The UK’s largest compliance scheme, Valpak, has announced the strengthening of its partnership with East Devon District Council through the provision of additional funding for the council’s waste electrical and electronics service.
The move will see Valpak now fund the transportation of waste electronics from a transfer station to a local recycler in addition to the cost of recycling itself. East Devon is one of the few local authorities to include small electrical items such as kettles, toasters and irons as part of its household waste service, collecting approximately 60 tonnes a year. Waste electrical items are placed in a recycling box together with cardboard, paper, glass, clothes, and bagged batteries. The district’s 142,000 residents are also provided with a recycling sack (for plastics cartons, tin, cans and foil), a food caddy and black wheeled bin for general waste.
We are delighted that we have been able to further strengthen our partnership and preserve these valuable secondary resources including metals and plastics so they can be recycled.
The increased financial support will mean small domestic appliances (SDA) can continue to be included in the household collection service and residents will not have to take their electrical waste to the civic amenity site. This will play an important role in ensuring that this material continues to be recycled, assisting the UK to meet its targets. It also secures the significant environmental and financial benefits of reduced waste to landfill and negates the issues associated with persistent organic pollutants such as plastics or other hazardous materials.
Commenting on the decision to extend its funding support Valpak’s Commercial Manager, James Nash, said: “Securing the provision of East Devon’s waste electronics collection service makes environmental and commercial sense for all parties. We are delighted that we have been able to further strengthen our partnership and preserve these valuable secondary resources including metals and plastics so they can be recycled. This prevents any damaging environmental impact and supports the development of the circular economy.”