New research shows that UK electrical recycling is prioritising disposal over repair, meaning that associated money may also be going in the bin.
The study by University of Surrey found that 2% to 2.5% of devices observed at a municipal recycling centre were considered suitable for reuse. By contrast, analysis of items taken to Repair Cafés showed that 50% were successfully repaired and another 28% were potentially repairable.
Sheeba Pathak, lead author of the study, said: “Too many electrical products are treated as waste before anyone has properly considered whether they can be repaired, reused or stripped for valuable parts. Recycling has an important role, but it should not automatically be the first destination for a device that may still have years of useful life.
“Our research shows that businesses can become more efficient while saving money and improving sustainability, challenging the idea that greener practices are always more expensive.”
They are calling for community repair services and local maker spaces to become a formal part of the UK’s electronic waste system, to stop valuable devices and materials from slipping through the net.
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