Weee connect, a WEEE industry partnership, has put forward over £53,000 to fund the production of a 30-second advert designed to raise householder awareness of the need to recycle waste electronics.
The advert will be aired for the first time on 26 December 2011 and will be shown on TV stations including: Really, Yesterday, Blighty and Home. It will be viewed by approximately 34.8 million adults over a four week period and it is expected to have a significant and positive impact on householders’ attitudes towards WEEE recycling simply by making them more aware of what they can do to recycle old items.
Weee connect is also encouraging local authorities, brand owners, community groups and other types of organisation to support the campaign and to get involved by asking them to carry out local campaigns to coincide with the launch of the advert. An easy to use campaign pack has been put together for organisations that wish to take part, which is available to download from the local authorities section of www.recycle-more.co.uk .
Business minster Mark Prisk said: “After Christmas we often throw out old electronic devices, which have been superseded by new gifts. But this year, don’t throw away your old MP3 player or power drill. Recycle it. It’s safer, helps protect our environment and helps support green firms and jobs.
“I’m pleased that the industry is leading from the front in encouraging the public to recycle their unwanted electricals. This is exactly the sort of approach we need if we are to meet our recycling targets without heavy handed government intervention. I want as many businesses, local authorities and ordinary members of the public as possible to get behind this campaign.”
Nigel Harvey, Recolight CEO, said: “The recast of the WEEE directive will bring challenging new collection targets. The TV advert is an imaginative way for the UK to work towards those targets, and Recolight is delighted to be a partner”.