Hire old white goods to cut waste, families told
FAMILIES should hire second-hand dishwashers and printers to prevent waste and help the environment, the Government has said.
Rather than buying new domestic appliances, consumers should get into the habit of renting them so they are more likely to be refurbished and reused when no longer needed, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.
The proposal is contained in Defra’s submission to the European Commission, which is drawing up a new strategy on waste and recycling.
Britain is at risk of missing its EU target of recycling 50 per cent of household waste by 2020, with rates stagnating at under 45 per cent.
The Government is thought to be opposed to European Parliament calls for a new 70 per cent target. Defra suggests that efforts should focus instead on ensuring less waste is created in the first place.
“More should be done to encourage models where the consumer pays for the use of a product for a certain period rather than outright ownership. In particular, for workhorse domestic appliances, like dishwashers or printers,” it says. “This type of business model has the potential to encourage the development of more durable, resource efficient products and also to provide support for the refitting and refurbishing of the products.” Defra has already funded a pilot project refurbishing used baby car seats and pushchairs. It says: “For the consumer, these models offer the clear potential for a more flexible, affordable and higher quality service. For business, there are potentially new routes to market, greater revenue from the product and increased brand loyalty.”
It suggests that products should be sold with a life expectancy and consumers offered extended warranties to encourage manufacturers to make products that last.
“Consumers are interested in getting good value and product lifetime is a part of this, so durability declarations could have potential to move the market,” it says. “Our research suggests improved warranties could be a useful way of influencing businesses to design products to last longer.”