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Read MoreValpak’s support for Bath & North East Somerset Council's WEEE Recycling Workshops
As part of Valpak’s WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) collection contract with Bath & North East Somerset Council, we offered funding to support workshops to raise awareness about the importance of recycling electronic equipment with a selection of local schools. Through engaging workshops, children gained practical skills in sorting materials for recycling while also learning about the environmental impact of electronic waste.
The WEEE recycling workshops aim to instil eco-friendly practices in the next generation. By participating in these workshops, school children not only learn how to properly recycle waste electronic items but also gain an understanding of the significance of reducing electronic waste in our landfills.
WEEE Workshop
This initiative is a collaboration between Valpak by Reconomy, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and Bristol reuse charity Children’s Scrapstore. This partnership highlights the community’s commitment to promoting sustainability and environmental awareness from a young age. We hope to create a positive impact and encourage children to become more aware of their role in protecting the planet for future generations.
WEEE Workshop
The Council used social value funding provided by Valpak in 2024 to host three workshops at its Keynsham Recycling Hub. These workshops helped to educate 160 children from three local schools, the school staff, volunteer parents, and their wider families about what, how, and why we recycle, reuse, and reduce waste. The children demonstrated their new knowledge by correctly answering questions related to recycling and were able to identify a WEEE product, explaining how and where it could be placed for recycling.
The invited schools rated the programme five out of five in key areas, including meeting its objectives, appropriateness for the target age group, and the likelihood of recommending it to another school.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has collected small mixed WEEE as part of its doorstep recycling service since 2012 and is actively seeking more ways to promote and capture more electrical waste for recycling. This funding helped to raise awareness of this service.
WEEE Workshop
In 2025, we plan to double our funding input to allow the Council to offer the workshops to more local schools and help to reach even more students across the district. We believe that increasing participation will enhance the programme’s effectiveness and develop a deeper understanding of recycling and sustainability in young minds. We are pleased to be partnered with Bath & North East Somerset on this local initiative devised and led by their waste education team.
The WEEE education sessions this summer were transformative for local pupils and allowed the Council to make first use of it’s fantastic new training space at Keynsham Recycling Hub. Pupils left with a clearer understanding of electronic waste and its impact on the environment. We hope they’ll feel empowered to help their families make more informed and responsible choices. The knowledge they gained is invaluable and will hopefully influence their actions for years to come.