Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Good Practice Guidance

Whilst Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling activity is firmly established in the UK, its collection and treatment is a rapidly growing and evolving sector. WRAP research reveals that the average household has 3 old or broken WEEE items stored in the home, therefore there are millions of items out there just waiting to be collected…

Providing support and guidance

Resource Futures is drafting Good Practice Guidance for the collection of WEEE, involving a review of collection practices at designated collection facilities, at the kerbside, and by retailers such as Comet and Argos. From online surveys to in-depth telephone interviews, and with site visits from Sussex to Inverness, the research conducted for this project has been truly comprehensive. The project will improve the way in which WEEE is collected, and along with the treatment good practice, it aims to increase the quality and quantity of reusable and recyclable materials, whilst preventing WEEE leakage from the system.

Raising awareness

There is huge potential to recycle all the old WEEE items stored in the home, and with over two-thirds of us wanting more information about what to do with old electrical items, communications campaigns can have a huge impact on the number of WEEE items being collected for recycling. Resource Futures has been running a series of roadshows throughout Cheshire incorporating resources from WRAP’s “Don’t Bin It, Bring It” campaign. This has proved to be a highly effective method for encouraging the public to start recycling their small electrical items.

Keeping people informed

Resource Futures manages both Resources North, a forum aiming to create a more sustainable region by sharing knowledge and best practice and the National Household Hazardous Waste Forum, a membership-based organisation seeking practical solutions to problems associated with household hazardous waste, including WEEE. A recent event successfully brought the forum members together to hear from a range of speakers in order to learn more about running WEEE awareness campaigns and involving the third sector in WEEE reuse and recycling.


For more information, contact:

Emma Kerrigan (Senior Consultant, Research and Technical)
emma.kerrigan@resourcefutures.co.uk | 07903 868 265
Helen White (Senior Consultant, Communications)
helen.white@resourcefutures.co.uk | 07841 372 224

Project Synopses

Top Recycler! Waste Education Project

Working in Cambridgeshire primary schools to support the waste partnership's aim to increase dry recycling.

Antrim HWRC and Bring Site review

Resource Futures carried out a comprehensive review of the staffed Household Waste Recycling Centres (HRCs) and unstaffed Community Recycling Points (CRPs) managed by Antrim Borough Council.

Recycling in Flats Every Day, in Bristol

Encouraging recycling among residents living in flats

News and Events

Community RePaint: A Helping Hand for Hearts and Minds in 2011

In 2011, householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 343,957 litres of paint to Community RePaint schemes, which then distributed 217,112 litres to community groups and individuals saving 565 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 192 cars off our roads - and providing 766 volunteer and training opportunities. The network now has over 65 schemes across the UK and with four new schemes about to start at the beginning of 2012.    

Resource Futures seeks new Non-Executive Chair

Following restructuring during 2011 Resource Futures is now looking to strengthen its Board with a new Non-Executive Chair.  The company is forecasting a three-fold increase in its profit from 2% in the year ended March 2010 to 6% for the year ending March 2012.  The new position will join Chief Executive Officer Jane Stephenson MBE and Operations Director Sam Reeve, bringing independent scrutiny and advice to this successful business at Board level.