SLATE Charity Group launches electricals recycling scheme

Hunslet-based SLATE Charity Group, in partnership with Leeds City Council, announces its newest phase of its Community Recycling Initiative, run via the SLATE Feel Good Furniture Shops on Low Road in Hunslet and Armley. A bright pink electrical recycling collection bank has been installed in both shops, providing an easy way for people to dispose of small electrical items responsibly.

The collection points are now open to locals to drop off their unwanted small electrical items and there is hope that 50,000 local residents will get behind its drive to recycle their electricals. The SLATE Community Recycling Initiative will encourage recycling of small electricals with a plug, battery or cable, including mobile phones, tablets, and chargers, hairdryers, shavers, and electric toothbrushes, kettles, toasters, and small kitchen appliances as well as remote controls, power tools and cables.

This is one of over 60 UK pilots funded by Material Focus, the not for profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, who have provided £31,000 to support this initiative. SLATE Charity Group, are joining other projects and initiatives around the country in making it easier for 10 million UK residents to recycle their electricals.

Residents will be made aware of how and where they can recycle their electricals through information on leaflets and on eye-catching posters featuring HypnoCat. Keep an eye out for HypnoCat, the Recycle Your Electricals mesmerising pink, fluffy mascot, who is on a mission to hypnotise local residents into recycling their electricals.

This initiative is part of the new 2025 funding for the Electricals Recycling Fund where Material Focus has allocated an additional £750,000. The aim of the nationwide Electricals Recycling Fund is to significantly reduce e-waste and its environmental impact by making it easier for consumers to recycle their electricals. The pilots that have been funded by Material Focus include a variety of recycling methods, from kerbside collections to more drop-off points in schools, community centres, and bring banks. Overall, there will be over 400 new collection points plus kerbside collections for 3 million residents – together helping 10 million UK residents to recycle their electricals.

Recycle Your Electricals research has shown that 80% of consumers believe recycling is a good thing, and many of us already recycle things like paper and plastic. Research has also shown that most of us have unwanted electricals we want to get rid of. On average there are at least 30 electricals hidden away in drawers in UK homes, a total of 880 million items across the UK  – with a simple repair many could be donated or sold to people who could put them to good use. And yet 39% of people bin electricals, rather than recycle or reuse them leading to over 100,000 tonnes of electricals thrown away every year. The aim of these pilots is to overcome these issues by making it easier to repair, donate or recycle electricals.

Dave Firth, Director at SLATE said:

“We’re thrilled to partner with Material Focus and the Recycle Your Electricals campaign to bring this vital service to our community. So many electrical items end up in landfill when they could be repaired, reused, or recycled. These new collection banks make it simple for people to do the right thing, whilst protecting the environment and supporting local sustainability efforts.”

Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, added:

“We are pleased to support SLATE and the Community Recycling Initiative 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.”

This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of SLATE

Photo: new electrical recycling collection bank at SLATE Feel Good Furniture Shop