WEEE (Crossed-Out Wheelie Bin)
Recycling centreNever put this loose in a home bin. Take it to a recycling centre or a retailer, unless your council collects it with the bin.
Which bin?
Take to your local recycling centre or return to a retailer.
Some councils collect small electricals at the kerbside, bagged or put out with the bin: see which, in their own words.
What does it mean?
The crossed-out wheelie bin means this is an electrical or electronic item (covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations). It must never go loose in your home bins: not recycling, not general waste. Electrical items contain valuable materials that can be recovered, but also hazardous substances that need specialist handling. Take them to your local recycling centre, or return to the retailer when you buy a replacement (retailers are legally required to take back old electrical items like-for-like). If your council collects small electricals with the bin, follow its own instructions.
Which councils collect small electricals at the kerbside?
Small electricals: 11 of the 55 councils whose lists say either way take them. The councils that take small electricals collect them bagged or put out with the bin, never loose inside it.
The 11 that do, in each council’s own words:
- Bristol: “Small electrical items, must be put in an untied plastic bag”
- Central Bedfordshire: “Small electrical items”: “Bag separately, place next to your recycling or refuse bin”
- Chelmsford: “We can collect small electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that are no bigger than your green recycling box. You need to out the item in a separate plastic bag beside green recycling box on your collection day.”
- Cheltenham: “You can put small electrical items in your recycling box, inside a plastic bag.”
- Cotswold: “Use an old carrier bag to recycle small electrical items. Put the bag inside either recycling box. You can recycle small appliances, children’s toys, mobile and digital phones, cameras, games consoles, tablets, e-readers, fairy lights, electrical cables and chargers.”
- East Devon: “Small electrical items - kettles, toasters, irons, old household cables (tied). Please bag separately from clothing/shoes.”
- Merthyr Tydfil: “You can now recycle small, handheld, unwanted electrical items by placing them in a clear bag at the side of, or on top of your recycling container”
- North Devon: “Small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) such as kettles, toasters and mobile phones. Items should be no larger than a standard-sized carrier bag. Please place in a bag on top of your recycling.”
- North Somerset: “Bag each of the following items separately in a carrier bag or clear plastic bag and tie loosely to keep them dry:” “Small electrical appliances including all household appliances smaller than a standard domestic toaster. For example, kettles, radios, clocks, keyboards, cables, irons, watches, hair dryers and phones”
- Somerset: “Small household electrical items – No bigger than a carrier bag (such as kettles or toasters). Put in an untied plastic bag. TVs, monitors and microwaves cannot be collected.”
- Torridge: “Small electrical items are also accepted but they should be presented inside a carrier bag within the green box.”
Frequently asked questions
What does the WEEE (Crossed-Out Wheelie Bin) symbol mean?
Never put this loose in a home bin. Take it to a recycling centre or a retailer, unless your council collects it with the bin.
Which bin do items with this symbol go in?
Take to your local recycling centre or return to a retailer.