New Life or Landfill?

From old fridges and phones to knackered TVs and PCs, how do we know how much is actually being recycled?

White goods or bad?

The recyclability of white goods (large household appliances such as fridges, washing machines, and ovens) depends on the materials they are made of, how they are processed, and local recycling facilities. In general, metals (60-70% of the appliance) are highly recyclable, and so are plastics (10-20%), but the latter require sorting and processing to separate types.

TVs and tech

Older CRT (cathode-ray tube) TVs contain leaded glass, which is harder to recycle, and newer LCD and LED screens have recyclable glass panels, but contain complex components such as mercury backlights, making disassembly labour-intensive.

Smartphones and tablets contain precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, copper and rare earth elements (used in batteries, circuit boards, and components), and are recoverable, albeit lithium and ion batteries require special handling. In general, around 80-90% of computers are recyclable.

Car trouble

Modern cars are highly recyclable, with approximately 75-85% of a car by weight being reusable. However, this relies on them being carefully dismantled to separate recyclable materials from hazardous components such as airbags and batteries.

Ways to improve

Ultimately, by choosing brands that take responsibility for their carbon footprint and by advocating local councils and governments to improve recycling facilities, we can move forward in a direction that benefits both us and the planet.