The Environmental Audit Committee of the Chamber of English municipalities has issued a report in which it is highlighted that the United Kingdom is rather late, when compared with other countries, in the management of electronic waste , the so called “e-waste”. The report also highlights how large companies such as Amazon and Apple have policies that discourage the recycling and repair of worn out or malfunctioning devices.

The UK generates 23, 9 kilograms of electronic waste per capita each year , ranking second in the world, behind Norway. Most of these e-waste are incinerated or dumped in landfills, and the 40% is sent to other countries often in ways that are not entirely legal. “Our electronic waste, in the countries that receive it, is stored in landfills with toxic chemicals that penetrate the ground and harm people”, reads the EAC report.

E-waste management: promoting the right to repair

According to the report, online shopping portals such as Amazon and eBay are not always considered resellers or producers. Many products are sold by third party retailers, approximately 50% of the products in the case of Amazon. As such, platforms are not obligated to contribute to the collection and recycling of electronic waste. However, the committee encouraged them to “collect products and financially support their recycling to create a level playing field with physical retailers and manufacturers who do not sell on their platforms”.

L ‘EAC then criticizes the concept, now the norm, for which a product must have an intentionally reduced duration over time . It is a technique that on the one hand promotes technological change and progress, but has a decidedly negative impact on sustainability and the health of the environment. The criticism of the EAC is also raised towards companies (in particular Apple is cited) which have often made it difficult the repair of their products, using welded or glued components, with the effect of increasing repair costs and making it cheaper to replace the device instead of repairing it.

Manufacturers and resellers should undertake to take back exhausted devices and recycle them

The report indicates, as a way to moderate the impact of the problem, the cultivation of a legislative framework for the right to reparation and the reduction of VAT on associated services . The EAC also urges all manufacturers to take back exhausted products and cover recycling costs. “Technology companies should now take a leading role in creating sustainable and environmentally friendly business models that are not based on the overexploitation of nature and natural resources,” the report reads.

Meanwhile, Apple told The Guardian newspaper that the EAC report does not take into account its commitment to “preserve the resources and protect the planet we all share”. The Apple refers, for example, to product trade-in programs and repair services, as well as the use of a large portion of recycled materials for many of the key components of Apple Watch, iPad and iPhone .

Amazon also shared their position on the Guardian, stating that “Amazon is committed to minimizing waste and helping our customers reuse, repair and recycle their products. , and we provide a range of options that anyone can easily access through the Amazon Second Chance website. ” The e-commerce giant then wanted to underline that it had supported the recycling of over 10 thousand tons of w-waste in the UK over the past decade.