Newcastle’s Labour Council has launched the city’s first-ever kerbside small electrical recycling service, making it easier than ever for more than 109,000 households to recycle unwanted electrical items while supporting the city’s journey to net zero.
The new service is another example of Labour delivering practical environmental initiatives that make it simpler for residents to reduce waste, improve recycling rates and help create a cleaner, greener Newcastle.
For the first time, residents can book a doorstep collection for unwanted or broken small electrical items, with collections carried out by the council’s fleet of electric vehicles as part of Labour’s commitment to making Newcastle a net zero city by 2030.
Items such as toasters, chargers, kettles, hairdryers and other small electrical gadgets can all be recycled from home, helping to recover valuable materials that might otherwise end up in landfill or household waste.
The 12-month pilot is expected to collect up to 30,000 electrical items that may not otherwise have been recycled, reducing electronic waste while making recycling more convenient for local people.
The scheme has been made possible through £30,800 of funding from Material Focus, the not-for-profit organisation behind the national Recycle Your Electricals campaign. Newcastle is one of more than 40 projects across the UK selected to receive support, recognising the city’s commitment to improving recycling and sustainability.
Labour Councillor Marion Williams, Cabinet Member for a Connected, Clean City at Newcastle City Council, said:
“As technology becomes part of more and more aspects of everyday life, we’re also seeing increasing numbers of small electrical items being thrown away.
“Many people don’t realise these products contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused instead of being lost in general waste.
“Labour is committed to making recycling as easy as possible for residents, and this new doorstep collection service removes one of the biggest barriers people face. It will help protect the environment, reduce waste and support our ambition to create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Newcastle.”
Research by Material Focus shows that while most people want to recycle electrical items, many still throw them away because they believe recycling them is too difficult. By introducing a simple kerbside collection service, Newcastle’s Labour Council is helping remove that obstacle and encouraging more residents to recycle responsibly.
The launch is part of Labour’s wider programme of environmental action, combining investment in greener services with practical initiatives that help residents play their part in protecting the environment while building a more sustainable future for Newcastle.