A new electricals collections trial is launching in East Suffolk.

The initial collections will begin later this month with the hope that 12,000 households in the will get behind the council's drive to recycle their electricals using the kerbside collection.

East Suffolk residents will be able to leave up to two small electrical items out for collection each week alongside their usual bin collection.

If the collection basket on the refuse vehicle is full, items may need to be collected the following week. 

Collected items will be sorted for recycling or where appropriate given to a local repair shed before selling the items to raise money for charity. 

Trial electrical kerbside collections will be initially introduced on four collection rounds:

  • Covering parts of Lowestoft, Kessingland, Oulton, Pakefield, Carlton Colville, Wrentham and Worlingham.
  • Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham, Rendlesham, Orford, Framlingham, Melton, Woodbridge, Wickham Market, Kesgrave, Felixstowe, Martlesham and Purdis Farm.       
  • The collections will then be rolled out across the remainder of the district over the next few months.     
  • By May 2025, all areas of the district will receive these collections. 

This is one of over 40 projects funded by Material Focus, the not for profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, that have provided £60,724 to support this project. 

Material Focus uses a range of recycling methods, from kerbside collections to more drop off points in schools, community centres and bring banks. 

It aims to reduce the 100,000 tonnes of electricals that are thrown away every year by making it easier to repair, donate or recycle electricals. 

Councillor Sally Nobie, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for the environment said: “Having seen the popularity of the collection banks for small electricals which we previously trialled in some of our towns, we know that residents want to dispose of their electrical items properly and so we are confident people will be keen to make the most of these new kerbside collections.

"We look forward to seeing the response across the trial areas and then rolling out the programme to the remainder of East Suffolk over the next few months.”