Currys, the UK technology retailer, has announced that it has recycled almost 750,000 tonnes of unwanted technology since 2011, saving over 15 million individual products from being sent to landfill or gathering dust in cupboards. This is a significant accomplishment, especially when one considers the fact that e-waste is becoming a major environmental concern globally.
One of the key drivers behind Currys’ success in recycling e-waste is the company’s ‘Cash for Trash’ initiative, which guarantees customers at least £5 in store credit when they drop-off any unwanted tech. This popular initiative is now being brought back across the UK and Ireland, allowing customers to hand in any tech products, from keyboards to kettles, in exchange for a £5 voucher that can be used in-store or online. For the first time, customers will also soon be able to receive these vouchers at home, exchanged when Currys delivers a new appliance and recycles any redundant products.
Currys’ commitment to giving technology a longer life and playing a leading role in the fight against e-waste in the UK and Ireland is commendable. When customers recycle their tech through Currys, the items are either broken down and recycled, harvested for parts (which contribute to the repairs of other items), or given to charities which will match functioning products with recipients who do not have access to their own essential items, such as fridges and freezers. This helps to ensure that technology is not wasted and is put to good use.
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While thousands of customers are recycling their low-value tech products, many are also trading-in more expensive items through Currys. In the past twelve months, the tech retailer has processed almost 80,000 trade-ins, paying out £10.5 million to customers for items that could be refurbished and resold, all of which helps keep tech in use and out of landfill. This is a great way to encourage customers to recycle their old technology and also get some value back from the products they no longer need or use.
Despite these efforts, there is still much work to be done when it comes to encouraging the public to recycle all their unwanted technology. New research undertaken by Currys found that over 50% of Brits throw away their redundant tech products when they buy upgraded devices, despite 41% of people looking to be more environmentally conscious in 2023. This highlights the need for better education and awareness around the importance of recycling e-waste, not just for the environment, but also for the economy.
Chris Brown, Senior Sustainability Operations Manager at Currys, commented on the company’s recycling efforts, “We are seeing great results from both our recycling and trade-in initiatives, with customers bringing in their unwanted tech in great numbers. Whether it be a high-value item, such as a mobile phone or tablet, or unwanted ‘tech tat’, recycling or trading-in tech with Currys is a convenient, financially incentivised way for the public to cut down on their e-waste.”
He added, “That said, despite great progress, the e-waste problem isn’t going to go away overnight. Which is why we’re bringing back our popular Cash for Trash initiative and calling on Brits to step up their tech recycling efforts in 2023, for the benefit of planet and pockets alike.”
