WEEE waste and random plugs etc

[Steve101]

Out of curiosity, if you have some random kettle leads / power plugs / vga cables etc.. anything sort of cable or wire. Are you putting these in WEEE waste collection boxes?

 

Most companies I use to collect my IT waste only want the computers / chargers they wouldn't take power cables etc..

[kidpressingbuttons]

Enviro Electronic happily take them

[dhicks]

Out of curiosity, if you have some random kettle leads / power plugs / vga cables etc.. anything sort of cable or wire. Are you putting these in WEEE waste collection boxes?

 

We use FirstMile for our general daily waste disposal (they charge per-bag for mixed recycling, food waste and general waste, picked up daily), they also provide more specialised bags for general electronics, toner and batteries. Probably more expensive per-kg than other methods, but we don't have the storage space to keep enough for larger bulk disposals and they seem quite happy to take random cables and all sorts.

[robintech]

Don't have a bin they collect from, but on a normal lorry/van collection we use tech-recycle.com they take everything as long as we meet the minimum number of laptops, monitors, desktops etc. I always thought the point was they make a profit from it and in return take the stuff without any value.

Even took about 150 3rd party toners and 100Kilo of cables

Edited September 25, 2024 by ittech2342323

[Steve101]

What do your sites then do with things like Fridges, non household batteries and waste electrical items? Most of these companies tend to just want IT kit because it's the most profitable WEEE waste.

[PotNoodleTech]

Cables can legally be taken by any recycler.

 

It's anthing with a circuit board that technically requires WEE.

[Steve101]

Cables can legally be taken by any recycler.

 

It's anthing with a circuit board that technically requires WEE.

 

This is what I was going towards.. can you find anything that backs this up?

 

When reading the policies it does not specify this, it specifically mentions that if you have a cable that comes with a device then that is WEEE waste and needs to be treated so.

[Fazza]

You can't force a WEEE recycling company to take the cables just like you can't force them to take a Fridge or Dishwasher your school/academy has - they're all covered by the WEEE Directive but just because you choose to recycle computer laptops or desktops doesn't mean you can take all things covered by the WEEE directive.

 

PRM Green Tech and Enviro Electronic are two companies that will take all your IT WEEE from cables to monitors but they both have a minimum amount you need to have before they will do a collection. When we used to use PRM Green Tech (great fee mugs from the drivers) we had to have a minimum of 10 items from a list and then they would take all our cables and old toners (but they wouldnt take cables and toners on their own) whereas Enviro Electronic give you either a cage or a industrial size wheeled bin (at no cost to you) and when they are full of anything IT you can arrange a collection.

 

I definately wouldnt be using a WEEE company that doesn't like cables or toners etc.

[PotNoodleTech]

PRM green are now charging big bucks for collections even for just PCs and TFTs so I've stopped using them now. Can reccomend NAD National Asset Disposals same typoe of company but no charging.

[Fazza]

PRM green are now charging big bucks for collections even for just PCs and TFTs so I've stopped using them now. Can reccomend NAD National Asset Disposals same typoe of company but no charging.

 

In that case it should be https://enviroelectronics.co.uk/it-disposal-schools/ all the way!

[Steve101]

But what do you do with the stuff they don't take? Who deals with your other waste electronics and how do they get rid of them?

[Fazza]

But what do you do with the stuff they don't take? Who deals with your other waste electronics and how do they get rid of them?

 

I only work in IT Services so we only have IT/AV equipment to deal with, we dont install or support the use of toasters, kettles, vending machines, fridges, freezers or microwaves etc. they are all nothing to do with IT/AV.

[Steve101]

I only work in IT Services so we only have IT/AV equipment to deal with, we dont install or support the use of toasters, kettles, vending machines, fridges, freezers or microwaves etc. they are all nothing to do with IT/AV.

 

So they take all your cables?, ethernet cables, vga cables, you've never thrown away something like a drill? Extension lead, hdmi cables, sim cards, american / european power cables that have been supplied with certain kit, ID Badges with chip inside?

Batteries?

 

My experience with these IT Disposal companies is they are only interested in computing equipment.

[LeMarchand]

My experience with these IT Disposal companies is they are only interested in computing equipment.

 

My experience is that, if the minimum quantity of stuff that they can make money on is made, most companies will take most kit with the exception of smart boards. I imagine that if you've got (say) 20 laptops and a large skip's worth of other junk they might not be so keen.

[Fazza]

So they take all your cables?, ethernet cables, vga cables, you've never thrown away something like a drill? Extension lead, hdmi cables, sim cards, american / european power cables that have been supplied with certain kit, ID Badges with chip inside?

Batteries?

 

My experience with these IT Disposal companies is they are only interested in computing equipment.

 

Here are some of the things we have put in the large bin on wheels they have provided us:

 

Laptops, desktops, monitors, interactive whiteboards, projectors, any kind of power cable/lead, laptop adapters, network switches, mobile phones, HDMI leads, VGA leads, power leads, ethernet cables, phono leads, audio amplifier, speakers, laptop batteries, mice, keyboards, USB dongles, A/V adapters, USB cables, hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, LTO backup tapes, servers, RAM, optical disk drives, printers, ipads, android tablets, eReaders, scanners, toners, ink cartridges, DVI cables, display port cables, network cards, fax cards (threw one of those the other week), old KVM, USB webcam, remote controls, headphones, microphones, motherboards, CPU...

 

 

You can get an official list of items (just in case some of the things I've mentioned we've put in there in the past are no longer taken) from their website and they respond to emails prompttly.

 

You also get all the paperwork you need such as data destruction certificate if they find any storage devices like hard disk drives or backup tapes.

 

 

Not sure if they take 'normal' batteries like AA or AAA etc. but we have a free box (with free collection) from VALPAK that we put all of those in.

 

 

Enviro Electronics come highly recommended.

[Fazza]

My experience is that, if the minimum quantity of stuff that they can make money on is made, most companies will take most kit with the exception of smart boards. I imagine that if you've got (say) 20 laptops and a large skip's worth of other junk they might not be so keen.

 

Put it in one of Enviro Electronics bins and when it's full they take it! They take smartboards and any other IWB, you just let them know so they can make room on the van. Pickup is very quick as they just roll off the empty bin and roll on the full one in it's place, they then tip it out and find the kit with serial numbers on and scan them in so you get a certificate in their online portal to download the waste certificate etc.

 

They are an IT WEEE recycling company only so will take IT cables etc. but not any domestic appliances like a toaster or microwave etc.

 

Get in touch with them and you'll have a large bin delivered before you know it!

 

[Steve101]

I really didn't want this thread to become an advert for a specific company.. I just wanted a discussion on people interpretation of WEEE regulations and experiences of these IT Disposal companies leaving behind things they can't make money on.

[Fazza]

I really didn't want this thread to become an advert for a specific company.. I just wanted a discussion on people interpretation of WEEE regulations and experiences of these IT Disposal companies leaving behind things they can't make money on.

 

But that's my experience, the one I've mentioned take more IT things than any company! I'll unsubscribe from the thread and let you guys continue with companies that dont take EU/USA IEC power cables which is just bizarre and let people continue to pay to get them replaced.

 

I hope your WEEE experience becomes more positive.

[synaesthesia]

I'm going to have to agree with Fazza - if you're struggling to get rid of IT/AV related equipment, you need a better class of recycling company. Yes it reads like an advert but have always had a positive experience with Enviro. Obviously things outside IT they will rightly grumble about but anyone refusing to take IEC cables, network cables are just poor. I asked specifically about old CAT5 cabling a while ago and they said it's fine, as long as it isn't CCA then they're happy because the copper is easy to strip. And otherwise they work on a win some, lose some; if they find a toaster in the midst of 30 desktop PCs, 20 LCDs and a few kilos of copper cabling, it's not going to cause them any pain.

[LeMarchand]

I really didn't want this thread to become an advert for a specific company.

 

In that case... I'm sure Enviro are great but we were outside their catchment area, so your location may be something to factor in.