Estimated 184.4 million electronic devices are unused in UK homes
Research from Virgin Media O2 suggests that nearly 80 per cent of people bin unwanted electronics despite potential financial and environmental benefits from recycling.
92 million electrical devices were thrown away in the last five years, according to new research from Virgin Media O2.
The findings showed that, despite a majority of people saying they understand the environmental impact of binning electronics, nearly 79 per cent admitted to discarded devices along with their general waste.
Additionally, three quarters of respondents say that they have held onto unwanted tech for at least five years or longer. The table below shows an estimate of how many of each electronic device are currently being unused in UK households.
| Device | Estimated volume |
|---|---|
| Mobile phones | 48.3 million |
| Tablets | 26.7 million |
| Smartwatches | 14.8 million |
| Hearables | 72.2 million |
| Consoles | 16.2 million |
| MacBooks | 6.2 million |
| Total | 184.4 million |
Table 1: Number of unused devices kept in UK homes
However, the survey found that 74 per cent and 81 per cent of people, respectively, would clean out their technology and recycle their unused devices, if there were either social or monetary incentives.
Nicola Green, Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Office at VIrgin Media O2, commented on the findings: “Most homes have a drawer of doom that’s crammed with dozens of unused devices gathering dust, that could otherwise earn Brits cash or be reused by someone else.”
O2 Recycle scheme aims to reduce e-waste
One solution suggested by Virgin Media O2 is its “cash for trash” O2 Recycle scheme, which offers an average of £628 per household for the return of unused technology.
Consumers can send devices via post to O2 Recycle, take unwanted technology to an O2 store, or donate working unwanted smartphones to Community Calling, a programme set up by Virgin Media and environmental charity, Hubbub.
Virgin Media broadband hubs, set-tip boxes, WiFi boosters and pods can also be returned.
Since it launched in 2009, the service has recycled more than four million devices and paid out over £350 million to consumers. The Community Calling programme has also rehomed 20,000 phones so far.
Green added: “Brits can make money for their old electronics, … donate a smartphone to someone in need or take a small device to an O2 store where it’ll be sent off for recycling”.
