RESIDENTS are being asked to exchange unwanted or broken electrical items for a free recycling bag this month.

The Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority is offering the giveaway in an attempt to prevent precious metals used in electronic goods ending up as landfill waste.

People can bring their unused electrical items to any of the 13 Merseyside Household Waste Recycling Centres including Junction Lane, in Newton-le-Willows, Southerns Lane, Rainford and Tasker Terrace, Rainhill.

Items which can be recycled include anything from hi-tech devices such as mobile phones and DVD players, to hairdryers, electric toothbrushes, kettles, irons, chainsaws, lawnmowers and much more.

Many electrical items contain valuable materials such as gold, silver, copper and indium and can be re-used in new products.

“The bag offer is always very popular and works because it is a way of rewarding good recycling habits,” said Councillor Graham Morgan, Chairperson of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority, who are running the scheme alongside Veolia Environmental Services.

“If you’ve got an electrical item that is broken or no longer used then drop it off at your local Recycling Centre. Instead of gathering dust and cluttering up your house it’ll be stripped down and the parts recycled.”