Telford & Wrekin Council reassures on electrical recycling
Telford & Wrekin Council has reassured residents that electrical items left at its recycling centres are not finding their way to third world countries.
This follows a national television documentary which showed that some electrical goods recycled from some UK councils were then being taken to Africa to be disposed of.
Dave Hanley, the Council’s Environment manager, said: “The Council is confident that the arrangements we have in place prevent any electrical items being exported and dumped.
“Residents can deposit electrical waste such as old TVs, fridges and household batteries at four Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) across the borough. The Council also operates a ‘bulky’ collection service for large electrical items.
“Over the past five years, electrical waste has been collected by Geodis UK limited and a new contract starts with Waste Care in June. Both companies comply with the Environment Agency (EA) guidelines.
“In addition to this, Waste Care carry out their own duty of care audits and will report on these to the Council on a monthly basis.”
The documentary highlighted concerns about the dumping of CRTs (TVs) and monitors in African countries. Waste Care recycle these items at plants in the UK breaking them down into plastics from the casings, which are shredded and sold into the domestic markets.
Circuit boards, wiring and speakers are removed; these parts are kept separate and are sold into appropriate markets leaving the glass. The glass parts are crushed and washed and recovered for re-use.
