Amazon and eBay to pay 'fair share' for e-waste recycling

Online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay will have to pay their "fair share" of recycling electrical waste under new government proposals.

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said planned reforms would create a "level playing field" for electronics producers by putting more onus on international retailers to contribute to recycling costs.

Some foreign sellers have been able to avoid this charge by selling via online marketplaces, leaving UK-based firms such as Currys to foot much of the bill.

Firms which produce e-cigarettes will also be asked to pay more, with the plans not coming into action until January, 2026.

The government will also require online marketplaces to register with the Environment Agency and report UK sales from their overseas sellers.

This data will be used to calculate the financial contribution the online marketplaces must make towards the costs of recycling e-waste.

The UK government said the new obligations will be enforced by the Environment Agency and equivalent regulators in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The government says the move will help fund recycling services.

"We welcome the government's new measures to help level the playing field for responsibility for waste, making online marketplaces do their part," said Currys boss Alex Baldock.

"Low value, low quality and unsustainable tech is piling up in landfills, and it's good to see government doing something to tackle that."

Additional reporting by Liv McMahon