Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 Mar 2020 Closed: 26 Feb 2021 Parliament page
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 … Read more
29 Recommendations
14 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
2 Letters
4 Events
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
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
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
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
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
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
12 Conclusion Accepted
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government thanks the Committee and affirms its commitment to transition to a circular economy, reiterating existing plans and strategies to monitor material consumption and double resource productivity by 2050. They are exploring the possibility of setting a legally-binding target to increase resource productivity.
43 Recommendation Accepted
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 Read more
Government Response
The government states the Environment Agency already uses an intelligence-based approach for enforcement and collects data, with recent legislation changes expected to provide more data on plastic exports. It affirms that robust enforcement will continue when intelligence is gathered and that the EA supports industry initiatives to estimate illegal exports.
Government Response AI assessment · 43 of 29 classified

Total 29 recs + 14 conclusions
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