Research finds there are 18.2 million unused appliances in UK
According to research conducted by Recycle Your Electricals, 92 per cent of UK households own “FadTech” – this is an average of four items per household.
It estimates that UK households are holding on to 18.2 million kitchen electrical appliances that are rarely or never used, the number of unused bread makers would stretch from London to Paris and halfway back again.
Scott Butler, Executive Director of the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, said: “We have all fallen for the latest FadTech – including me – and sometimes they become kitchen staples. But, often, after taking up counter space they are consigned to a cupboard.
“They are not cheap, so it can feel wasteful to clear them out but they can be recycled into something really useful or donated if they’re still in good condition. If you have FadTech to recycle, the easiest thing to do is visit our postcode locator to find your nearest drop-off point.”
Recycle Your Electricals estimates that there are 2.4 million blenders gathering dust across the UK that could be recycled into 2.1 million defibrillators.
Joanna Page, actor and presenter, is backing the campaign and admitted she has a stash of “FadTech” at her home. She said: “I have got children, so we get these items thinking they will be fun and they are at first. But then you do not use them more than once a year and they just end up taking up space in your cupboard.
“I’ve got two waffle makers, I don’t even know why I need two. They are not cheap, so it can be hard to part with them, but it is great to hear they can be recycled and free up some all-important cupboard space.”
The research estimates that across UK homes, there are 6.5 million kettles, 3.4 million microwaves and 3.6 million toasters that are either broken or spare.
Host of The Gadget Show, Ortis Deley, said: “As a gadget fan myself, I know it can be tempting to want to join the trend but as with any fashion, these things usually always move on or improve, so it is worth thinking about whether you will really use something before you buy it and if you find you don’t use it any more, recycling it to give it a new lease of life.”
