We partnered with Re-Tek to enable the collection and reuse of small waste electrical items being dropped off at Falkirk Council’s household waste recycling centres
We have been working to clear old electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) from Falkirk Council household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) for several years now.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations require EEE producers and retailers to meet the bulk of WEEE collection and disposal costs. On behalf of our customers, we pay for the collection and treatment of goods arising in the Falkirk area. We also arrange for the clearance of old items from Falkirk HWRCs and their kerbside recycling system.
Re-Tek joined the Valpak / Falkirk Council partnership in March 2016. With Re-Tek onboard the collection, refurbishment and reuse of smaller WEEE items is now possible.
Re-Tek has installed additional containers, specifically for collecting items for reuse, at two of the Council’s HWRCs. At Re-Tek’s facilities the items are wiped of all data, capability checked and tested to ensure they are safe and suitable for re-use.
Since the project began, 7,183 items have been collected from the two sites. This amounts to 49 tonnes of old tablets, laptops, printers, computers and other valuable items, which would otherwise have been sent straight for recycling.
A carbon saving of 162 tonnes CO2e is significant and demonstrates that reusing items not only provides a new owner with a perfectly good piece of equipment to enjoy, but also extends the life of the item and benefits the planet.
At least 1,275 of the items segregated have been suitable for re-use – which equates to around 18% of units collected.
This project has also benefitted the Falkirk community, as a donation of money and refurbished tablets have gone to Strathcarron Hospice to support the fantastic work done there.
[We are] delighted to partner with Valpak and Falkirk Council to support this strategically important project to extend the lifecycle of ICT products, which refl ects the government’s Circular Economy drive via the provision of reuse facilities in recycling centres.