New television? Tune in to Recycling

New year bargain hunters replacing their TV ahead of the spring's digital switchover are urged to give new life to their old set.

Almost any television can be converted with a digital box but householders can prevent old appliances from an unsavoury end in landfill by recycling or reusing.

Unwanted TVs can find a new home through online swap-shop Freeuse which is run by Leicestershire Waste Partnership, made up of the county and district councils.

The site - www.freeuseit.org - saves valuable resources by offering a quick and easy way for people to give away unwanted possessions or search for something they could put to good use.

Old televisions can be recycled at any of the County Council's 14 recycling and household waste sites. The sets are checked and dismantled and the different elements recycled to be re-used as raw materials.

Tony Kershaw, County Council cabinet member for waste management, said: "Leicestershire is the top county partnership for reuse and recycling but we're committed to driving down waste sent to landfill.

Many residents may not think old televisions can be recycled but along with most other electrical gadgets, their component parts can be re-used in new appliances.

"Freeuse is going from strength to strength and since its launch 12 months ago, over 30,000 surfers have visited the site and helped reduce waste sent to landfill by reusing 40 tonnes of items."

There are nine transmitter groups in the Central TV region that will switch from analogue to digital TV at different times, starting on 30th March next year. For more information, please visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 0845 650 50 50.

To find out more about recycling and reuse in Leicestershire, please visit the County Council's website at www.leics.gov.uk/waste or call 0116 0116 305 7005.