International E-Waste Day: Derry and Strabane residents encouraged to recycle electricals

This October, Derry City and Strabane District Council is joining forces with Recycle Your Electricals to mark International E-Waste Day with a call to action for residents across the city and district to recycle their unwanted electricals and give old cables and gadgets a new lease of life.

With millions of unused or broken electrical items gathering dust in UK homes, the campaign aims to tackle the growing problem of e-waste — the fastest-growing waste stream both in the UK and globally.

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, backed the campaign and encouraged the public to recycle as much old electrical equipment in their homes as possible.

“We’re proud to support this important initiative and encourage everyone in Derry and Strabane to take a moment to clear out their unused electricals. Many of us have that secret drawer that’s full of old chargers, cables and gadgets that we’ve forgotten about — but those small items contain valuable materials that can be reused again and again.

“Recycling your old electricals not only helps reduce waste going to landfill, but it also supports the circular economy and contributes to a cleaner, greener future. It’s never been easier to recycle, and small actions taken locally can make a big difference nationally.”

Recent research by Recycle Your Electricals found that two in five UK households (39%) have a hidden “drawer of doom” filled with unused electricals and broken tech, while over a quarter (28%) admit feeling embarrassed, annoyed, or frustrated by the clutter. Yet, one in five people say they don’t recycle electricals because they don’t know how, or find it too difficult.

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The good news is that recycling electricals has never been easier. Using the Recycle Your Electricals Recycling Locator, residents can simply enter their postcode to find their nearest repair, donation, or recycling point — with over 30,000 locations across the region.

By recycling unused electricals, valuable materials such as copper can be recovered and reused to make new products — from mobile phones and laptops to clean energy technology and medical equipment.

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This International E-Waste Day, residents are encouraged to check their drawers, cupboards, and garages for old electricals and cables — and recycle them rather than throwing them away.

To find out how and where to recycle, visit: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk.

To find out where your local recycling centres are and their opening times, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/recycling.