Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy
Environmental Audit Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Environmental Audit Committee re-launched an inquiry into Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy on Friday 13 March. This inquiry will explore how the UK could reduce its environmental impact, create economic opportunities and maintain access to critical materials by better managing and minimising its e-waste. Evidence submitted to the …
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12
Recommendations
31
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
2
Letters
4
Events
Activity timeline 12 events
26 Feb
2021
2021
26 Nov
2020
2020
Report published
17 Sep
2020
2020
Oral evidence
17 Sep
2020
2020
17 Sep
2020
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
15 Sep
2020
2020
16 Jul
2020
2020
Oral evidence
16 Jul
2020
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
25 Jun
2020
2020
Oral evidence
25 Jun
2020
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
11 Jun
2020
2020
Oral evidence
11 Jun
2020
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
17 Sep 2020
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Chris Preston · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Malcolm Lythgo · Environment Agency
Rebecca Pow MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
16 Jul 2020
View on parliament.uk
E-Waste panel 1; E-Waste panel 2
Andrew Mullen · Joint Trade Association
Astrid Wynne · TechBuyer
Eva Gouwens · Fairphone
Kevin Consindine · Samsung
Matthew Manning · DixonsCarphone
Robert ter Kuile · Amazon
25 Jun 2020
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Heather McFarlane · Fidra
Jim Puckett · Basel Action Network
Libby Peake · Green Alliance
Martyn Allen · Electrical Safety First
Susanne Baker · techUK
Ugo Vallauri · The Restart Project
11 Jun 2020
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Adrian Hawkes · Distributor Take-back scheme
Gurbaksh Badhan · National Association of Waste Disposal Officers
Lee Marshall · The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee
Louise Grantham · Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment Scheme Forum
Phil Conran · Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities Forum
Scott Butler · Material Focus
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Report - Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy | HC 220 | 26 Nov 2020 | 43 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
43 results
1
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The system of collection targets in the UK is unclear.
The system of collection targets in the UK is unclear. National figures on collection rates include a significant amount of estimation about electronics that have been collected in different ways, with no clear understanding as to whether those collected electronics …
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Government Response
We note the Committee’s concern around the use of substantiated estimates and potential issues with their reliability. We know that a significant amount of white goods such as cookers and …
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2
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
We recommend that the Government reconsiders the use of substantiated estimates in the E-waste system...
We recommend that the Government reconsiders the use of substantiated estimates in the E-waste system when evaluating performance. (Paragraph 30) Conclusion
3
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Targets for producer compliance schemes have been missed over recent years.
Targets for producer compliance schemes have been missed over recent years. For 2020 the target has been brought down to match the actual amount collected in 2019 due to the impact of Covid-19. Targets are set annually, which prevents all …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for their recommendation around setting longer-term targets and we understand the case for action in this area in terms of creating greater certainty for businesses and …
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4
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
DEFRA must set long term targets that align with existing commitments like zero waste to...
DEFRA must set long term targets that align with existing commitments like zero waste to landfill. The targets should have milestones at clear intervals, to allow certainty for businesses and investors. They must be set using independently verified data not …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for their recommendation around setting longer-term targets and we understand the case for action in this area in terms of creating greater certainty for businesses and …
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5
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Our inquiry has heard that making official collection routes for the public easy and consistent...
Our inquiry has heard that making official collection routes for the public easy and consistent is key to ensuring products are correctly re-used, repaired and recycled. Retailer take-back is an effective method, so we welcome the Government requirement for large …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for their recommendations around the enhancement of retailer obligations and the need to ensure parity in the collection obligations between online sellers, platforms, retailers. We welcome …
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6
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Our high streets are under severe pressure and current regulations, coming into force from 2021,...
Our high streets are under severe pressure and current regulations, coming into force from 2021, could unfairly entrench the competitive advantage of online retailers and 60 Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy marketplaces like Amazon. As a matter of urgency …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for their recommendations around the enhancement of retailer obligations and the need to ensure parity in the collection obligations between online sellers, platforms, retailers. We welcome …
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7
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
To prevent a potential loophole with take-back being offered only at remote, inconvenient warehouses, the...
To prevent a potential loophole with take-back being offered only at remote, inconvenient warehouses, the regulations should follow the exemplary innovation shown by AO.com and DixonsCarphone. Online retailers and marketplaces for electrical and electronic equipment must arrange and pay for …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for their recommendations around the enhancement of retailer obligations and the need to ensure parity in the collection obligations between online sellers, platforms, retailers. We welcome …
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8
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
A mixture of collection types is needed to tackle the significant E-waste collection challenges.
A mixture of collection types is needed to tackle the significant E-waste collection challenges. As well as Retailer Take-back, kerbside collection has been shown to be very effective and easy for the public to hand-over their electronics cost-effectively and with …
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Government Response
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the UK has a robust collection infrastructure which makes it easier for householders to dispose of their unwanted electrical equipment. Householders are …
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9
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Government must make this mandatory for local authorities, with the cost paid for by...
The Government must make this mandatory for local authorities, with the cost paid for by producers and those smaller retailers or online marketplaces still exempt from collecting E-waste directly from the public. (Paragraph 70) Conclusion
10
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
An Extended Producer Responsibility scheme could be used to incentivise the very best practice in...
An Extended Producer Responsibility scheme could be used to incentivise the very best practice in circular low-carbon product design. However, care must be taken to put circular economy principles at the heart of the policy and efforts made to harmonise …
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Government Response
[Combined response to Recommendations 3, 4 and 5]: We thank the Committee for their recommendations around the enhancement of retailer obligations and the need to ensure parity in the collection …
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11
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
In any future producer responsibility system online marketplaces like Amazon should be responsible for ensuring...
In any future producer responsibility system online marketplaces like Amazon should be responsible for ensuring that all EEE that is sold on their platforms is fully compliant with the law. Furthermore, producers should be required to pay exactly the same …
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12
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
It is welcome that Government plans to monitor progress against the Resource and Waste Strategy,...
It is welcome that Government plans to monitor progress against the Resource and Waste Strategy, including both a measure of per capita material and resource consumption and measures of resource productivity with the goal being to double resource productivity by …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for its recommendation around monitoring per capita material consumption and placing a target in order to reduced consumption to a more sustainable level. Material resources are …
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13
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
As a complement to the monitoring per capita material consumption there must also be a...
As a complement to the monitoring per capita material consumption there must also be a target in place to reduce consumption to a sustainable level in line with the research highlighted in this report. Due to the increasing number of …
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Government Response
We thank the Committee for its recommendation around monitoring per capita material consumption and placing a target in order to reduced consumption to a more sustainable level. Material resources are …
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14
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The UK Government must confirm that it intends to follow the approach taken by other...
The UK Government must confirm that it intends to follow the approach taken by other countries to ban the practice of intentionally shortening the lifespan of products through planned obsolescence. (Paragraph 85) Conclusion
Government Response
[Combined response to recommendations 8 – 13] We thank the committee for their recommendations around driving better ecodesign and consumer information for electrical products. We recognise the importance of these …
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15
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Consumers have a low trust in the electronic market and the longevity of products, both...
Consumers have a low trust in the electronic market and the longevity of products, both new, and repaired. They lack the information to make informed choices about the balance between cost, quality and the lifetime of the products they are …
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Government Response
[Combined response to recommendations 8 – 13] We thank the committee for their recommendations around driving better ecodesign and consumer information for electrical products. We recognise the importance of these …
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16
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
To overcome this issue, we recommend that the Government require producers to label their electrical...
To overcome this issue, we recommend that the Government require producers to label their electrical and electronic products outlining the product’s expected lifetime, including how long a device will receive software security upgrades. To enhance the label to be more …
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17
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Minister Pow MP indicated that the Government is looking into enhancing and extending the minimum...
Minister Pow MP indicated that the Government is looking into enhancing and extending the minimum guarantees on electronic products, including software. We support this proposal and urge the Government to bring this forward with the aim of removing electronics with …
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Government Response
[Combined response to recommendations 8 – 13] We thank the committee for their recommendations around driving better ecodesign and consumer information for electrical products. We recognise the importance of these …
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18
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
We support this proposal and urge the Government to bring this forward with the aim...
We support this proposal and urge the Government to bring this forward with the aim of removing electronics with unduly short lives from the market. The expected lifetime label must be linked to the minimum lifespan guarantee. Particular attention must …
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Government Response
[Combined response to recommendations 8 – 13] We thank the committee for their recommendations around driving better ecodesign and consumer information for electrical products. We recognise the importance of these …
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19
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The UK has a long history of engineering, and the public wants to be able...
The UK has a long history of engineering, and the public wants to be able repair their products. When products are designed, durability and repairability should be key considerations. The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing …
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20
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair...
The Government must enshrine the right to repair in law, enforcing access to (1) repair manuals; (2) access to affordable spare parts for products; and (3) ability to repair products without repairers needing access to physical or software tools specifically …
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21
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Technology companies, repair organisations and the UK Government should collaborate to ensure safety is ensured...
Technology companies, repair organisations and the UK Government should collaborate to ensure safety is ensured during the repair of electronics. This could be through creating professional standards, that will in turn drive more consumer trust. This collaboration should also look …
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Government Response
We thank the committee for their recommendations around driving better ecodesign and consumer information for electrical products. We recognise the importance of these measures given our overarching ambition to transition …
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22
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Government should mandate that products be labelled with a repairability score, based on the...
The Government should mandate that products be labelled with a repairability score, based on the products design, the availability and cost of spare parts, access and ease of use of repair manuals. This will incentivise companies to go beyond the …
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23
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Another proposal supported by industry is a reduction in VAT on repair services from the...
Another proposal supported by industry is a reduction in VAT on repair services from the current standard rate. This is also supported by Professor Tim Cooper and is in place in a number of countries across the EU. (Paragraph 112) …
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Government Response
The Government is considering a wide range of policy levers to support its commitments to doubling resource productivity and eliminating avoidable waste by 2050, as well as contributing towards Net …
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24
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The UK Government should encourage repairability through reducing VAT charged on the repair of electrical...
The UK Government should encourage repairability through reducing VAT charged on the repair of electrical and electronic products. (Paragraph 112) Conclusion
Government Response
The Government is considering a wide range of policy levers to support its commitments to doubling resource productivity and eliminating avoidable waste by 2050, as well as contributing towards Net …
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25
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Producers, local authorities and recyclers have little or no incentive to re-use products over recycling...
Producers, local authorities and recyclers have little or no incentive to re-use products over recycling them. (Paragraph 116) Recommendation 15
Government Response
The Government recognises the importance of encouraging reuse to ensure products as well as materials are kept in use for longer, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions from extraction and …
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26
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Government must increase the incentives for re-use so that all parties benefit from further...
The Government must increase the incentives for re-use so that all parties benefit from further re-use, in particularly making re-use evidence worth more than recycling evidence. (Paragraph 116) Conclusion
27
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Some countries set re-use targets for electronics, such as Spain and Belgium.
Some countries set re-use targets for electronics, such as Spain and Belgium. (Paragraph 117) Recommendation 16
Government Response
The Government recognises the importance of encouraging reuse to ensure products as well as materials are kept in use for longer, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions from extraction and …
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28
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The UK Government should set similar re-use targets for producer compliance schemes, with penalties levied...
The UK Government should set similar re-use targets for producer compliance schemes, with penalties levied when targets are missed. These targets must be set long term and ratchet over time to give the industry clarity and time to prepare. (Paragraph …
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Government Response
The Government recognises the importance of encouraging reuse to ensure products as well as materials are kept in use for longer, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions from extraction and …
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29
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Manufacturers of electronics must ensure that their products are recyclable and dismantlable by waste treatment...
Manufacturers of electronics must ensure that their products are recyclable and dismantlable by waste treatment operators. The Government must apply incentives, potentially through the extended producer responsibility scheme, for the design of products that are easy to recycle. (Paragraph 126) …
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30
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Producers, via producer compliance schemes, should provide information to recyclers about the materials, including quantities,...
Producers, via producer compliance schemes, should provide information to recyclers about the materials, including quantities, in their products. A clear date should be set for this to be mandatory. Once the national material datahub is operational then manufacturers’ information should …
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Government Response
We note the Committee’s concern around the use of substantiated estimates and potential issues with their reliability. We know that a significant amount of white goods such as cookers and …
Read more
31
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
We recommend that the Government fast-tracks the national materials datahub to track critical raw materials...
We recommend that the Government fast-tracks the national materials datahub to track critical raw materials in the UK. The aspects that focus on critical raw materials, E-waste and toxic chemicals should be operational by 2023. (Paragraph 128) 64 Electronic Waste …
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32
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Current recycling and recovery targets and metrics, based on weight, are not sufficient to incentivise...
Current recycling and recovery targets and metrics, based on weight, are not sufficient to incentivise the capture of valuable materials. (Paragraph 133) Recommendation 20
Government Response
The WEEE Regulations stipulate a range of recycling and recovery rates for e-waste treatment facilities for each of the categories of equipment, which they must meet as a condition of …
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33
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Clear targets for E-waste treatment facilities that are based on capturing value, including critical raw...
Clear targets for E-waste treatment facilities that are based on capturing value, including critical raw materials, and their environmental impact must be set. (Paragraph 133) Recommendation 21
Government Response
The WEEE Regulations stipulate a range of recycling and recovery rates for e-waste treatment facilities for each of the categories of equipment, which they must meet as a condition of …
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34
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Recycling methods covered by Best Available Treatment Recovery and Recycling Techniques, and recycling and recovery...
Recycling methods covered by Best Available Treatment Recovery and Recycling Techniques, and recycling and recovery targets must be ambitious with a shift away from recovery towards high-quality recycling. There must be a clearly defined and communicated long-term pathway, with milestones, …
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Government Response
Any shift from recovery towards more high-quality recycling would need to be achieved through the setting of more challenging recycling targets. Best Available Treatment Recovery and Recycling Techniques (BATRRT) sets …
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35
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Government investment in low-quality Energy from Waste plants should at the least be matched by...
Government investment in low-quality Energy from Waste plants should at the least be matched by investment in higher quality recycling methods that mean materials, particularly rare and valuable ones can be re-used. Energy from Waste, though important to prevent items …
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Government Response
In relation to the investment in high quality recycling methods we believe a number of actions can come together to make progress in this area. We believe government’s primary goal …
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36
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The current short-term and transactional nature of the electronic waste system is not delivering the...
The current short-term and transactional nature of the electronic waste system is not delivering the high-quality and high-capacity recycling this country needs if it is to reach a circular economy and extract the full benefits to jobs and the economy …
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Government Response
We note in the WEEE system that stakeholders have raised a number of questions around the short termism in the system in relation to annual target setting which may hinder …
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37
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Government must take strong steps to overcome the problems besetting the system by mandating...
The Government must take strong steps to overcome the problems besetting the system by mandating that producers, compliance schemes, local authorities and AATF enter longer term contracts to create partnerships and longer-term certainty. It must also ensure that the market …
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38
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
Increasing resource productivity by reducing the amount of resource that is extracted to make new...
Increasing resource productivity by reducing the amount of resource that is extracted to make new products will be crucial to reducing the damaging impact of extractive industries on the environment and safeguarding scarce resources that are vital to a low-carbon …
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Government Response
The Government notes the importance of stimulating the use of more recycled materials in products and is considering a range of policy options to achieve this ambition. Under existing Ecodesign …
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39
Recommendation
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Government should find ways of driving the use of more recycled materials in new...
The Government should find ways of driving the use of more recycled materials in new products. This could be done through taxes on virgin materials, or through rewarding producers that use recycled products through eco-modulated fees. (Paragraph 150) Conclusion
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40
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
There are in some cases legitimate reasons to export overseas old electronics that can have...
There are in some cases legitimate reasons to export overseas old electronics that can have a second life. (Paragraph 159) Recommendation 25
Government Response
We agree with the Committee about the serious impact of illegal e-waste exports. The Government and the Environment Agency are both well aware of the devastating consequences on environmental and …
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41
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
However, due to the serious impact of E-waste on human health and the environment, both...
However, due to the serious impact of E-waste on human health and the environment, both here and overseas, and the sheer quantity potentially being exported illegally, the Environment Agency should deem all electrical and electronic exports as risky and in …
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Government Response
We agree with the Committee about the serious impact of illegal e-waste exports. The Government and the Environment Agency are both well aware of the devastating consequences on environmental and …
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42
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The presumption, unless proved otherwise, should be that electronics are not usable.
The presumption, unless proved otherwise, should be that electronics are not usable. All electronics should be tested and proved to work before exportation. No good should be exported that needs repair to be workable. There should be harmonisation of this …
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Government Response
The Government does not believe current legislation and case law allows us to deem all used electronics as not usable. There would need to be a change or clarification in …
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43
Conclusion
First Report - Electronic Waste an…
The Environment Agency in England should be undertaking stronger enforcement activity and should be actively...
The Environment Agency in England should be undertaking stronger enforcement activity and should be actively collecting data and information to estimate the actual quantities of E-waste being exported illegally. (Paragraph 161) 66 Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy
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Government Response
The Environment Agency takes an intelligence-based approach to its compliance and enforcement work so it can target resources most effectively at improving compliance and targeting illegal activity. The Environment Agency …
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Correspondence 2 letters
17 Sep 2020
Apple to Chair on environmental impact of the electronics industry
Parliament page
15 Sep 2020
Chair to Apple on environmental impact of the electronics industry
Parliament page