Kerbside recycling scheme to be offered for electrical appliances | Politics | News | Express.co.uk
Small appliances could be recycled at the kerbside from 2026
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Small appliances could be recycled at the kerbside (Image: Getty)
Electrical appliances such as toasters and hair dryers could be collected at the kerbside from 2026 under plans to boost recycling rates across Britain.
Ministers are also considering drop-off points in retailers where households can dispose of unwanted items for free. The proposal would see shops and online sellers would be made to pick up unwanted larger electrical items such as fridges when they deliver replacement products.
A 10-week consultation on the plan is now taking place, reports the BBC. The Government said no extra bins would be required as part of the home collections.
While additional costs of pick-ups would be paid for by the producers of electrical good and not on the taxpayer purse. Recycling minister Robbie Moore hopes the plan would stop electrical goods from needlessly being thrown away.
Hairdryers would be among the appliances recycled at the kerbside (Image: Getty)
He said: “Every year millions of household electricals across the UK end up in the bin rather than being correctly recycled or reused. This is a sheer waste of our natural resources and has to stop.”
Moore pointed out the amount of waste that will be produced over the Christmas period. Around 500 tonnes of fairy lights are thought to be binned annually.
While the Government estimates 155,000 tonnes of smaller electrical items such as cables, toasters, kettles and power tools are needlessly discarded each year. The consultation will also ask if vape providers should fund collections of single-use products to avoid them going to landfill.
This however does not mean they will be recycled. Around 5million vapes are now thrown away weekly, almost four times higher than in 2022.
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Millions of vapes are discarded each year (Image: Getty)
The director of the Environmental Service Association has welcomed the plans, saying it could make it “simpler and more convenient” for households. Jacob Hayler added: “On behalf of those operating recycling centres and kerbside collection services, we welcome the opportunity to contribute through consultation and help create an effective system that delivers on its intended outcomes and works, not just for householders, but for obligated producers and retailers too.”
The range of measures are proposed within the joint UK government, Scottish government, Welsh government and Northern Ireland Executive consultation.
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