News Release from: Repic
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 22 December 2005
Survey highlights recycling worries
Britain's consumers will have to kick some bad habits when long-delayed laws governing the recycling of old electrical and electronic equipment eventually come into force, according to a new poll.
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Britain's consumers will have to kick some bad habits when long-delayed laws governing the recycling of old electrical and electronic equipment eventually come into force, according to a new poll conducted for Repic, the not-for-profit recycling body. The survey, carried out by YouGov, shows that nearly half the population still throws out old kettles, irons and other small appliances with the household rubbish. Fewer than one in ten deliberately recycles household appliances, large or small.
And most people are unaware of the European directive that will require significant changes in their behaviour.
A massive 84% of the British population has never heard of it.
The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive will make the recycling of all such waste equipment mandatory when it becomes law in the UK.
Government and industry, from retailers to producers, have been locked in intense negotiations for years over just how the Directive will work in the UK.
Last week the Government announced a fourth round of consultation and further delay to its implementation.
Repic Chief Executive Dr Phil Morton commented: 'Our survey shows that there is still much work to be done to raise consumer awareness of this issue'.
'Government and industry must provide the commonsense, convenient solutions to recycling household electrical and electronic waste that consumers in our survey are demanding'.
The YouGov survey reveals that consumers are more likely to responsibly dispose of bulky items such as washing machines, fridge-freezers and tumble-driers: just over 40% of those polled take large items to their local civic amenity site (rubbish dump); 33% pay their local council to collect their large items; and 27% percent expect the retailer who sold them its replacement to take the old item away for free.
While their awareness of the new laws is very low, consumers have strong opinions on how items should be collected for recycling.
Asked where they should be able to leave unwanted electrical and electronic equipment for collection, six out of ten opted for a designated recycling area or local civic amenity site.
Other preferred options include outside their home (38%) and/or the retail store where they bought its replacement (32%).
Dr Morton concluded: 'Repic was set up by 53 of the UK's leading electrical goods manufacturers to fulfil their obligations under the new laws'.
'We have the expertise to help make recycling work'.
'But we won't be able to do that until the necessary infrastructure is in place'.
'It has taken longer than anyone thought to get that right, and the onus is on us all to make this work'.
'Once we do find a fair, equitable and workable solution, not only will consumers, manufacturers and retailers benefit, but the environment will too'.
'Surely that is in the interests of everyone'.
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