Nairn launch of new recycling scheme for electric items in partnership with Alness social entreprise ILM Highland bids to boost Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) circular economy
A new facility set to help give electrical items a new lease of life has been launched at a Nairn recycling centre.
Residents can now bring old, unused, or unwanted — but still in good working order — items such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, toasters, air fryers, and TVs to the Nairn Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) where they will be collected by social enterprise ILM Highland.
The Alness-based initiative specialises in electrical recycling and will test and clean the donated items before offering them for sale in their retail shop and online.
Proceeds from these sales support ILM’s home improvement services, which assist some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
This initiative is supported by a £135,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund (Small Grant Scheme), awarded to The Highland Council and ILM Highland to promote circular economy practices for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) across the region.
Councillor Graham MacKenzie, chair of the Communities and Place Committee, said: “This new reuse facility is the first of its kind in Scotland, and I am grateful for the funding from the Scottish Government’s Small Grants Fund, which has enabled the Council and our partner ILM Highland to deliver this valuable new service.
“Increasing opportunities for the public in Highland to donate unwanted tech items for reuse is hugely important. It helps reduce carbon emissions, preserve precious metals, and create jobs—contributing to the growing circular economy for electrical devices.”
Martin MacLeod, CEO at ILM Highland, said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with The Highland Council to launch this new reuse facility in Nairn.
“At ILM Highland, we’re passionate about extending the life of electrical items and reducing unnecessary waste.
“By giving residents a convenient way to donate working appliances and tech, we can divert valuable resources from landfill and make them available to households who need them most.
“Every item reused helps to support our wider mission of tackling digital exclusion and delivering essential home improvement services across the Highlands. It’s a win for people, the planet, and the local community.”
David Gunn, operations manager (recycling improvement fund) at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see recycling and reuse being made more accessible to rural communities through this new service.
“By supporting households across the Highlands to recycle their electrical items, whether broken or in working order, this initiative is not only helping to reduce waste but also playing a vital role in Scotland's journey towards a more circular economy.”
In addition to the Nairn facility, the funding will support the introduction of reuse facilities at three other Household Waste Recycling Centres in the coming months. These sites will allow for the separation and collection of domestic appliances suitable for reuse.
The grant also covers the purchase of a new van for ILM Highland, which is being used to provide monthly waste electrical and electronic equipment collections in communities with limited access to recycling centres—further boosting recycling and reuse efforts across the region.
Before donating smart devices, householders are advised to back up their data, delete their personal data and reset the device — for more information and for opening hours visit the dedicated page.
