The UK Government has announced its household Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collection targets for 2024.
Every year millions of electrical and electronic devices are discarded – computers, mobile phones, and large household appliances, to name a few – contributing to electronic waste (e-waste) becoming the fastest growing solid waste stream in the world!
Undoubtedly, there is a growing concern over the consequences of e-waste as despite an increase in recycling rates, it is failing to keep pace with the exponential growth of the sector. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, in 2019, an estimated 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste were collected globally with only 17.4% documented as formally collected and recycled.
Targets set out by the UK Government are as mandated by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013, which aim to ensure the responsible disposal and recycling electronic products; mitigating environmental impact of the WEEE itself and encourage sustainable waste management. To demonstrate its commitment to managing electronic waste effectively and sustainably, the government has shared a household WEEE collection target of 482,335 tonnes – a year on year increase of just 2% – categorised under large household appliances, small mixed waste (SMW), IT and Telecoms Equipment and Display Equipment.
We all have a part to play in ensuring the effective and sustainable management of WEEE – not just for sustainability, but for the human-health. E-Waste is considered hazardous posing significant risks to public safety and health if not discarded of responsibly (as it contains toxic materials or can produce toxic chemicals when treated inappropriately).
Business’s now need to step-up to comply with their obligations in the responsible removal and recycling of their WEEE.
Wyndham Resources is the UK’s leading provider of sustainable waste management and recycling solutions and can reliably arrange the collection and disposal/recycling of WEEE, ensuring that no equipment or materials end up at landfill. With Wyndham Resources, WEEE waste is simple – the teams’ specialists can arrange for the collection and disposal of any product (and of any size).
Support a greener future by disposing of your WEEE responsibly. For further advice, contact Julie Pretty, Director of Client Services at Wyndham Resources – julie@wyndhamresources.co.uk
Ref:
https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/uk-government-sets-out-weee-targets-2024/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electronic-waste-(e-waste)