Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub are launching a £500,000 fund to boost innovation to tackle electronic waste, the fastest growing waste stream in the world. 

As the UK produces the second highest levels of electrical waste per person in the world (only lower than Norway) the Time after Time e-waste fund will award grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 for UK projects which reduce e-waste, encourage recycling of electronic goods, or support devices being used over and over again. 

Earlier this month the international waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) forum’s global report found that 5.3 billion mobile phones will be thrown away across this year and e-waste will grow to 74 million tonnes a year by 20303. The opportunity to recycle e-waste back into the circular economy is huge but investment and innovation is urgently needed.  

Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub’s fund will focus on projects that support the reuse, repair and recycle of small WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) from smartphones and laptops to toys and DIY equipment. Projects should aim to prevent e-waste by extending the life of small electrical items; that increase the recycling of e-waste; or increase our understanding of e-waste and reach new audiences.   

The initiative forms part of Virgin Media O2’s Better Connections Plan – the company’s new sustainability strategy and is one of the ways the company will achieve its goal of supporting people to carry out 10 million circular actions to tackle e-waste by the end of 2025. 

Share Story: