Belfast City Council has reportedly seen a dramatic increase in the number of television sets being sent for recycling as the digital switchover rollout began earlier this month.

Approximately 900 television sets per day are being sent for recycling at the city’s household waste recycling centres, the Belfast Telegraph has reported.

The council has advised all residents looking to upgrade their television sets to take their unwanted TVs to one of the city’s four recycling centres or take advantage of a temporary free bulky waste collection service for televisions by calling 028 9027 0230.

Belfast Councillor Pat McCarthy, chairman of the council`s Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: “With the date for the digital switchover looming, Belfast City Council recognises that many people will take the opportunity to upgrade to a new digital TV set.

“The council is committed to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and we encourage everyone to take their unwanted TV set to their nearest recycling centre to be recycled and not to place TVs in either the black bin or the recycling bin where they are not accepted.

McCarthy went on to say that currently only a third of residents recycle old electrical appliances, and urged residents to help recycle as many TVs as possible.

The digital switchover started in Northern Ireland on 10 October, and is expected to finish on 24 October, when all remaining analogue services are scheduled to be permanently switched off. The digital switchover has already been completed in the rest of the UK.

Find out more about Belfast City Council waste services.