Bright pink bins have been installed at three sites across East Suffolk and residents can drop off their small electrical appliances, such as toasters, kettles, hair dryers and electric toothbrushes to be recycled.

Discarded electrical items, known as e-waste, are one of the fastest-growing sources of waste in the UK, with over 155,000 tonnes of household electrical waste thrown away every year and 527 million electrical items hoarded in UK homes. Electrical and electronic items, including both mains and battery-powered devices, contain small quantities of hazardous materials and so cannot be disposed of through general waste or recycling bins at home.

Instead, items which are in good working order can be sold or donated to charity, or they can be taken to a local repair café to be mended and then donated. Items can also be taken to the nearest Suffolk Recycling Centre, as well as the new pink bins. It is hoped that the trial bins will encourage residents to recycle more electrical items, removing clutter from their homes and enabling the valuable materials such as precious metals contained in electrical items to be reused in the manufacture of new items.

Cllr James Mallinder, our Cabinet member for the Environment said: “Recycling old electricals is better for the environment, saving carbon dioxide emissions and ensuring valuable materials contained within them such as plastics, gold, copper and aluminium can be reused. Small changes make a big difference and I would encourage residents in Kesgrave, Saxmundham and Martlesham to recycle their electrical items through the new bins and if successful, we can consider expanding the scheme into other locations.”

The bins are located at Tesco in Martlesham, Tesco in Kesgrave and Market Place, Saxmundham.

Larger electrical items, such as microwaves, cannot be disposed of in these bins and should instead be taken to a Recycling Centre. Packaging and batteries should not be placed in these bins either.

When full, the bins will be collected by East Suffolk Norse and disposed of through a partnership with waste specialists European Recycling Platform (ERP).

Any issues with the electrical recycling bins should be reported to East Suffolk Council by calling 0333 016 2000 or emailing [email protected]

More information about this fantastic initiative can be found at: www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/electrical-waste