The price of electrical goods including TV’s and washing machines looks set to increase following the implementation of a new EU directive on recycling. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive could stimulate an increase in price of electrical goods of over £500 million per year in the UK. The directive orders the collection and recycling of discarded electrical goods that would otherwise be dumped in landfill sites. The ultimate aim is to reduce the volume of toxic chemicals in the environment with a reduction is harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium if the goods can be reused. Some of the recycled goods will be refurbished and sent to the Third World as part of the scheme.
The directive is aimed at government and local councils rather than individuals but will mean a dramatic change to the way that we discard of consumer electrics. Councils will be expected to handle electrical goods at their recycling centres, with consumers dropping off their unwanted electrics. Although there is no direct requirement on the part of the individual – some councils will charge for the collection of large items such as washing machines pushing the cost of electrical goods up for the average consumer. Some stores will operate a take back scheme for old items when delivering a new item but for the majority this is likely to mean additional costs.
Most electrical goods that are discarded in the UK are still fully functioning, operative goods. Part of the EU’s aim is to increase the life cycle of such goods to limit the number of operative goods going out of circulation and thereby, again, reduce pressure on the environment. The aim to get people thinking about the life cycle of their electrical goods and find alternative methods of disposal does have options. If the cost of disposal is to be avoided, you essentially have to find another home for your unwanted electricals. The use of classifieds to sell unwanted goods is on the rise and resources such as Loot electricals are ideal for not only disposing of your items without paying a fee, but possibly even making a bit of money out of the process.
With lifestyle trends changing and the ongoing pursuit of environmentally friendly policies in Brussels, we could be set to see similar policies emerging from the EU in the months and tears to come. Although this looks, on the surface at least, like a bad deal for consumers the application of a little lateral thinking can reap some benefits. Passing on your unwanted electrical goods – be it to the Third World or to someone down the road in answer to your personal ad, makes sense for the environment and for the life cycle of goods which might be perfectly functional even if they don’t fit with your redesigned kitchen!
