
Environment / Household waste
What to do with unwanted or broken electrical items
Between April 2017 and March 2018, 1,330 tonnes of waste electrical equipment (WEEE) was deposited at the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in Bristol alone. And that is a small % of the 40% that is being disposed of correctly in the UK. The UN has described e-waste as a growing risk to the environment and human health as e-waste is illegally shipped and dumped around the world. So how can we avoid items becoming waste in Bristol?
Broken items
Kate Jerrold at the Fishponds repair cafe says that they regularly fix digital radios, food mixers and TV’s, so don’t give up right away. Check the fuse and look at these repair options:
is needed now More than ever
- Ifixit.com for repair options and look for local repair services- TV’s, computers, cookers.
- Head to a local repair cafe- these run monthly in Fishponds, St.Pauls, Bedminster and Horfield Common. Find out more on their events page
But if they are really broken, don’t throw in the black bin:
- Place small items in a labelled carrier bag next to recycling boxes on bin day for recycling.
- Take to Currys, PC World and the HRWCs- check recyclenow.com for specific items.

A repaired TV at Fishponds Repair Cafe. Photo credit Fishponds Repair Cafe
Working unwanted items
Can someone else give your item a new home and a new life?
- Sell in shops, on Gumtree, Facebook or ebay
- Give away on Freecycle, Streetbank, or local Facebook groups.
- Charity shops accept many items- call in advance or check: reuse-network.org.uk/donate-items
- Retailers often have take-back schemes
White Goods
Charity shops like Emmaus and Sofa Project have a high demand for re-selling on cookers, dishwashers and fridge freezers and they can collect so this is the ideal route for working white goods.
- Emmaus and Sofa Project will collect as long as they have a CE label and fit their criteria. They have workshops for refurbishments so call them with what you have before discarding.
- Retailers should offer a collection service when they bring a replacement for £10-15
- Working and broken can be dropped off at HWRCs, or Currys, PC World for recycling

One of the Emmaus team PAT testing a second-hand washing machine
Computers
According to Computer Aid, it takes 240kgs of fossil fuels, 22kg of chemicals and 1500 litres oil to make a computer. So finding ways for repair or reuse is important, as well as responsible disposal options, because of the precious metals and dangerous materials in a computer:
- There are lots of places for repairs and reselling both on the high street and online.
- It is important to ensure data is properly wiped- Bristol Byteback charge £5 per hard drive.
- Unwanted computers can be donated to Bristol Computer Reuse who re-distribute to local individuals or organisations- 3000 computers in Bristol in 5 years.
- Businesses should consider leasing schemes for IT networks to minimise waste.
Cartridges
Because cartridges have a chip in them, they count as WEEE. 60% of cartridges can be remanufactured and the remaining 30% get recycled:
- Buy remanufactured or refill cartridges. This will not affect your warranty regardless of what your printer says.
- Specify a Bristol charity of your choice on www.recycle4charity.co.uk, charities will get up to £1 per cartridge.

Print cartridges that can’t be remanufactured being shredded for recycling.
Mobile Phones and tablets
The average smartphone life cycle in Britain is now under two years and there are more mobile phone subscriptions and handsets (7.7 billion) globally than there are people on Earth (7.4 billion). An estimated 4.78 billion mobile phones will become outdated, replaced and thrown away by 2020.
- You can go onto a SIM only contract once your contract has expired and use the same phone rather than upgrading each year
- If you are going to sell make sure you hit factory reset before selling or sending in the post
- Part-exchange for a new one, so your existing phone can be reused rather than gathering dust in a draw
- There are phone specific sites such as Mazumamobile.com for online selling
- Broken items still have value- 80% is recyclable and full of precious metals such as silver and gold
- And if you do really need a new one, buy second-hand, there are often ones people have barely used
And if you are keen to buy second-hand, head to Bristol Waste’s second reuse sale on Saturday 1st December, at Albert Road, where the focus will be on small electronic devices such as games consoles, radios and TVs.

The first reuse sale hosted by Bristol Waste at Day’s Road in the summer.
You can read more on the topic of WEEE here: https://b247-test.webringly.com/lifestyle/environment/it-weeeally-shouldnt-go-in-the-black-bin