UK the worst in Europe for e-waste recycling

The UK has the lowest rate in Western Europe for the recycling of electronic hardware, according to a survey by manufacturer Dell.

The study found 13 per cent of UK consumers do not recycle electrical goods at all, more than four times as high as the figure in Germany.

Dell also found that consumer confusion around the recycling options available for old electronics means one out of two British consumers do not correctly recycle their old technology.

And general awareness levels of legislation such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which require manufacturers to offer hardware takeback schemes, are lower in the UK than anywhere else.

Over half of UK consumers are not aware of the WEEE Directive or what their hardware providers offer in the way of disposing old hardware.

The UK was two years slower than other countries in implementing the WEEE Directive and this has caused a drag on awareness, according to Jean Cox-Kearns, recycling and takeback manager, Dell Europe.

"The UK has always been behind on this issue and the WEEE legislation in the UK is still finding its feet," she said.

The survey suggests there is a will for more electrical recycling services to be offered – more than half think they recycle everything they are able to. But Dell's experience is that takeback schemes, although on offer, are not being used.

"We offer free takeback, but we haven't seen a high adoption rate," said Cox-Kearns. "Maybe people still think you have to pay.

The survey found respondents in Scotland and London care more about the implications of improper technology disposal, with four per cent of consumers in each region claiming to recycle electronics more than any other category of waste, as opposed to a one per cent average across the UK.

The Welsh are more complacent - or less informed - about how to recycle technology, with consumers recycling electronics the least often of all UK regions – 17 per cent have never recycled technology.

A lack of awareness about technology recycling is found to be most apparent in the North East, with nearly 75 per cent of residents there claiming they do everything they can to recycle – but less than one per cent recycling electronics.

Some 60 per cent of respondents in Yorkshire and the Humber had never heard of the WEEE Directive or other similar government legislation, whereas 60 per cent of people in the south-west of England had heard of such legislation.

And 72 per cent of respondents in the North West were unaware of their computer manufacturer’s recycling policies.

WWF UK's head of business and industry, Dax Lovegrove, said more needs to be done on the issue.

"WWF UK looks forward to leadership from Dell and other manufacturers in designing hardware that can be recycled as best as possible and in developing innovative partnerships to ensure consumers can enter used products into the recycling process at every opportunity," he said.