UK extends electronic waste fee to online marketplaces

The extended producer responsibility fee applied to UK-based retailers on electrical and electronic products will be extended to online marketplaces, even if their sellers are based abroad.

The initiative, announced today by the UK’s Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), aims to level the playing field between UK retailers and their foreign competitors, and to reduce the environmental impact of electrical waste – the fastest-growing waste stream in the world.

“We are committed to moving towards a circular economy in which we keep electricals from laptops to toasters in use for longer. Ensuring online marketplaces pay their share for managing the cost of the electrical waste they generate will increase recycling and level the playing field for UK-based retailers, boosting growth and making the system fairer through our Plan for Change,” said Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh.

Combating the rise of FastTech waste

Until now, UK-based firms only were required to cover the cost of collecting and processing electrical waste, while those selling the same products from abroad through online marketplaces were not.

From today, these marketplaces will need to register with the Environment Agency and report data on sales made by their overseas sellers in the UK, which will then be used to calculate the amount of recycling these companies must finance annually. This will help pay for dealing with broken electrical items such as radios, fridges and washing machines – but also the short-lived ‘FastTech’ gadgets such as vapes and minifans now inundating the market.

Scott Butler, Executive Director of NGO Material Focus, added: “Clarifying that online marketplaces for electricals must now meet producer responsibilities for their non-UK based sellers is also welcome. This means that they will take their share of the costs of recycling electrical products at the end of their life.  This will also mean that the rise in FastTech, the ultra-cheap, small electrical items, which are surging onto the market will be captured, as the majority of their sales are through online channels.”

Supporting the UK’s circular economy goals

Material Focus estimates that more than 100,000 tonnes of electricals, like irons and microwaves, are thrown out across the UK every year.

The funds generated through the new fee will help improve the collection and treatment of waste items collected by local authorities and returned to retailers, supporting the move towards a circular economy and increasing investment in recycling infrastructure and green jobs.

Defra says it engaged extensively with online marketplaces and retailers to create a fairer extended producer responsibility (EPR) system.

“It is important that the responsibility to safely dispose of electronic waste is shared fairly, and we’re pleased the government has listened to us and other industry leaders. As well as making online marketplaces pay for the waste they create, we should be going further to set stretch targets and incentivise investment in cleaning it up too. We believe with the right skills and infrastructure in place, the UK can build a thriving circular economy - enabling lasting and sustainable change,” suggested Paula Coughlan, Chief People, Communications & Sustainability Officer at Currys.