A SOMERSET scheme that helps people recycle and reuse electrical and electronic items has scooped a top international award.

The Fixy project, which sees a van travel around the county collecting items for recycling and reuse, has been awarded an International Green Apple Environment Award, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability and community engagement.

Managed by circular economy experts Resource Futures, in partnership with Somerset Council and DonateIT, Fixy was selected from more than 700 global entries and honoured at a prestigious ceremony at the House of Lords in London on Monday (November 17).

The award celebrates Fixy’s innovative approach to one of the UK’s fastest-growing waste streams: electrical and electronic waste (WEEE), the awards said.

The Fixy van hit the road in 2022, and has sparked more than 8,700 conversations with residents and prevented more than 13,400 tonnes of electrical items from ending up in landfill or incineration.

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“Winning a Green Apple Award is a huge honour and a powerful endorsement of Fixy’s mission to empower communities to embrace electrical repair and reuse and make it accessible to everyone,” said Linda Hull, Fixy project co-ordinator.

“It’s a celebration of the communities we’ve worked with, our dedicated partners, and the thousands of devices we’ve saved from waste.”

Research shows only 33% of UK residents feel confident about how to recycle their electricals, and in Somerset, 71% of Fixy participants had never come across a repair group before.

Co-designed by Somerset Council, Resource Futures, and DonateIT, Fixy is entirely grant funded – with initial funding from Ecosurety (2022–2023), followed by Material Focus’ Electricals Recycling Fund (2023–2024), and bridge funding provided by Somerset Council and SUEZ which has kept Fixy’s wheels in motion in between grants.

Since 2025, the project has continued to thrive thanks to ongoing funding from the Hinkley Point C Community Fund and the National Lottery’s Awards for All.

Fixy has also supported the creation of three repair groups, enabled electricals recycling trials in flatted properties, and helped bridge the digital divide by redistributing refurbished devices to those in digital poverty.

The Green Apple Award puts Fixy among the world’s leading environmental initiatives.

“This Award energises us to keep expanding Fixy’s reach and impact across the UK,” said Charlie Eddisford, communities lead at Resource Futures.

“We’re excited about the opportunities this recognition brings to deepen our impact on addressing the national e-waste challenge – especially the opportunity to work with forward-thinking funders and businesses who share our commitment to sustainability.”

For more information about Fixy and how to get involved, visit www.resourcefutures.co.uk/project/the-fixy-project and www.fixyproject.co.uk.

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