Today it’s International E-Waste Day (14 October 2026) and the County Council is encouraging residents to continue taking unwanted e-waste such as electrical and electronic items to household recycling centres after nearly 4,000 tonnes of items were brought to them last year.
Included in the nearly 4,000 tonnes of electrical items recycled last year (April 2025 to March 2026) were 603 tonnes of fridges and 442 tonnes of computer monitors.
With an average free-standing fridge weighing around 70kg and an average computer monitor weighing around 8.5kg, this equates to around 8,500 fridges and 52,000 computer monitors recycled. This recycling achievement supports the County Council’s ambition to support communities to reuse materials and live more sustainably.
All waste electrical and electronic equipment items are grouped together as WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) and cover a range of objects including larger items such as washing machines, tumble driers, dishwasher and ovens, as well as smaller items such as toasters, fans, kettles, microwaves and toothbrushes, and anything that has a plug on it.
It’s important to recycle unwanted or broken electrical items because electrical waste can contain potentially harmful chemicals which can create climate-changing emissions when not recycled properly.
Recycling also help saves natural resources which would otherwise be wasted such as mined copper and metals which can be recycled repeatedly with no loss of quality.
Cllr Ros Hathorn, Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We’re delighted that local residents have taken such positive action and recycled so many items of waste electrical and electronic equipment, which allows these items to be disposed of safely or recycled. We are dedicated to supporting local people and communities to reduce waste and reuse materials, as well as supporting initiatives that help with climate change.
“We also want to remind people that any item with a battery such as disposable vapes, earbuds, power banks, mobile phones or watches should also be taken to household recycling centres, as they may cause fires if put in household waste collections.”
The County Council’s website has information on which items can be recycled, along with details of the nine household recycling centres Household Recycling Centres | Cambridgeshire County Council.
