Repairable electronics being written off - study

Electronic waste is being prioritised for disposal rather than repair, according to new research from the University of Surrey.

The study found that only around 2% to 2.5% of devices at a municipal recycling centre were considered suitable for reuse.

By contrast, analysis of items taken to repair cafés showed that 50% were successfully fixed, it added.

"Too many electrical products are treated as waste before anyone has properly considered whether they can be repaired, reused or stripped for valuable parts," said the study's lead author Sheeba Pathak.

"Recycling has an important role, but it should not automatically be the first destination for a device that may still have years of useful life," she added.

Mark Konieczko, from the Cranleigh Repair Cafe, said he was "not surprised" by the university's findings.

He said part of the problem was an "education thing" with people not knowing items could be fixed or where they could do so.

Konieczko told BBC Radio Surrey another element was human beings "wanting the latest tech", which meant they preferred to buy new items.

He said ways of sourcing parts from items taken to tips should be explored.

The BBC heard some items nowadays are made to be difficult to repair, with products often glued shut or without readily available spare parts.

Government said at the time it was "committed to cutting waste and moving to a circular economy so that we re-use, reduce and recycle more resources and help meet our emissions targets".

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