‘Tis the season to recycle

Now you have opened your presents this Christmas, remember to recycle those old hairdryers, food processors and computers.

Brighton & Hove City Council has 20 recycling collection points for small electrical items across the city where old and broken kettles, hair dryers, toasters, DIY tools and irons can be recycled.The scheme is run by the council and Veolia Environmental Services, as part of a drive to encourage residents to reduce waste, and to recycle more.Councillor Pete West, chair of the council’s Environment, Sustainability and Transport Committee said: “The average resident accumulates three new electrical items each year, and many of these are Christmas presents.“However, only one in five small electrical items gets recycled. “With 20 bring sites across the city, residents can easily recycle their unwanted items and we hope to see the banks filling up by the new year.”All small items, broken or usable, are accepted including toys, shavers, phones, DIY tools, mobile phones and kitchen appliances. They just need to be small enough to fit through the chute.The recycling sites can be found at:• Marine Cliffs Car Park, Rottingdean• Asda Marina• Whitehawk Family Centre• Leybourne Parade, Lower Bevendean• Withdean Stadium• Outside Hikers Rest P.H., Coldean Lane• Opposite 57 Ladies Mile Road, Patcham• Montpelier Crescent• Opposite The Glass Centre, 224-226 Portland Road• Goldstone Retail Park • Kingswood Street• Little East Street (east of Brighton Town Hall)• Whitecross Street• Regent Street• The Level, Union Road• Tisbury Road – outside Hove Town Hall• Upper Rock Gardens• Wickes DIY, Davigdor Road (Lyon Close)• King Alfred Leisure Centre Car Park• Norfolk Square, Western Road. Electrical items can contain hazardous and toxic metals which can be damaging to the environment when thrown away.Recycling these items helps preserve natural resources and protect the environment. Some electrical items also contain valuable raw materials such as silver while others can be used to make other items. For example – one iron contains enough steel to produce 13 steel cans!Larger items can be taken to the council’s household waste recycling centres or collected using the bulky waste service featured on the council’s website.For more information on recycling and reusing electrical items, CLICK HERE: