- New research reveals how Brits hoarding old tech is behind the UK’s growing electronic waste epidemic.
- Currys ‘Track the Tech’ video aims to show how easy, safe and secure it is to recycle old tech with Currys.
Brits are sitting on a growing pile of valuable unused tech – often because they can’t bear to part with it.
More than 880 million unused items nationwide are sitting in UK homes, with an average of 30 per household (Material Focus). And among the most prolific offenders are mobile phones, with four in five Brits holding onto a defunct mobile, and one in three still have their very first – a quarter of which are old Nokias.
And while 20% of Brits say they’re oversentimental about their old phones, the new study by Currys revealed a number of reasons for not recycling mobile devices, including:
- 27% keep devices ‘just in case’
- 23% don’t know how to recycle
- 23% worry about data security
- 33% haven’t got round to it
To remind customers just how easy it is to recycle old tech, and even earn money in the process, Currys has today launched ‘Track the Tech’, a new video showing exactly what happens to your devices after drop-off, all while helping to solve the UK’s e-waste crisis.
There are some promising signs that customers are increasingly waking up to the problem of e-waste. The research reveals that they are much more likely to recycle old electricals like TVs and kitchen appliances.
Despite clear awareness of the benefits, only a third of the 2,000 people asked said they had recycled tech in the past year, even though:
- 81% knowing batteries in household waste can cause fires;
- 77% understanding recycling reduces the need to mine for new raw materials;
- 64% knowing that old tech can earn them some money.
The findings also highlight the opportunity in refurbished tech. While 41% of consumers have bought refurbished, uptake varies significantly by age – 50% of 18–34-year-olds compared with 29% of over-55s – despite price being the biggest driver overall of tech purchases.
Behind the ‘Track the Tech’ curtain sits Currys’ repair and recycling operation in Newark, Nottinghamshire, where devices are processed at scale. Last year alone, 5.5 million items of e-waste were collected for reuse and recycling across the Group. Customers can also use Currys monetary incentive-based Cash for Trash and trade-in offers, alongside a growing refurbished range available online, in-store and via Currys’ eBay outlet, all backed by a 12-month guarantee.
“People understand why recycling tech matters, but too often, that’s where it stops. Track the Tech shows exactly what happens once a device is dropped off in-store – as it enters the Currys network and is placed in the hands of our tech experts. The film gives customers confidence that their data is secure and that their devices are put to good use. Our ambition is to give tech its longest life, making it simple, secure, worthwhile and reassuring for customers to pass it on. ”
Paula Coughlan, Chief People, Communications and Sustainability Officer, Currys
Notes to Editors:
- A study of 2,000 UK adults via Opinium
- “880 million unused items, with an average of 30 per household” – Material Focus Research