City cable bins to give 'new life' to old tech

Residents are being encouraged to dig out unwanted and obsolete cables

Six cable bins have been installed in a city to encourage residents to recycle old tech.

Peterborough City Council has set up the bins as part of the The Great Cable Challenge.

Almost any type of cable can be donated and the valuable resources within can be reclaimed and put to good use, according to the council.

Angus Ellis, cabinet member for environment and transport, said the bins offered "an easy way to get people electrical cable recycling".

Recycle Your Electricals, the organisation behind The Great Cable Challenge, said every cable contains copper, which is a valuable and finite material.

Copper is essential for phones, transport, clean energy and medical equipment.

The six cable bins will be placed at Werrington Library; Werrington Leisure Centre; the Town Hall; Hampton Vivacity Premier Fitness; Sand Martin House; and the Key Theatre.

Most cables can be donated including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, ethernet, electric toothbrush charger, shaver socket lead and extension leads.

Ellis said the aim was to give "new life to those mysterious cables in your home that go unused".