Space on the collection vehicle is very limited, therefore it is preferable that you put items out as they become unwanted and not store them until you have several items. If more than one bag is out for collection it will be at the discretion of the collection crew and the space available on the vehicle as to whether the bags will be collected.
Residents can now recycle small electrical equipment at the kerbside.
WEEE is the UK’s fastest growing waste stream. As technology evolves at such a fast pace, older electrical and electronic items are often made redundant.
The vast majority of electrical items such as mobile phones contain valuable plastics and metals which can be recycled and turned into new products.
What is small WEEE?
- Small WEEE is classed as small handheld items that require a plug or battery to use such as:
- Small kitchen appliances (kettle, toaster, iron etc)
- Hair dryers, hair straighteners, hair clippers
- Clocks, watches, calculators and torches
- Remote controls, laptops, mobile phones, cameras and chargers
- Radios, mini hi-fis, CD and MP3 players
- Electric toothbrush
- Small electronic toys, e.g. remote control car
- Small electrical DIY tools
How will the small WEEE be collected?
Please place all small WEEE items ideally in a bag or place loose by the side of your blue bin by 6.30am on your recycling collection day.
Collection cages have been fitted to the underside of our collection vehicles to enable us to collect the small WEEE on your collection day.
Please leave cables and plugs attached to items and remove the batteries.
Large electrical items
Large electrical items such as fridges, TVs and washing machines are not acceptable through this kerbside collection scheme. If you have larger electrical items these can be taken to the local household waste site in Burton upon Trent or Uttoxeter. Alternatively you can and arrange for a bulky collection to be made from your property.
Small WEEE FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put more than one bag out for collection?
What happens to the items?
Once the items have been collected they are taken to the Waste and Recycling Centre in Burton upon Trent. It is then taken to a reprocessing plant where they are shredded into small pieces.
Once shredded strong magnets remove ferrous metals, such as steel and other non-metallic metals are removed by using electronic currents.
Plastic is sorted into types by using various methods such as near infrared light and density separation.
Why do I need to put items into a bag?
By putting the items in a bag it contains the items for collection but also enables you to manage and gauge the size of the items that we can collect.
Does the plug need taking off the appliance?
All cables and plugs should be left attached to the appliances but the batteries should be removed as we are unable to collect them.
Can the items be left on top of the bin rather than at the side?
It is preferable to leave your items at the side of the bin rather than the top for safety reasons. Items could be knocked off by passers by or blown off in the wind.
How do I dispose of vapes?
While all disposable vapes are different in shape and design, they are made up of the same parts. This includes a non-rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a pod which contains an atomiser, e-liquid, cotton wick and wiring and circuitry. These are encased in plastic external casing.
If you are able to safely remove the battery from the vape, then please dispose of the battery at one of the local household waste and recycling centres or in a dedicated battery recycling bin which are located at a number of local retailers.
If the battery cannot be removed then the vaping device can be disposed of in one of the small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) containers which are available at the household waste and recycling centre.
How do I dispose of the battery safely?
Always recycle batteries separately and take them to a local drop-off point.