Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy Contents

Contents

Summary

Our Report

Introduction: Electronics and E-waste, what are the problems?

Electronics and E-waste – what problems are being caused?

Carbon emissions in consumption

Resource extraction and use

Critical Raw Materials

A tsunami of E-waste

Materials in E-waste

Exportation and toxic chemicals

1 Collecting E-waste

Collection targets

Increasing the collection of E-waste

Collection methods

Improving E-waste collection

The compliance fee

Free riding by online retailers and marketplaces

Consumer awareness

Retailer take-back

Mandatory kerbside collection

Designing a new Extended Producer Responsibility scheme

International harmonisation

2 Preventing E-waste and Using Resources Better

Durability: making electronics last longer again

Shortening product lifetimes

Planned or programmed obsolescence

Actions to improve durability

Repairing our electronics

Barriers to repair

Intentional prevention of repair

The cost of repair

VAT reduction on repair services

Requirements related to strengthening the right to repair

Promoting the re-use of electronics

3 Recycling

Recycling targets

Investment

The focus of government investment

Raw material prices

Exporting E-waste

Conclusions and recommendations

Appendix 1: UK E-waste in numbers

Appendix 2: UK Electrical and Electronic Equipment categories

Appendix 3: Critical Raw Materials

Appendix 4: Why electronic products become waste

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament




Published: 26 November 2020 Site information    Accessibility statement