and restaurants in the London area

Hertfordshire's WasteAware Campaign tells you where and how you can recycle Fridges and Freezers if you live in or near this district

Refrigerant Users Group (RUG), can provide advice on collection and reuse of CFCs giving guidance on disposal of surplus refrigerant and information on alternative refrigerants and equipment

SOFA Project is a Bristol-based charity which refurbishes and sells white goods (electrical appliances) and furniture to low income households in the surrounding area; they also collect donated items

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Page originated: 9 December, 2005, Last amended: 29 February, 2008

Recycle your Electrical, Electronic and White Goods