UK government plans shift to retailer-funded electronic recycling starting 2026

British households can expect enhanced electronic recycling options from 2026 as the UK government proposes that producers and retailers cover the costs of household and in-store collections. The plan aims to alleviate the burden on taxpayers, addressing the issue of almost half a billion small electrical items ending up in landfills annually.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) aims to enable consumers to have electrical waste, ranging from cables to toasters and power tools, collected from their homes or dropped off during shopping trips.

The measures build on previous EU initiatives, and the goal is to align with the principle that producers should bear the expense of waste disposal. The plan includes creating free in-store collection drop points and mandating the collection of large electrical goods during replacement product deliveries.

Why does it matter?

Despite ranking among the leading consumers of electronic items, the UK is struggling to meet recycling targets. An OECD study underscores this challenge, revealing the UK’s failure to achieve household e-waste recycling targets from 2017 to 2020. Post-Brexit, the UK has lagged behind the EU in adopting measures to reduce e-waste, including the right to repair and standardising phone chargers to USB C by 2024. Additionally, insufficient recycling capacity, particularly in battery processing, has further contributed to the UK falling behind its European counterparts in recycling rates.