Chapter 4. An Overview of Electronic Waste Management in the UK

Abstract

The UK's system for the management of electronic waste is driven by the imperatives of the EU's policy and legislative landscape. Although generally meeting targets for collection, reuse and recycling in previous years, the UK fell short of newly defined EU targets in 2017 and 2018, with collection rates for electronic waste below expectations and stagnating. Weaknesses identified in the present UK system include poor capture and reporting of unregistered non-obligated flows resulting in differences between the waste generated and waste collected, the presence of free-riders such as unregistered online retailers, and thefts from processing sites. Improving the robustness, granularity and responsiveness of data on obligated and unreported electronics across the supply chain is seen as a key priority in setting credible targets for obligated producers. England's Resources and Waste Strategy contains several positive commitments that represent a step change from previous strategies: a review of the relevant regulations; increased partnership working, incorporating ecodesign incentives into the producer responsibility regime; and developing a product assurance scheme with a certified mark. Coupled with high profile voluntary schemes formalising public commitments of big brands, the prospects for electronic waste management in the UK seem positive, with actions shared between the private, public and third sectors.