Electronic waste: A treasure trove for the circular economy

In the UK, the amount of electronic waste being generated is on the rise and the need for effective and responsible recycling methods is more important than ever.

Electronics recycling is a crucial process for reducing the amount of waste created by broken and outdated devices, as well as for ensuring materials and components are reused in new products.

But with so many different types of gadgets out there today, consumers don’t always know what to do with their electronics when they’ve reached the end of their life.

Fortunately, SunSkips is fully-charged with the latest electronics recycling knowledge and is here to point you in the right direction.

Why is electronics recycling so important?

Electronics recycling, also known as e-waste recycling, is the process of reusing or recycling electronic devices and components that are no longer fit for their original purpose.

With consumers upgrading their electronic devices at increasingly high rates, there’s a lot of perfectly good electronics lying around that aren’t being reintroduced into the circular economy.

Old electronic devices contain a wealth of useful materials that can be put to good use in the manufacture of new products, reducing the need to source raw materials that are often quite rare.

For example, zinc found in mobile phones can be used in shipbuilding or for galvanising lampposts, while plastic from lawnmowers can be used to make musical instruments.

According to Material Focus, there are a whopping 39 million tech items hoarded in UK homes – including £1.5 billion worth of working laptops that could be resold.

UK residents also store a lot of useless charging cables. In fact, there are thought to be 124,505 miles of unused cables cluttering up our homes, enough to wrap around the Earth five times.

Whether people are hanging onto electronic waste because they’re not sure how to recycle it or they believe it’s worth keeping in the kitchen junk drawer in case it’s needed one day is unclear, but the treasure trove of finite resources being neglected is undeniable.

However, not all electronic devices are easily pulled apart and used for scraps. Some require special attention to make sure hazardous materials don’t spill out and pose a danger at recycling facilities.

MORE: ‘Lucky’ to escape explosion after this item ended up in recycling 

WEEE regulations

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) refers to discarded electronic devices and their components, like computers, televisions, and mobile phones.

It’s regulated in England by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013, which aims to reduce the amount of electronic waste being sent to landfill and encourage the reuse and recycling of these materials.

Unfortunately, a lot of electronic waste is improperly disposed of and ends up getting mixed in with other waste, resulting in unnecessary pollution and wasted recyclable materials.

What happens to recyclable electronics?

Electronics waste is an especially good candidate for being managed by following the waste hierarchy.

MORE: The five Rs of waste management: Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle

Preventing electronics waste is as simple as not upgrading to the latest smartphone every year and repairing devices rather than immediately ordering a new one.

Technology can be reused by selling or donating it to community causes, or if you’re tech savvy, used in a fun electronic upcycle project.

While a lot of valuable materials can be extracted from electronic waste, the e-waste recycling process must be conducted with extreme care to ensure it’s safe and environmentally responsible.

1. Collection

Electronics recycling begins with collection, usually from local authorities, community groups, or specialist recycling companies.

2. Sorting

Once the electronic waste has been collected, it’s sorted into different types before being taken for processing.

3. Extraction

The electronic waste is then shredded to make it easier to extract valuable materials and components. This can include metals like copper and gold, as well as plastics and other materials that can be recycled and used in new products.

Magnets are used to separate ferrous metals like steel, while an eddy current separates non-ferrous metals like aluminium. Near infra-red light or density separation is used to sort plastic components.

Recovery involves processes like energy from waste that burns rubbish to power industry, often in cement kilns, and even homes.

The final step, disposal, is a last resort which could unfortunately see electronic items rotting in landfills, or worse, polluting our waters and countryside.

What to do with your electronic waste

If the first two steps of the waste hierarchy have failed you, it’s time to send your electronic waste for recycling.

But one of the biggest challenges facing electronics recycling in the UK is the lack of awareness about how and where it should be recycled.

If you’re in Suffolk, you can take your electronic waste to any Suffolk Recycling Centre.

Ipswich residents also have access to small electricals recycling banks, located in:

• Suffolk Retail Park
• Portman Road Car Park, Portman Road
• Fircroft Road Shops, Fircroft Road
• Dumbarton Road
• Fore Street Swimming Pool, Star Lane
• Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road
• Downside Close
• Waitrose (Futura Park), Crane Boulevard
• Lavender Hill shops

Cambridgeshire recycling centres also accept e-waste, with a number of small electricals recycling banks also available in:

• Gwydir Street car park, Cambridge
• Lammas Land car park, Cambridge
• Abbey Pool car park, Cambridge
• Chesterton Road public toilets, Cambridge
• Morrisons car park, Cambourne
• Tesco car park, Bar Hill
• Village car park, High Street, Melbourn
• Tesco car park, Fulbourn

It’s important to understand the benefits of electronic recycling and dispose of e-waste in a responsible, sustainable way.

SunSkips accepts electronic waste in its containers, with some WEEE equipment collected by special arrangement. Book online and let us know your specific waste requirements via our simple platform, or get in touch with our team to discuss how we can make your electronics waste management more efficient.