UK lags behind other European nations in e-waste recycling
Summary
“These figures are incredibly disappointing for a developed nation like the UK,” says Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador at In2tec. “There is a solution to e-waste that combines economic and environmental viability – permitting the reuse, repair, and refurbishment of electronics. “The answer is circularity in the electronics industry, but for too long it has been seen as an impossibility at scale because of technical challenges, including the complexity of the construction of conventional printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and the limited repair, recycling, and reusability options they present,” Emma adds. The ability to gain undamaged and uncontaminated components for second-life use means they are both carbon-free and zero-cost, turning electronics recycling into an opportunity for profit and changing the e-waste liability into an asset. “The UN’s GEM report underlines that if countries could bring the e-waste collection and recycling rates to 60% by 2030, the benefits – including minimising human health risks – would exceed costs by more than $38 billion.” In2tec is working to slash the harrowing environmental and societal impact of e-waste and provide innovative solutions to the growing problem of throwaway electronics.