• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Science

UK electrical waste mountain growing

UK electrical waste mountain growing
Newsexplored
16th July 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2
Phone wasteImage copyright Getty Images

UK households and businesses produce 1.45 million tonnes of electrical waste each year, research shows.

The e-waste research organisation Material Focus calculates that at least 500,000 tonnes of the waste were thrown away, stolen or hoarded.

Its latest study suggests un-recycled household electricals cost the UK over £370m a year in lost materials like gold, copper, aluminium and steel.

This is important because mining the metals leads to pollution.

It also harms wildlife and fuels climate change.

Material Focus has a postcode locator for people to find their nearest e-waste recycling point for items such as toasters and old cables.

  • Can we fix our way out of the e-waste problem?

What about my photos?

The report says many people hang on to old laptops and phones because they hold photos or sensitive data.

It suggests one answer is to ask mobile phone shops to transfer data and return old phones to factory settings in front of you.

Reputable repair shops could also wipe data for you – at a price. Some charity shops will also take e-waste such as phones.

There will be another option from January, when a new rule means you’ll be able to hand back to any major shop an aged kettle, say, or toaster when you buy a new one. Some stores offer this already.

The increase in electrical waste has been relentless as the population has grown and new consumer electronics reach the market.

data-ad-format="auto">

Many of the new purchases are not replacements for existing kit, but innovative consumer goods that weren’t available previously, such as smart speakers.

Waste figures ‘enormous’

The academic lead for the study was Alison Stowell at Lancaster University. She told BBC News: “These figures on electrical waste are quite enormous.

“When we consume things, we don’t tend to think about how much material is in them or how valuable they could be if they are put back into the production and supply chain through recycling.”

The report says 1.65 million tonnes of electricals were sold in the UK in 2017, with 155,000 tonnes dumped in domestic bins and subsequently incinerated or sent to landfill.


Mark Hilton from the consultancy Eunomia told BBC News: “The UK is still failing to meet its target of collecting 65% of electricals.

“It’s often too hard for people to get to a recycling centre, many of which are only accessible by car. We’d like to see small waste electricals collected alongside other recyclables from the doorstep.”

Take-back vouchers urged

He also wants incentives offered such as cash-back or store vouchers for unwanted electrical goods – which could help encourage people back to the high-street.

And he says it’s critical for ministers to oblige online platforms, like Amazon, to take far greater end-of-life responsibility for items their sellers put on the market, through perhaps secure deliveries.

That issue is now being discussed by the government. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “We are committed to moving to a more circular economy.

“We will be reviewing the regulations on electrical items to help drive up recycling, encourage better eco-design and ensure manufacturers and retailers take responsibility for waste electricals.”

Follow Roger on Twitter.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemselectricalgrowingmountainwaste
Science
16th July 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemselectricalgrowingmountainwaste

More in Science

  • Read More
    What’s the science behind closing schools?

    Views:2 By Will FyfeBBC News media captionDr Heather Payne says school drop off and pick-ups created “social...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Coronavirus: Virus provides leaps in scientific understanding

    Views:2 By Victoria GillScience correspondent, BBC News image copyrightGetty Images image captionA worker takes away an escaped...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    What is Elon Musk’s Starship?

    Views:2 By Paul RinconScience editor, BBC News website image copyrightGetty Images image captionSpaceX has been developing a...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Cancelled exams are a ‘big disappointment’

    Views:2 image captionJake did not want exams to be cancelled “It’s a big disappointment,” says 17-year-old Jake...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Hawaiian shirts and gravy: Christmas tributes for loved ones lost to Covid

    Views:2 Christmas is different for everyone this year but especially for the thousands of UK families who...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Giant Antarctic iceberg A68a is not done yet

    Views:2 By Jonathan AmosBBC Science Correspondent media captionSee how the keel of the giant iceberg has changed...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    England ‘significant decline’ in global science tests

    Views:2 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightTIMSS image captionThe maths and science tests...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Some students not back until February next term

    Views:2 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionStudents have been taking Covid...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: How might GCSE and A-levels work this summer?

    Views:2 By Branwen JeffreysEducation Editor image copyrightGetty Images A-levels and GCSEs in England are due to go...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Special educational needs support ‘offered after exclusion’

    Views:2 By Kayleen DevlinBBC Ouch image copyrightEmily image captionEmily says she feels let down by the system...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Sentinel-6: ‘Dog kennel’ satellite blasts off on ocean mission

    Views:2 By Jonathan AmosBBC Science Correspondent Related Topics media captionArtwork: The unusual shape, with fixed solar panels,...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
  • Read More
    Electric vehicles: Your questions answered

    Views:2 By Justin RowlattChief environment correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionIn a decade, you won’t be able to...

    Newsexplored 16th July 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Trump pardons two convicted by Russia investigation
    USA23rd December 2020
  • Kieran Trippier suspended for 10 weeks over breaches of betting rules
    Sports23rd December 2020
  • The Papers: UK and EU on ‘verge’ of Brexit trade deal
    UK23rd December 2020
  • Former BBC sports reporter Kevin Gearey dies
    Entertainment23rd December 2020
  • Biden inauguration: New president to be sworn in amid Trump snub
    USA20th January 2021
  • Biden inauguration: Democrat to be sworn in as Trump leaves office
    USA20th January 2021
  • Biden inauguration rehearsal paused amid US Capitol lockdown
    USA18th January 2021
  • Migrant caravan: Guatemala blocks thousands bound for US
    USA18th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Climate change: Siberian heatwave ‘clear evidence’ of warming
Solar Orbiter: Closest ever pictures taken of the Sun
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok