Stemming the tsunami of e-waste

The need to replace items only a few years after buying them because they can't be fixed leads to costs and environmentally damaging disposal, but now action is being taken which should trickle down to Guernsey.

The UK is introducing a right to repair law this summer, which should mean appliances like fridges, washing machines and TVs will last longer and be cheaper to run.

Manufactures will be legally required to make spare parts available to consumers for the first time, with the aim of extending the lifespan of products by up to 10 years.

New efficiency standards will also push products to use less energy, saving people an average of £75 a year on bills over their lifetime.

Anything that saves consumers money while cutting the tsunami of electrical waste that is being dealt with currently has to be a good thing.

The amount of e-waste being produced globally rose by 21% in the five years to 2019, 53.6million tonnes. This is expected to reach 74mt by 2030. Only about 17.4% is collected and recycled – gold, silver, platinum and other materials are just lost.

E-waste also contains harmful chemicals like mercury, lead, beryllium, brominated flame retardants, and cadmium.

As part of a movement to change attitudes to waste, efforts are under way here to make sure smaller items aren’t thrown away before their useful life is up.

The Clean Earth Trust's Repair Cafe is looking to stem the flow of unnecessary electronic waste by helping the community to repair small household electrical items for free while also sharing skills and promoting a ‘mending mindset’.

That will sit well with many islanders who are well in-tune with that philosophy.

Guernsey is largely reliant on international standards and particularly those in the UK where most of our goods come from.

This is one set of initiatives that will have plenty of positive spin-offs.