First Report - Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy
Select Committee
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 220
26 November 2020
Government response
Third Special Report - Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report · published 26 Feb 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The system of collection targets in the UK is unclear.
Conclusion
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 Summary
The government notes the Committee's concern about estimates and their reliability, explaining that white goods are often recycled outside the official WEEE system due to scrap metal value, and that estimates minimize business burdens. It acknowledges the importance of understanding these volumes but doesn't commit to specific actions to clarify the system or improve data on treatment quality.
13
Recommendation
Acknowledged
As a complement to the monitoring per capita material consumption there must also be a...
Recommendation
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 Summary
The government acknowledges the recommendation and is exploring setting a legally-binding target to increase resource productivity under the Environment Bill, stating the target-setting process will review the level of ambition, but does not specifically commit to per capita consumption targets or a sub-target for electronics.
15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Consumers have a low trust in the electronic market and the longevity of products, both...
Conclusion
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 Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion regarding low consumer trust and lack of information, stating it shares the desire to increase product lifetimes. It outlines existing and forthcoming policy measures, including recent ecodesign consultations, and commits to exploring eco-modulation through a future WEEE Regulations review to incentivize more sustainable product design.
21
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Technology companies, repair organisations and the UK Government should collaborate to ensure safety is ensured...
Recommendation
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 Summary
The government commits to ensuring consumer safety and intellectual property considerations are taken on board during policy development to support greater durability, repairability, and recyclability of electrical products, and will explore eco-modulation within the WEEE Regulations review.
35
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Government investment in low-quality Energy from Waste plants should at the least be matched by...
Recommendation
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 Summary
The government believes its primary goal is to incentivise higher quality recycling methods and will explore whether a longer-term approach to target setting could promote investment in these methods. They do not commit to matching investment in Energy from Waste or explicitly prioritising other methods.
38
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Increasing resource productivity by reducing the amount of resource that is extracted to make new...
Conclusion
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 Summary
The government notes the importance of stimulating recycled materials use and describes existing Ecodesign powers and a Call for Evidence which will inform future policy, also committing to explore eco-modulation of producer financial obligations in the WEEE Regulations review.
40
Conclusion
Acknowledged
There are in some cases legitimate reasons to export overseas old electronics that can have...
Conclusion
There are in some cases legitimate reasons to export overseas old electronics that can have a second life. (Paragraph 159) Recommendation 25
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the serious impact of illegal e-waste exports and is committed to ensuring lawful exports. They discuss regulations and ongoing work by the Basel Convention on e-waste classification and shipment for repair, providing context around the complexities of legitimate and unlawful exports.