The UK could capture materials worth £1 billion from electrical waste through improved recycling and recovery systems, according to a five-year impact report from Material Focus published today.
The report, Saving Valuable Materials, states that 30 million more small electricals were recycled in 2023 and 2024 compared to 2022. However, over 100,000 tonnes of electricals are still thrown away annually, and 880 million items remain unused in UK homes.
Material Focus, which operates the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, launched in March 2020. The organisation reports that 9.2 million more people say they are recycling electricals than they did when the campaign began, and that 93 per cent of the UK population now recycles at least one type of electrical item.
Infrastructure expansion
The organisation has funded 871 new recycling points through its Electricals Recycling Fund, including bright pink bring banks in urban areas where residents were less likely to own cars. The report states that 80 per cent of funded pilots are self-sustaining and continue to operate after initial funding ends.
Material Focus reports that its Recycling Locator has expanded from 3,500 verified drop-off points in 2020 to over 30,000 reuse and recycling points today.
“Our campaign strategy focuses on making it easier to reuse and recycle electricals, which requires a whole system approach,” said Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus. “We have made it easier for 12 million more people to recycle.”
The organisation states it has worked with over two-thirds of UK local authorities to engage local residents and supported the recycling industry and community sector with £2 million in interest-free loans and £500,000 in grants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Battery fire concerns
The report highlights that batteries from small electrical devices cause over 1,200 fires annually in bin lorries and waste sites across the UK, putting lives and infrastructure at risk. Battery-related waste fires increased 71 per cent between 2022 and 2023, according to previous Material Focus research.
It commissioned research that found 8 million disposable vapes were being discarded weekly, which the organisation states influenced the UK Government’s decision to ban single-use vapes from June 2025.
The report identifies 471 million “FastTech” items – small, cheap electricals including vapes and mini-fans – were binned in the past year.
Several major retailers now offer free in-store recycling services for all small electricals, including Currys, B\&Q, John Lewis, Waitrose and Asda, according to the report.
Material Focus collaborated with Defra and the Environment Agency to develop a methodology to identify non-compliant electrical producers, which has resulted in more than double the number of “freerider” producers complying with regulations in 2025 compared to a previous baseline year.
Circular Electricals Fund
The organisation launched a £1 million Circular Electricals Fund in May 2025 to support projects extending the lifespan of electrical goods and improving material recovery from electronic waste.
The fund provides up to £150,000 per project for developing advanced recycling technologies, creating more durable and repairable products, and establishing services that promote reuse and waste reduction.
Material Focus says it is also working with the British Geological Survey to map quantities and types of critical materials hidden inside electricals, and supporting University College London’s “Big Repair Project” to make appliance repairs easier.
Remaining challenges
Despite the progress reported, the organisation identifies several ongoing challenges. New categories of electricals including e-textiles, MedTech devices, and FastTech items present disposal challenges that did not exist five years ago.
The report states that current textile recycling infrastructure and medical technology devices lack clear systems for end-of-life management. Online marketplaces face new mandatory take-back obligations for all electricals, though implementation details remain under development.
Butler added: “We look forward to continuing to bring together all the stakeholders to help build a circular electricals future for the UK. The opportunity is significant – at least £1 billion of materials are hidden inside the electricals we throw away or hold onto which are critical to the UK’s economy.”
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