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The facilities will enable Swale residents to bring small electronic and electrical items, such as hairdryers, toasters, clocks, drills and video cameras, to the 1,100 litre recycling bank at either of the stores. This will mean that people can conveniently recycle electricals when they go shopping.

The partnership arrangement is a three-month trial, and if it is a success it will be expanded to other parts of Swale. The launch of the scheme is taking place at ASDA on Tues 10 February, where Justin Greenaway, Managing Director of SWEEEP, and Councillor Cindy Davis, Swale Borough Council's Executive Portfolio Holder for the Environment, will start the ball rolling by recycling old electrical items.

SWEEEP's Thames Gateway WEEE recycling centre is powered by 100% renewable energy. SWEEEP was named as the winner of the Best New Business Award in the Kent Business Awards 2008, after winning the Recycling Best Practice Award at the Kent Environment Awards back in 2007. 

Cindy Davis said:
"We are delighted to be working in partnership with an innovative business like SWEEEP to make Swale cleaner and greener for everyone. Currently, 35% of all household waste in Swale is recycled, and this initiative will help to increase this rate. We collect about 13,000 tonnes of recyclable materials from kerbsides each year. Swale Borough Council cares passionately about the environment and is proud to be the first council to bring this collection method to Kent."

Justin Greenaway, Contracts Manager at SWEEEP, said:
"Recycling has to be made as easy and accessible as possible for everyone. Combining journeys by recycling and shopping is an environmental winner and I am very pleased that ASDA and Sainsbury's are so supportive in this venture. This collection method is a first for Kent, which I hope will prove popular with the residents of Swale."