Hull marks pioneering e-waste recycling success

• Hundreds of devices saved from landfill thanks to funding for innovative organisations in the city
• Unusable parts shine a light on the global issue through youth art project. Images available here.  

Two organisations in Hull – Warren Youth Project and Giroscope – are successfully leading the way in reducing electronic –waste (e-waste) by refurbishing and redistributing hundreds of laptops, tablets and phones to people in the community who need them. The inspiring organisations also support young and neurodivergent people from Hull through training, volunteering and employment opportunities.

Hull’s Warren Youth Project and Giroscope both received a funding boost from the Time After Time Fund – jointly supported by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub, which has helped to drive down the amount of e-waste and to support local people.

Warren Youth Project

Last year, Warren Youth Project received a £37,000 grant from the Time After Time fund, which enabled TekAtak, a project to help young people learn how to repair and upgrade laptops and giving them essential practical and digital skills. Since receiving the funding, the project has helped to train 50 young people in digital skills and refurbished and donated more than 30 devices.

JJ Tatten, CEO, The Warren Youth Project, said, “The funding has meant that we’ve been able to work with young people across Hull, such as Jamie, who came to us with minimal access to the internet, no device, and quite low IT skills. He joined the TekAtak project and learned how to use 3D modelling to design products, which led him to start his own business providing 3D printing services. As an added bonus, 3D printing is increasingly being used to make replacement parts for devices at a fraction of the cost of buying them from the manufacturer, allowing people to maintain and repair their devices for longer.”

This autumn, they have worked with local sustainable artist, Sue White, and young people from across Hull to create pieces of art from unusable parts of devices. Sue said “Art projects can be a great way to educate, whilst also having fun. The project was something I really wanted to be involved in because it included exploring ways of recycling e-waste. In my eyes, if just a few of the youngsters from this project begin to question where their old phones or laptops go to, then the project has been a success. It’s about engaging in a dialogue with young people about a future that needs them to drive change in the way we all live.”

Giroscope

Earlier this year, Giroscope received a £59,000 grant from the Time After Time fund to support the project’s growth and enable two of its volunteers to become part-time employees. In the six months since receiving the funding, the team has exceeded its targets and refurbished and distributed more than 100 laptops, tablets and mobile phones to families and refugees across Hull.

Jim Rintoul, Giroscope support worker, said, “The funding has meant we’ve been able to expand our offering, moving to larger premises to accommodate our growing volunteer cohort and increase the number of devices we can restore and redistribute. We’ve also made two new hires, Edd and Billy, two highly skilled neurodivergent volunteers who are both thriving as they build their self-confidence. We’d love to see even more devices donated so that we can save them from landfill, refurbish them, and redistribute to people who need them in the local community.”

Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub established the Time After Time fund in 2022 in response to the growing environmental impact of e-waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the world – with the UK producing more electrical waste per person than any other country in the world (except for Norway)^1.   They have since provided grants totaling £1 million to help community groups, charities and social enterprises across the country run projects that reduce e-waste and support digital inclusion.

Gavin Ellis, Co-founder of Hubbub said: “It’s so heartening to see Hull leading the way on such a pressing issue. Both the Warren Youth Project and Giroscope provide clear social and environmental benefits, through meaningful training and employment opportunities as well as reducing e-waste and demonstrating that our old phones and laptops can have a second life.”

Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2, said: “It’s fantastic our Time After Time fund is having such a positive and long-lasting impact in Hull, where it is helping to tackle e-waste and bring communities together.

“The Time After Time fund is a key part of Virgin Media O2’s Better Connections Plan, and our work to support people and communities to lead more sustainable lives, and to help protect the planet for future generations.”

For more information about Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub’s Time After Time fund, visit timeaftertimefund.org.uk, for Warren Youth Project, visit www.thewarren.org, and for Giroscope, visit giroscope.org.uk/computers.