YouGov polled 2,000 adults across the UK to find out the population’s views on electronic waste, their supposed emotional attachment and attitude to recycling their old devices, and with whom the responsibility lies to bring attention to the increasing issues faced in the UK. The country is one of the worst offenders when it comes to e-waste – generating the second most e-waste per capita in the world in 2019. 67% of those polled admitted to having one or more old mobile phones lying around their house and 38% say they find it difficult to donate their old phones. When asked why they do not recycle their old phones, 35% said they don’t know where to recycle or trade them in. On the flip side, 70% said they would like to recycle or trade-in their device because it’s better for the environment.
Additionally, a whopping 67% say if they were incentivised they’d be more likely to trade in their old phone. 61% think the government and/or local councils could simplify the disposal of phones by collecting them like they collect other recyclable waste. However, when asked, the majority of respondents don’t think it should be mandatory to recycle old phones. Of those polled, 32% said they thought 18 to 25-year-olds, aka Generation Z were responsible for producing the UK’s most e-waste.
The research was commissioned by giffgaff, the community-run mobile network, who recently launched a campaign called “An Urgent Call” with the aim of getting old phones ringing again and back into circulation. Be it recycled for their parts or refurbished and given a second lease at life. The research uncovered that whilst 70% of the population recycle their clothing and 60% sustainably dispose of books, only 43% recycle their old electronic items.
Source: Circular Online
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