Currys chief executive Alex Baldock has slammed the government’s e-waste recycling reforms which could put a risk on the retailer’s services.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ruled that, starting from 2026, businesses will be responsible for implementing and funding the improved routes for recycling broken or unwanted consumer electronic goods.
Baldock claims the new rules will “punish [businesses] like us who do the most recycling and at the same time, allow…some of the online-only retailers to get a free ride”, as reported by Retail Gazette.
Currys generated £676 million in sales through its recycling and repairs services.
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox everyday
However, under the reform, Currys will no longer be able to charge to collect customers’ used white goods or TVs over 44″, which the business has used to help increase its sales.
Large retailers will also roll out free-of-charge collections points to drop off electrical items in-store under the new rules, which Currys already has and offers consumers a £5 trade-in voucher when they bring in their used goods.
Baldock claims the “misjudged proposals” are “counterproductive and will result in less recycling being done overall”.
“All this is another big cost burden being imposed on retailers at the same time as a record [business] rates rise, at the same time as other inflationary pressures on an already overburdened industry.”
Baldock said: “If everybody were to sign up or be made to sign up to recycling targets and face penalties if they don’t meet them, we’d solve the waste electrical recycling problem tomorrow and meet the government targets”.
