Our used electrical and electronic items cause pollution

Consumption of electrical and electronic goods is rising, yet these products suffer from shorter lifespans, increased repair difficulty, and low rates of reuse

Changing our habits can save precious resources

The UK ranks second globally for electronic waste production, yet much of this scrap is environmentally mismanaged through landfilling, burning, or being shipped off to developing nations. Recycling systems shred and incinerate it, wasting the rare and precious resources they contain.

House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Report on Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy highlights the key challenges in this area and the recommendations which need to be taken to reduce down electronic waste and ensure precious resources are not being lost.

Recommendations from the report includes “The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair manuals; (2) access to affordable spare parts for products; and (3) ability to repair products without repairers needing access to physical or software tools specifically designed to be a barrier to independent servicing or repair.”

What can I do… to reduce electrical and electronic waste

Meet the NIRN members who are active in repair of electronic & electrical goods and find out how you can help reduce electronic and electrical waste.