15 million unused phones lay in UK homes, a survey finds

A study has revealed that there are 15 million unused mobile phones remain across UK households. The survey also showed that there are 85 million total tech devices that people have held onto without using them.

Besides mobile phones, other tech gadgets include – 4.6 million VCR players, over 7 million DVD players, and six million TV sets. Other items are USB flash drives, iPods, laptops, etc.

A recent survey of 2,000 people showed that 39 percent of them hang on to their unused devices which include 23 percent mobile phones, 16 percent old DVD players, and 13 percent old TVs. The report comes from a poll by Virgin Media O2.

Also read: Over 5 billion Mobile Phones to be dumped in 2022 | e-waste

Unused phones and laptops lay unused in UK homes because people aren’t sure how to get rid of them

The people said that they are not sure how to let go of the old tech items. But 11 percent said that they wished to fix those unused devices. The 17 percent said they just keep the items as a backup to fall back on them in case.

Virgin Media O2 conducted the survey with the environmental charity Hubbub. The project’s idea is to launch the Time After Time e-waste fund for organizations to combat e-waste and promote circularity.

The 31 percent in the survey said that they are concerned about the effect of e-waste on the planet. But addressing the situation seems to have a mundane barrier too. Likewise, 25 percent in the survey were unaware of the nearest recycling point.

Nicola Green, Virgin Media O2, said: “It’s staggering how many old, unused, and outdated gadgets like phones, VCR players, and USB sticks, are gathering dust in drawers, lofts, and garages across the country.”

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tackling the issue of e-waste

“We know that people are worried about their old tech ending up in landfill, and the impact it’s having on the planet. That’s why we’ve launched the £500,000 Time After Time fund with Hubbub, to fund eco projects that tackle e-waste and help old devices to be used again and again,” he added.

51 percent of adults felt that there is a lack of efforts to tackle the problem of e-waste. 21 percent felt that they were guilty of allowing the condition by not recycling the old unused electronic devices.

How many phones do you own? Do you use them all regularly, or keep some as spares? Do share with us in the comments below.