Fixy helps flat residents in Wells make the switch to recycling electricals
12 August 2024
Residents in a block of flats in Wells can now easily recycle their electricals with the launch of a Fixy-led pilot project in the Somerset city.
Managed by Resource Futures’ Fixy team and funded by Material Focus (the not-for-profit organisation behind the UK-wide âRecycle your Electricalsâ campaign), this two month trial will allow the residents of St Athelm Lodge to easily and responsibly dispose of small electrical items using a conveniently-located pink wheelie bin, with fortnightly collections planned by Somerset Councilâs waste collections contractor, SUEZ.
Electrical items that can be recycled include anything with a plug, battery or cable that can fit into the wheelie bin. Items such as hairdryers, toasters, headphones and DVD players can all be recycled using this facility.
âOur elderly residents often donât know how to dispose of electrical items safely and securely,â explains St Athelm Lodge manager, David Goodall. âFixy fixes this problem while also helping the environment.â
The pilot, which was launched last week at an event held for St Athelm Lodge, represents an expansion of the Fixy project, an initiative developed by Resource Futures and Somerset Council whose roving van has been helping residents across the county to reuse and recycle their electricals and smart tech equipment.
Most households in Somerset can recycle small electricals via their weekly kerbside recycling collection, however this option is not available to residents that have communal collections (for example people who live in flats).
During the launch event Fixy hosted a âtech amenstyâ, accepting electrical equipment donations including smart phones, tablets and laptops from residents. This tech will be passed onto Fixy partner DonateIT for data-wiping, refurbishing, and then given to people in digital poverty in the community.
“With over 11,000 households living in flats across Somerset, this pilot is an important first step in understanding how best to help such residents recycle their small electricals, keeping all the precious metals inside of them out of the waste stream,” explains Linda Hull, Fixy Coordinator.
According to Material Focus research, the UK discards 103,000 tonnes of electricals every year, instead of reusing or recycling them. All electricals, even small inexpensive items such as cables, contain precious materials, like copper, lithium and gold and if we bin them they are lost forever.
As well as raising awareness of repair groups operating around the county and inspiring the creation of three new repair groups in Somerset, Fixy has held 1,737 conversations around reuse, repair and recycling and collected 961 items (over 605kg) of smart tech, which were checked, data wiped and, wherever possible, refurbished and donated back into the local community.
âWeâre pleased to support this project, it makes it easy for residents to recycle and helps them to do the right thing. Most people can recycle small electricals at the kerbside, and projects like this help to highlight the importance of recycling electricals.â
Cllr Dixie Darch, Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change
“We are pleased to support the Fixy Project that addresses the pressing issue of e-waste. By investing in improved collection and drop-off services and exploring new recycling methods, we are taking a significant step towards creating a more sustainable future by making it easier for 10 million more people to recycle their electricals.”
Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus
âWe are thrilled to be working on this pilot project. By offering these collections, we are helping make it easier for residents to recycle items that would previously have to be taken to a recycling site. Enhancing recycling services is at the heart of what we do, aligning perfectly with our vision to live in a world where there is no more waste!â
Mathew Canning, Contract Director, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK