Diss residents invited to recycle and reuse

The event offers a simple and sustainable way to dispose of unwanted small electrical items and textiles. Whether it’s broken kettles, tangled cables, worn-out clothing or faded curtains, residents can drop off items that might otherwise end up in the bin.

The event supports International E-Waste Day on 14 October, which raises awareness about the environmental impact of e-waste and the importance of recycling electricals to recover valuable materials. Following the success of a similar event earlier in the year at Diss where over 2,000 electrical items were collected and 4.5 textile banks were filled, the Council is expecting another strong turnout.

Cllr Keith Kiddie, Portfolio Holder for the Environmental, said:

We want to make recycling easy and accessible for everyone. Events like this help people clear out clutter while doing something positive for the planet. If all our old, small electrical products were recycled in the UK, we could save around 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions - the equivalent of taking 1.3million cars off the road. Every item recycled makes a difference.”

No booking is needed, residents can just turn up with their items. Electricals should be small enough to carry by hand and textiles clean and dry. All electricals collected will be sent to a specialist contractor in Costessey, where they are taken apart and recycled. Around 75% of the materials in these items can be reused to create new products, including life-saving medical equipment, children’s playgrounds and even new electronics.

Textiles will be sorted for reuse or recycling. Items that can’t be reused will be shredded into fibers to make new fabric. For more details, visit our recycling events page or follow South Norfolk Council on social media