UK Households Urged to Recycle Unused Cables to Combat Copper Shortage

Recycling old electricals could significantly reduce the looming gap between copper supply and demand, essential for the UK's green transition.

Research indicates UK homes hold 1.3 billion unused electricals with 38,449 tonnes of copper, worth £266 million.
Recycling these materials could meet 30% of the copper needed for decarbonizing the UK's electricity grid by 2030.
The Recycle Your Electricals campaign encourages 'urban mining' to mitigate environmental impacts of traditional mining.
Experts highlight the urgent need for better recycling practices to meet growing copper demand driven by renewable energy projects.
The government is urged to adopt a strategic approach to ensure a secure copper supply for future green technologies.