Only 10% of consumers use household electricals recycling schemes, says WRAP
Fewer than 10% of UK households use household recycling schemes for their unwanted electrical products, according to a report published today (18 July) by WRAP.
In ‘Switched on to Value: Powering Business Change’, the resources charity found that consumers either “don’t know how to discard their unwanted electrical items” or are unwilling to discard their items due to concerns over personal data.
With around 2 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market each year, there has been a steady rise in the amount of waste generated annually, said WRAP. It also noted: “1.53 million tonnes of waste (WEEE) was generated in 2015 and this is set to increase over the next five years.”
The report emphasises the growth of smaller and more complex electrical goods, they are “likely to present challenges for effective separation of components and adequate value recovery”.
Complexity
WRAP also warns that while smarter technology might have made items lighter and use less critical raw materials, their complexity has created new challenges for recyclers.
WRAP also found that 83% of households would be interested in handing over unwanted electricals to retailers through take-back and trade-in schemes. And, there is an appetite by 50% of consumers for re-used products.
The charity highlights its own work in the report under its electrical and electronic sustainability action plan (esap) – aiming to help brands, retailers and manufacturers respond to these emerging trends and shift to a more circular economy.
“As brands and retailers set up new business models it will mean new activities for the company”
Steve Creed
WRAP
In a statement, esap explained it can “help by providing a vital forum for downstream collectors, recyclers and processors to identify and learn about changes in product mix and composition. A new re-use and recycling working group is being set up to look at the emerging challenges and discuss and identify ways forward.”
Partnerships
Commenting on the implications of the changes in the electrical market, Steve Creed, director at WRAP, said: “As brands and retailers set up new business models it will mean new activities for the company, such as refurbishment, secure data wiping and recycling. They will need to set up supply partnerships with organisations that can help deliver these processes and reduce the investment risk. We envisage these relationships to be long and valuable for both – so developing the right partnership is essential.”
Anyone interested in getting involved in the re-use and recycling working group, is invited by WRAP to contact Malcom.Waddell@wrap.or.uk.
Related links WRAP report: Switched on to Value: Powering Business Change
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
