Material Focus funding makes electrical recycling easier

Communities across the UK are now able to reuse and recycle small electricals thanks to an array of brilliant projects funded by Material Focus.

Light skin tone woman wearing a peach hoody holding a tote bag full of electricals to recycle

What is the Electricals Recycling Fund? 

At Material Focus we want to make it easier for people to reuse and recycle their electricals.

Our Electricals Recycling Fund supports projects that build on existing methods or test new, creative and practical ways of recycling household electricals.

Launched in November 2020, the fund has supported over 70 projects – from expanding kerbside collections into new neighbourhoods and adding more recycling collection points, to fresh approaches on reusing and recycling electricals and awareness-raising campaigns.

Meet our previous projects

Over the past year, our latest round of funding has saved over 450 tonnes of waste electricals from landfill. Here are just a few of the projects who made reuse and recycling easier for millions of people across the UK.

  • A large pink electicals collection bank in the foreground with the sea and blue sky in the background

    ILM Highland

    Since installing 18 bring banks in remote rural locations, ILM Highland have collected over 41 tonnes of waste electricals.

    Read the case study
  • two pale skinned women and two pale skinned men standing behind a banner saying

    Ashford Borough Council

    Over 400 people repaired or recycled old electricals at 6 of Ashford’s tech amnesty days, as part of their innovative collection project.

    Read the case study
  • two pale skinned women standing next to a large wheelie bin with the text

    North Tyneside Council

    Over the space of a year, North Tyneside recycled over 9 tonnes of waste electricals through their 8 bring banks placed in council buildings.

    Read the case study
  • A pale skinned council worker in orange standing in front to two bright pink electrical recycling wheelie bins with a waste lorry with a picture of Hypnocat on the side

    Joint Waste Solutions Surrey

    JWS used HypnoCat to promote their new bright pink bins in local flats, making it easier for residents to recycle their electricals on their doorstep/from home.

  • two older pale skinned men leaning over a table inspecting an electrical repair

    Hubbub Foundation UK

    Hubbub trialled their #RehomeYourElectricals project at two Community Fridge locations where residents could donate their unwanted electricals to be passed on to someone in the local community.

    Read the case study
  • smiling pale skinned young man standing next to a bright pink electrical recyling bin with the lid open as he puts an old electric drill in there

    London Borough of Hillingdon

    Hillingdon set up new collection points in libraries and community centres for small waste electrical items and saved over 12 tonnes of e-waste from landfill.

    Read the case study
  • a large vertical banner in en empty library which says

    Newcastle City Council

    Newcastle combined doorstep collections with pop-up recycling centres and have recycled over 7000 items since launching in January 2024.

    Read the case study
  • seven large pink electrical bring-banks on the back of a flat bed lorry

    London Borough of Lewisham

    Lewisham unveiled 17 new small electrical recycling banks across the borough in March 2024, ready for local residents to drop off their old and unwanted electrical items.

    Read the case study