Repair, Recycling & Recovery
Appliances are developed with durability and repairability in mind to extend their lifespan. Manufacturers stock spare parts for repair for more than a decade but inevitably sometimes the only option is to replace a machine. At this point, recycling, and recovery of materials, are critical – both key elements of the appliance’s initial design.
In fact, for every three large appliances bought in the UK, two are recycled.
WEEE regulations and policy
AMDEA and its members are leaders in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) scheme, regulated by the UK Government, which aims to maximise recycled materials and to minimise the amount of unwanted electricals incinerated or sent to landfill.
The industry funds WEEE processing to recover materials from old appliances when new ones are purchased. It also funds information programmes encouraging correct recycling of unwanted electricals.
RECYCLING
Two appliances recycled...
...for every three large appliances bought in the UK
Over 80%...
...of the material in large appliances is
recycled
103,000 tonnes of small electricals...
...were thrown away, the weight of an average cargo ship
Recycling old small electricals...
...would cut as much CO2 as taking 3.84 million cars off the road
Recovery of materials
Recovery of materials from recycled appliances is critical to conserve resources. Stripping out and reusing materials – such as metals and plastics – lends those constituent parts a second life. So recoverability of materials at end-of-life is a key element of our Members’ initial eco-design process.
At the recycling plant, the machine will go through various processes to retrieve those constituent parts which are made available for use elsewhere. In some cases, the plastic recycled from old machines can be re-used in new appliances – an example of a true circular economy. Recovering materials from old appliances also means less use of virgin resources.
The industry also funds recycling of appliances. While recycling rates for large appliances are good, improvements are needed for the recycling of smaller appliances. Retailers are assuming an important role with their take-back schemes for the more portable home and personal care products.
Repair
The industry has a keen focus on building durable machines and extending the lifespan of appliances. Our Members ensure genuine replacement parts are available to mend machines. Many also have their own teams of service engineers, and some Members even refurbish machines for resale.
With safety in mind, any repairs should be carried out by qualified personnel with manufacturers’ specified parts.
Manufacturers refurbish machines that customers return out of their original packaging or that have suffered slight damage in transit. These are repaired, fully-tested and sold as ‘graded’ products at a discount and with a warranty.
Leading the way
AMDEA members and associates reveal how they are advancing the UK’s path to net zero.
Production
Manufacturers scrutinise and measure every aspect of their work to minimise environmental impact.
Eco Performance in Use
Today’s water and energy efficient appliances deployed wisely at home can help towards net zero.
