We were commissioned by the Environmental Services Association to assess the costs and benefits of introducing UK household kerbside collections for small mixed waste electrical and electronic equipment (SMW) and potentially portable batteries. The findings suggest a structured, UK-wide system presents a viable solution to mitigate the risks and costs associated with waste fires.
The existing collection methods for SMW are inadequate as it is rarely collected for recycling at the kerbside, leading to around 155 kilo tonnes being improperly disposed of every year and heightened fire risks. As more battery-powered electronic devices have come onto the market in recent years, the cost of battery-related fires to the waste sector has skyrocketed from £150 million per annum in 2021 to over £1 billion today.
This report builds on existing work by DEFRA and Material Focus, shining a light on the additional benefits presented by preventing waste fires through kerbside collections, which are yet to be fully understood.
We conducted desk-based research and interviews with industry stakeholders to gather data and evidence to inform our analysis of three different collection options:
- Option 1: Kerbside Collection of SMW Only
- Option 2: Kerbside Collection of SMW and Portable Batteries
- Option 3: On-Demand Collection of SMW and Portable Batteries
These collection options offer annual fire cost savings ranging from £503.42 to £573.30 million, with option 2 being the most cost-effective. Minimising fires also mitigates risk to human health, reducing local pollution and environmental damage. The responsibility for the delivery of this option would lie with local authorities, who already oversee the kerbside service. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can help fund the change and ongoing operations, including communications.
The report calls for immediate action to reform current practices and improve waste management systems across the UK, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy.
