What to do with European power leads

[mikeprice]

Hi

Firstly - sorry if this has been raised before - if it has I can't find it

 

Just wondering if there is a better way of dealing with european power leads than chucking them in the bin. I am temporarily in a school in Cheshire and I have found a big bag of the things.

As they are in everything along with the UK version I presume everyone has this problem - surely someone has a solution

 

Or is this an export opportunity worthy of Dragon's Den

 

TIA

 

Mike

[E_G_R2]

I wait until we have some kit for recycling then bung them in with it so they can deal with them.

[plexer]

Power leads are probably covered under the weee regulations so I don't think you should be just throwing them out, dispose of them with your other weee waste or weigh them in, with approval of course.

 

Ben

[synaesthesia]

Fairly sure mains cables on their own are not part of WEEE and can be binned. Adapters definitely not, cables alone...

[localzuk]

We recycle them with the rest of our WEEE waste.

[jamesreedersmith]

Weigh them in :-)

[plexer]

I dunno it was this bit that makes me think they would be:

 

"The WEEE Regulations apply to finished products. Components, sub-assemblies, consumables and spares are usually exempt. However, accessories, such as headphones, computer keyboards, antennas and connecting cables, are classed as WEEE if they do not have a function by themselves and are only used with another product."

 

Ben

[southhamster]

I like to imagine the same thread on le edugeek "zut alors Pierre, what do we do with all these damn uk power leads"

[StevieM]

Like others, we bung them in with any redundant equipment that is being collected. Not sure if they are under WEEE or not, but as they CAN be recycled, they SHOULD be recycled.

[synaesthesia]

I dunno it was this bit that makes me think they would be:

 

"The WEEE Regulations apply to finished products. Components, sub-assemblies, consumables and spares are usually exempt. However, accessories, such as headphones, computer keyboards, antennas and connecting cables, are classed as WEEE if they do not have a function by themselves and are only used with another product."

 

Ben

 

Interesting. The WEEE recycling specialists I used to work for just threw those out. There was nothing in them worth recycling even with huge amounts of them. If that's true, I imagine the same will happen at whoever we send them to for recycling too.

[mikeprice]

Yup - and the same in Belgium, germany.....................

[Oaktech]

weigh them in...

 

It's a lucrative little earner to keep the IT dept in money for sundry items!

 

(be careful to check your head or bursar is happy though!)

[speckytecky]

In my time on Edugeek I can't recall this question being posed but thanks as it's one I've always pondered asking myself. There must be a better answer involving the manufacturers I reckon? They might only cost pence to produce but they must be worth something to a manufacture supplying the Continent?

 

Hi

Firstly - sorry if this has been raised before - if it has I can't find it

 

Just wondering if there is a better way of dealing with european power leads than chucking them in the bin. I am temporarily in a school in Cheshire and I have found a big bag of the things.

As they are in everything along with the UK version I presume everyone has this problem - surely someone has a solution

 

Or is this an export opportunity worthy of Dragon's Den

 

TIA

 

Mike

[round2it]

science department

they alwways need bits of wire

[Andrew_C]

science department

they alwways need bits of wire

 

but... but... I've got BOXES of bits of wire already!

 

It is true we do use off-cut flex for teaching "How to wire a plug"

[localzuk]

It is true we do use off-cut flex for teaching "How to wire a plug"

 

You still do that? Didn't think it was legal any more, as plug wiring has to be done by an electrician now! I know the electronics dept in my dad's school stopped doing it for that reason!

[Andrew_C]

You still do that? Didn't think it was legal any more, as plug wiring has to be done by an electrician now!

What? All new appliances have to come with a plug, but you can replace them yourself.

 

Your LA may require an electrician to do it within your school.

[localzuk]

All electrical work has to be completed, under H&S law, by a "competent person" who is "someone who has the suitable training, skill and knowledge for the task to be undertaken to prevent injury to themselves and others". The HSE site expands on this to say "A successfully completed electrical apprenticeship, with some post-apprenticeship experience, is one way of demonstrating technical competence for general electrical work."

 

My Dad's school took this to mean "no wiring plugs without a qualification".

[Boredguy]

Could always give them to your friendly electrician, as they can always use them to connect some kit a switched fuse spur as long as they don't mind it the flex being black

 

Personally we drop them down to the drama department as the Head of Drama has a house in France, so he "donates" them to the locals when he pops over

[StevieM]

but... but... I've got BOXES of bits of wire already!

 

Let me show you some of the different lengths of wire I used.[/Quote]

 

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdws8kcWBPUGCAjF0wwg3Dtf7FSc9gPvvPoLgMxLKXeRHK4c-9:oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/futurama/thumb/8/8d/Wire.jpg/250px-Wire.jpg

[TIOAOA]

Whats all this 'weigh them in business' and how do I go about doing it ?

[localzuk]

Whats all this 'weigh them in business' and how do I go about doing it ?

 

Take them to a scrap yard.

[Oaktech]

Whats all this 'weigh them in business' and how do I go about doing it ?

 

Find your local scrap metal dealer, turn up with as much copper cable as you find, stick it on the scales, get paid.

 

If you are unsure of the procedure I'm sure any traveller kids in your school will hapilly show you the ropes.

[Andrew_C]

They should now pay only by cheque. To discourage collecting British Rails cables and weighing them in for cash.

[plexer]

You still do that? Didn't think it was legal any more, as plug wiring has to be done by an electrician now! I know the electronics dept in my dad's school stopped doing it for that reason!

 

What's not legal about teaching students a life skill using some old redundant power cables?

 

Ben

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

They should now pay only by cheque. To discourage collecting British Rails cables and weighing them in for cash.

 

Or bank transfer. They will also require photo id.

 

Ben