Residents in Nottinghamshire have helped to raise more than £1,000 for charity by recycling their waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
The items were left at the 12 recycling centres in the county throughout December and January with Veolia — Nottinghamshire County Council’s waste contractors —donating £5 to charity for every tonne of small WEEE taken to the sites.
The campaign saw 217.23 tonnes of small domestic household appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters, clocks, mobile phones, kettles, fans, hair-dryers and electronic toys taken to the sites.
A total of £1,086.15 was raised, which Veolia rounded up to £1,100. It has been presented to the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, the charity nominated by the chairman of the county council, Coun Kevin Rostance, during his year in office.
Coun Rostance said: “This campaign has helped us to collectively raise vital funds for the association.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped not only the charity, but the environment too by having a greener Christmas.”
Richard Allen, contract logistics manager at Veolia, added: “We are delighted by the total raised for this charity campaign and wish to thank all the householders in Nottinghamshire for their support.
“Most electrical waste consists of multiple materials, including glass, plastic and metals, such as lead and mercury.
“This complex and potentially dangerous mix of components means that WEEE from Nottinghamshire households should always be recycled at the Recycling Centres and never put into kerbside bins.”
Sharon King, of the MND Association, said it was delighted to receive support from Veolia to help fund its work locally to help improve the lives of those living with MND in the Nottinghamshire area.
“MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord,” she added.
“It attacks the nerves that control movement and eventually leaves people unable to move, communicate or breathe. It kills a third of people within a year of diagnosis and half within two years.
“The funds raised by Veolia will really help to give respite care to families affected by this cruel disease, as well as fund specialist equipment to help those affected by the disease live as comfortably as possible.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support by both Veolia and Coun Rostance.”
For more information about how to recycle common household waste items, visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/recycling-and-disposing-of-waste/how-to-recycle-or-dispose-of-common-waste-items