Repic, the UK's largest not-for-profit producer compliance scheme, collected more than a tonne of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from Peterborough residents during a two-day WEEE amnesty.
Repic joined forces with Peterborough City Council, Enterprise Peterborough and leading white goods manufacturer, Indesit Company, to host the event which aimed to encourage people to dispose of their unwanted electrical items in a responsible way.
A four-metre T.Rex figure made entirely of recycled WEEE attracted visitors to the amnesty, where they handed in items ranging from kettles and irons to fridges and televisions. A total of 1017kg of WEEE was collected during the two-day event.
Dr Philip Morton, CEO of REPIC, commented: "The need for responsible WEEE recycling is an important message to get out to the public so it was encouraging to see such a strong turn out at the Peterborough WEEE amnesty. Not only were people disposing of their old, unwanted electrical and electronic goods in the right way, they were getting information on how best to recycle their items and what happens to them after they do. Repic works closely with its local authority partners across the country to provide free services, workshops and advice around WEEE recycling.
"Part of the problem with WEEE recycling in the UK currently is that there is the potential for several parties to become involved in the recycling chain and where this happens, and WEEE evidence is transferred or traded, its origin becomes untraceable and the audit trail becomes longer and less clear - which means the risk of leakage and the illegal export of WEEE increases. This risk can be significantly decreased by producer compliance schemes working closely with a local authority partner to shorten the audit trail, making it easier to know where WEEE comes from, where it goes to and who pays for its treatment, consequently closing the gap on illegal WEEE export."
Paul Ellen, Service Finance Manager responsible for WEEE at Indesit Company, commented: "We were really pleased to be involved in the WEEE amnesty. As a responsible producer of electrical and electronic equipment, Indesit Company supports the environmental objectives of the WEEE Directive in diverting waste electrical and electronic appliances from landfill and into recycling."
Those who dropped off an item for recycling were automatically entered into a draw to win a prize, which included a Hotpoint Aqualtis washer-dryer, an Indesit washing machine and a Hotpoint combi fridge freezer, all with free delivery within 15 miles of Peterborough. Other prizes included a Kenwood food mixer, a Kenwood food processor, a De Longhi coffee maker and a De Longhi fan heater. All visitors also received a voucher for 10 per cent off Indesit and Hotpoint products bought from the Indesit Factory Graded Centre, Morley Way, Peterborough, and a 37" smart TV donated by LG was on offer to the visitor who guessed the weight of Tyrone the T.Rex.