A new British study has revealed that over 92 million electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and gaming consoles, have been discarded with household waste in the past five years. This has cost the average UK household around € 430 in lost resale value. Despite 65% of people acknowledging the environmental consequences of improper disposal, nearly 79% still throw away old electronics instead of recycling or reselling them. Campaigners stress the need for greater awareness to prevent further landfill waste.
Hoarding old devices is common
The research highlights a pattern of tech hoarding, with 74% of respondents admitting they have kept unused devices for at least five years. However, 81% said they would recycle them if they could receive financial compensation, and 72% would donate them to those in need.
Financial losses from not recycling
Over the last decade, UK consumers have lost out on an estimated € 20 billion by not using mobile phone trade-in schemes when upgrading their devices. Concerns over data security remain a key reason for hesitation, with 30% of those polled worrying their data will not be fully erased.
Study methodology and findings
The researchers, conducted by Strand Partners and earlier by YouGov, surveyed over 1,000 UK residents and estimated national disposal volumes using 2023 census data. The O2 Recycle programme was used to determine the potential recycling value of discarded devices.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
