For Natalie Fee waste electricals are an eye-opener

“I’m going to be looking at my waste electricals at home in a different way”

As an award-winning environmental campaigner and author, Natalie Fee has always been passionate about living a more sustainable life and encouraging others to do the same.

She was photographed by another award-winner, Gregg Segal, as part of his project with Recycle Your Electricals to illustrate the huge potential for recycling old electricals we have tucked away in our homes.

In Gregg’s studio, surrounded by old electricals – including hair straighteners, hair dryers, cables and remote controls – Natalie thought about all the old electrical items she hoards, and the vast array of electrical materials typically found in people’s homes.

Keeping hoarded electricals to a minimum

Natalie has two drawers at home that contain a load of broken, old cables. Like many, she hasn’t recycled them because she thought she might use them again. Now she’s pledged to start investing in better quality cables, so she only has to buy them once – helping keep hoarding to a minimum.

Shock electrical discovery

What shocked Natalie most was the amount of precious metals in electricals, including gold, aluminum and steel.

“I was really surprised to learn that people are hoarding around 20 old electrical items that they’re not using any more,” says Natalie. “I can relate to that but I was quite shocked to hear that we’re all holding on to that.”

She’s passionate about encouraging others to recycle their small old electricals and help give them a second life.

“In my own home it’s mostly e-waste and things like cables and wired connections for my internet and I know that they contain precious metals. I’m going to be looking at my waste electricals at home in a different way and seeing them now as holders of these precious metals and that these need to be recycled – and knowing that’s going to prevent more extraction and more mining.”

Find your nearest recycling point.