Our research shows that although 80 per cent of people support more recycling, many still find it hard to turn their good intentions into action.
With 880 million electrical items hidden in UK homes – 30 per household – and 103,000 tonnes binned every year, there’s a stack of electricals that could be reused or recycled.
Our Electricals Recycling Fund wants to help solve this problem by supporting new collection projects.
Last year, we gave £1.8 million across more than 40 UK projects, making it easier for some 10 million people to reuse and recycle their electricals.
We supported these projects with our award-winning Recycle Your Electricals communication campaign, led by our mesmerising ‘pawsuader’, HypnoCat.
We are now making available an additional £750,000 for new applicants.
The Electricals Recycling Fund supports two types of projects: expanding existing household collection services for small electricals, and innovating new collection methods.
Since its launch in 2023, 228 new recycling locations have been opened, millions of e-waste items have been saved from landfill, and 500 people helped through repair and donation projects.
These projects span the UK, with Oxfordshire piloting the first vape recycling scheme, and collecting more than 10,000 vapes at household waste recycling centres alongside a kerbside collection for around 70,000 households.
In another example, Newcastle’s pop-up recycling centres and a doorstep collection of small electricals reached more than 300,000 people, collecting 1.64 tonnes of electricals.
Local authorities, waste collection authority areas, waste contractors, reuse organisations, non-profits, producer compliance schemes, retailers and startups are all encouraged to apply.
By addressing the e-waste issue, the funded projects have already saved tonnes of precious materials from being lost forever.
With the additional £750,000, we are looking forward to backing more innovative solutions. To apply, please visit www.materialfocus.org.uk/electricals-recycling-fund/
- Material Focus is an independent not-for-profit organisation working to ensure electricals are recycled and reused.