Coverage of Amazon waste allegations
Written by Defra Press Office
There has been widespread coverage this morning of allegations that Amazon has been sending millions of unsold products to landfill and incineration, including electronics, books and face masks.
Following an ITV News investigation which was aired yesterday, further coverage has landed today in the Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, the Metro and the Scottish Sun.
It’s imperative that we end the “throwaway culture” and recycle more of our waste - and by 2035 we want to be recycling at least 65% of our municipal waste with a maximum of 10% going to landfill.
Current regulations require sellers of electrical equipment to offer a free take-back service for waste electricals or join the Distributor Takeback Scheme to help fund local authority recycling services.
We are looking at the regulations to see how we make sure all retailers take greater responsibility for electricals. This could include increased doorstep collections and strengthened takeback obligations placed on retailers and internet sellers.
A Defra spokesperson said:
“It is vital that more goods are reused or recycled and not condemned to landfill or incineration.
“Every item thrown away is a waste of valuable and finite resources, and that is why we are committed to creating a more circular economy for our waste and resources.
“We are now reviewing the regulations for waste electrical equipment to drive up reuse and recycling, encourage better eco-design and ensure manufacturers and retailers - including online marketplaces - take greater responsibility for waste electricals.”
More widely, through our 25 Year Environment Plan, we are committed to leaving the environment in a better state than we inherited it. We will help do this by transforming the way we use our waste and resources, and by 2042 we want to have eliminated all avoidable plastic waste, with all avoidable waste being stopped by 2050.
As also set out in our landmark Resources and Waste Strategy, we will go further and faster to reduce, reuse, and recycle more of our waste and resources, and leave the environment in a better state than we found it for future generations.
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