Green Alliance co-hosted this event with Material Focus, the not for profit behind the Recycle Your Electricals campaign.

The UK is the second highest producer of ewaste globally and one of the worst offenders in Europe for sending illegal ewaste shipments to lower income countries. Electrical waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. Urgent action needs to be taken to address this issue as electrical items contain some of the most valuable materials on the planet and toxic materials that can pose a threat to the environment and to human health if they aren’t managed well.

At the end of this year the government will consult on reforms to the regulations around managing ewaste and batteries. Ahead of that consultation, we invited the experts to discuss the challenges and the economic and social benefits of this major issue, including the chance to tackle digital inequality and the re-use of domestic appliances and IT. We want to end the complacency around this growing problem and raise expectations around the need for higher quality recycling, remanufacturing and re-use and recycling of electricals.

A panel debate and audience Q&A was followed by a drinks reception.

Chair

• Lucy Siegle, sustainability journalist

Speakers

• Scott Butler, executive director, Material Focus
• Libby Peake, head of resource policy, Green Alliance
• Helen Milner OBE, group chief executive, Good Things Foundation
• Dean Kramer, services director, Currys
• Alan Whitehead MP, shadow minister for energy and the green new deal