A full size electric organ sent for recycling.
by Janet Ullman
I have always avoided putting electrical items or battery operated gadgets in the bin. The thought of all that copper wiring, gold contacts and precious iridium being lost, coupled with the horror of dangerous toxic metals leaching into the water supply just makes me shudder. Instead, as soon as anything stops working, I first of all try and fix it, find someone who can fix it and then last resort is put in the shed. The next stage is the forty-five minute drive to Portree electrical recycling bins. However, the petrol and journey time often means the shed will fill up with items for the journey before I can find a legitimate reason for spending the day in Portree! This causes the family some frustration as they struggle by boxes of old toys, CD players and TVs. However, with two years of Pandemic and an energy crisis the shed had become pretty full. Was I tempted to bin a few things? Yes, but I just expanded my take over into the green house and attic. Resulting in more family frustration.
A mini washine machine going for uplift and re-use or recycling by ILM
At the point where I was facing an avalanche of toasters, I learnt of ILM Highland, who pick up electrical goods for recycling, they have a regular schedule of visits to Kyleakin Village Hall car park. Just an easy ten minute drive for me. With glee on a blustery Wednesday morning I organised the family into a chain gang to empty the shed, green house, attic of all the accumulated goods, The car filled up till there was a boot full, then I covered the back seat, filled the foot wells and my brother sat in the passenger seat with a huge bag full of cables and adapters.
I drove up to the ILM van to be met by a team of cheery and friendly people, who welcomed me and my car full of 21st century gizmos. Soon another chain gang of willing helpers came to our rescue as they decanted TVs, blenders, coffee makers, etc from my car to the van. I watched as people came with old fridges, hoovers and washing machines and how these too were loaded up for recycling. In no time at all four years of accumulated broken stuff was no longer my worry, but was an opportunity for recycling and reuse.
As I was waved off with a lighter car and a happier brother, I reflected on how good it felt to know that all that stuff was now going to be recycled, parts used to fix other items and the fact that the copper wire alone meant an income for an amazing community focused charity. How junk can be a literal gold mine, how recycling does indeed save the planet, one boot-full at a time.