Recycle your old electricals before Santa delivers!

IF you're hoping Santa will be leaving a host of new gadgets and gizmos under your tree, why not make some space before he arrives and recycle your old electrical items?

Central Bedfordshire Council is encouraging everyone to recycle or donate their unwanted electronic items during the Christmas and New Year period.

Now the council's Waste Awareness team will be visiting markets throughout the area to answer your questions about electrical recycling.

On Friday, they will be at Sandy Market from 8am to 2pm.

In Christmas Week, they will be in Biggleswade at the town's market on Wednesday from 8am to 2pm and then on Friday December 23, they will be at Flitwick market also from 8am to 2pm.

 Currently, around 64 per cent of waste electronic items end up in landfill each year, where lead and toxins can cause soil and water contamination.

This has a harmful effect on natural habitats, wildlife and human health.

In 2010/11, Central Bedfordshire residents diverted more than 1,800 tonnes of waste electronics from landfill by taking items to their Household Waste Recycling Centre.

 If the items is still in good working order, there might be someone else who could get more use out of it. 

Charity shops or reuse organisations like Preen in Biggleswade take old electricals for reuse.

Otherwise, residents can take any waste electrical and electronic equipment  (WEEE) items to one of Central Bedfordshire's four Household Waste Recycling Centres, which are open 9am to 5pm, seven days a week (sites will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day and will close early at 1pm Christmas Eve and New Years Eve)

 Cllr Brian Spurr, executive member for sustainable communities services, said: "We are encouraging everyone to reuse or recycle electrical items, especially at this time of year when lots of electrical items will be replaced as gifts.

“We want to ensure that our environment is safe, and prevent pollution from these items."

For further information on recycling your unwanted or broken electronic items, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/recycling or visit www.recyclenow.com