22 May 2009
The UK has the lowest rate in Western Europe for the recycling of electronic hardware, according to a survey by manufacturer Dell.
The study found 13 per cent of UK consumers do not recycle electrical goods at all, more than four times as high as the figure in Germany.
Dell also found that consumer confusion around the recycling options available for old electronics means one out of two British consumers do not correctly recycle their old technology.
And general awareness levels of legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which require manufacturers to offer hardware takeback schemes, are lower in the UK than anywhere else.
Over half of UK consumers are not aware of the WEEE Directive or what their hardware providers offer in the way of disposing old hardware.
The UK was two years slower than other countries in implementing the WEEE Directive and this has caused a drag on awareness, according to Jean Cox-Kearns, recycling and takeback manager, Dell Europe.
"The UK has always been behind on this issue and the WEEE legislation in the UK is still finding its feet," she said.
The survey suggests there is a will for more electrical recycling services to be offered – more than half think they recycle everything they are able to. But Dell's experience is that takeback schemes, although on offer, are not being used.
"We offer free takeback, but we haven't seen a high adoption rate," said Cox-Kearns. "Maybe people still think you have to pay.
The survey found respondents in Scotland and London care more about the implications of improper technology disposal, with four per cent of consumers in each region claiming to recycle electronics more than any other category of waste, as opposed to a one per cent average across the UK.
The Welsh are more complacent - or less informed - about how to recycle technology, with consumers recycling electronics the least often of all UK regions – 17 per cent have never recycled technology.
A lack of awareness about technology recycling is found to be most apparent in the North East, with nearly 75 per cent of residents there claiming they do everything they can to recycle – but less than one per cent recycling electronics.
Some 60 per cent of respondents in Yorkshire and the Humber had never heard of the WEEE Directive or other similar government legislation, whereas 60 per cent of people in the south-west of England had heard of such legislation.
And 72 per cent of respondents in the North West were unaware of their computer manufacturer’s recycling policies.
WWF UK's head of business and industry, Dax Lovegrove, said more needs to be done on the issue.
"WWF UK looks forward to leadership from Dell and other manufacturers in designing hardware that can be recycled as best as possible and in developing innovative partnerships to ensure consumers can enter used products into the recycling process at every opportunity," he said.
collection, warehousing and trasportation of the electrical/electronic equipment would probably create more CO2 rather than just doing nothing. replacing the old appliances with A+ appliances is promoted on the other hand reuse of old appliances are promoted by the WEEE directive. billions of dollars are spent on reducing electronic waste ,so pls compare it with the other hazardous materials released from factories, oil platforms, reactors etc. Are the dollars spent wise in terms of proportion? No! this is totally marketing gimmick and a fashionable trend. so we all say; me too me too
Posted by: hakki 25 Feb 2010
Increasing pressure for green credentials will create a significant unless organisations get their asset registers in order.
Assessment of environmental practices and reporting is certainly on the increase for business and generic statements about green strategies - from procurement to recycling, carbon footprint to flexible working - will not suffice in the long term: organisations will have to prove their commitment through information transparency and auditable policies.
At the heart of such transparency will be consistent, detailed information about the life cycle of every asset - from country of origin through maintenance schedules to final disposal.
Existing green policies such as the WEEE directive and measuring carbon footprints assume a level of asset management far beyond that achieved by the majority of UK business. How many UK businesses can accurately identify the location of their WEEE equipment within the organisation and confirm when it was purchased and from whom? By linking the asset register to a document management system organisations can create the required audit trail, gaining valuable insight into their own assets and adapting to the green economy.
Yours faithfully,
Karen Conneely
Group Commercial Manager
Real Asset Management
www.realassetmgt.co.uk
Posted by: Karen Conneely 26 May 2009
that there is simply nowhere for companies to give it to. Yes, a retailer is supposed to take it back, but what do they do with it when the nearest WEEE collection place is 50 miles away and the local councils give utterly no advice, or care what happens with it. Larger retailers like the supermarkets and large chain stores equally just ignore WEEE even exists. Before yet more insane plans to force people to abide by stupid rules, its about time there was actual infastructure to support the rules across the country. In London there is, elsewhere in the country (even more so the North West and Wales which came out worst), the infastructure simply doesn't exist.
WEEE as it currently stands is nothing but a pile of hot air from the gov and a stealth tax on smaller independant shops where the big stores get ignored or special rates.
Posted by: Allan 23 May 2009
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