Press release - 09 Dec 2009

Analogue TVs get a makeover as Lancashire finally goes digital

As residents of Lancashire finally switched over to digital on 5 December, over 18,000 analogue TV sets in total were taken to household waste recycling centres (HWRC) across the region for recycling during November.

As the fashion for new widescreen LCD and plasma screens increases, leading recycling and resource management company SITA UK has seen a significant increase in the number of old-style analogue television sets being brought to its sites for disposal, as highlighted below.

National recycling organisation, Recycling Lives, is benefitting from this trend by dismantling the old TVs and recycling the parts.  The Preston-based company receives the unwanted TV sets from the various HWRCs across Lancashire, breaks them down at its CRT recycling facility in Preston and uses the old materials to make new glass tiles and plastic products for use in the construction industry.

Harold Council, regional manager for SITA UK in the north west said: “The steady increase in the older style TV sets and monitors started in June with over 13,200 sets collected across all 23 sites, and reached a peak in November as the digital switchover deadline approached.

“As consumers, we use and throw away many electrical and electronic products that need to be disposed of carefully and meet government standards. Recycling Lives is an excellent example of a company which takes the unwanted electrical items and sorts and sells the many components that make up the discarded machinery, so the most value can be recovered.”

Charles Jackson, Chief Executive at Recycling Lives said: “Recycling Lives is proud to be working in Lancashire collecting waste televisions and monitors from the SITA UK-managed HWRCs. The collection and recycling of Lancashire’s waste TVs is performed by a team of 24 employees from Preston and the surrounding area and so is key to sustained employment within the county.  Lancashire has established an excellent reputation for recycling nationwide and Recycling Lives is proud to play their part in ensuring this reputation is maintained.”

Sites across Lancashire include – Ormskirk, Barnoldswick, Burnley, Chorley, Haslingdon, St Anne’s, Leyland, Garstang, Skelmersdale, Gt Harwood, Clitheroe, Ingol (Preston), Fleetwood, Carnforth, Kendal, Longridge, Padiham, Pendle, Langho, Bacup, Lancaster, Lytham and Accrington.