£2.5m WEEE ideas fund launched

Material Focus has launched a £2.5m Electricals Recycling Fund for projects that make it easier for the public to recycle their waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

It will support projects to add household electricals collections using existing infrastructure, and those that innovate with new methods for recycling small WEEE.

WEEE is the fastest growing waste stream in the world, Materials Focus said, and in the UK some 527 million items are estimated to be hoarded and 155,000 tonnes discarded annually. These items, however, contain valuable materials including gold, silver, aluminium and copper.

Executive director Scott Butler said: "This fund provides an exciting opportunity to make it easier for millions more people to recycle electricals from their doorsteps, and to test innovative ways to tackle one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK and globally."

Applications are open from local authorities, waste contractors, reuse organisations, non-profits, producer compliance schemes, retailers and start-ups, but not individuals.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 31 January, with projects ready for implementation during 2023.