The funding programme, which is entering its third year, aims to make it easier for households to recycle unwanted electrical items by supporting local authorities and organisations to introduce convenient and visible recycling options in their communities.
The fund has already supported more than 70 pilot projects across the UK, resulting in over 900 new collection points.
Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, commented: “As we enter the third year of the Electricals Recycling Fund, we are building on the proven success of tackling e-waste in the UK.
“This £1 million investment will help councils and partners test and scale practical solutions that can be rolled out more widely, ensuring fewer electricals are held onto or thrown away, and more are reused or responsibly recycled.”
Applications for the Electricals Recycling Fund 2026
The Electricals Recycling Fund 2026 is inviting applications from UK councils and other eligible organisations looking to introduce or expand practical collection services for small electrical items.
Funding will focus on projects that improve accessibility and visibility of electrical recycling. This includes:
- Installing on-street collection banks
- Creating community collection points in high-footfall locations such as libraries and leisure centres
- Refurbishing existing bring banks already in use
Of the £1 million available this year, £500,000 has been provided by the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) operated by Valpak. The remaining £500,000 will come from the Electricals Recycling Fund itself.
Applications for the Electricals Recycling Fund 2026 opened on 4 March 2026 and will close on 31 May 2026. Successful applicants are expected to be notified by 4 July 2026.
Organisations can apply for funding of up to £0.50 per household served, with a maximum grant of £100,000 per applicant.
Applications must be submitted through the online application form, and applicants are encouraged to review the programme’s Applicant’s Guide and Terms and Conditions before submitting proposals.
Projects supported in 2025
Several local authorities secured funding in the 2025 round of the programme to expand electrical recycling services in their areas.
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames introduced 20 outdoor bring banks across the borough and equipped waste collection vehicles with cages for small electrical items.
Residents were able to drop off electricals at the banks or leave them out alongside regular recycling collections.
The initiative collected over 48 tonnes of small electricals from bring banks and 3.1 tonnes via kerbside collections, increasing monthly recycling rates by more than 8%.
Elsewhere, Lewisham Borough Council installed 27 new on-street bring banks, replacing outdated units and expanding access for residents.
The improved infrastructure led to 42.3 tonnes of small electricals being recycled, representing an 800% increase compared with previous collection levels.
Interested in finding out more about Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling? Come to the National E-Waste & Critical Minerals Conference in London on 11 March 2026. Find out more here.
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