FastTech

July 29, 2025

picture of a pink cat and image of electrical items

Millions of Fast tech items are bought for £1 or less. Recycle Your Electricals. Image shows a clear plastic bag containing electrical items.

“FastTech” refers to inexpensive, mass-produced electronic gadgets with short lifespans that are often seen to be disposable and are frequently discarded after minimal use. These items like mini-fans, novelty chargers, and disposable vapes are frequently purchased on impulse and quickly end up in bins or drawers, contributing to the growing problem of electronic waste.  

FastTech is now the world’s fastest-growing type of electrical waste. We bought 1.14 billion items in the UK in the last year, and we binned 11 million of them every week.

Half a billion Fast tech items are binned, when they could have been recycled. Recycle your electricals.

Each piece of FastTech binned is resources wasted 

 All electricals, even small, inexpensive items such as cables contain precious materials and if we bin them, they’re lost forever. That’s a big challenge for the environment and our economy. 

Top tips for avoiding FastTech

  • Avoid buying items that you don’t really need –If you aren’t going to use a tech item regularly, if it’s not genuinely going to enhance your life, or it’s not durable you probably don’t need to own it. Could you borrow or rent instead? If that’s not an option, can you source a second–hand item.

 

 Think before you buy. If you'll only use it once or twice, consider borrowing, or buying second-hand instead.

  • Avoid impulse buying – If placing an item into your shopping basket gives you a mini-adrenaline rush, take a short break before you check-out. This gives time for the adrenaline to subside and helps you to think clearly and resist making impulse buys you might later regret.

Take a break. Before you buy, take a break. Grab a tea or go for a walk. Giving yourself time helps avoid impulse buys.

  • Don’t be pressured into buying more than you need –Multibuy discounts, 3 for 2 offers, and “limited time” sales are strategies to encourage shoppers to part with cash quickly and without due consideration. Remember, getting more than you bargained for isn’t always a good thing.

Don't be fooled by flashy deals. Sales are designed to make you buy more - if it wasn't on your list you probably don't need it

  • Repair before you replace – If something breaks, check if it can be repaired before you replace it. Search online to find repair shops near you, or consult our Waste Prevention Map

Repair before you replace. If something breaks, check if it can be fixed at your local repair cafe.

  • Give your unused tech a second life –Avoid putting unused tech items into a drawer. They’re likely to stay there, unused for a long time. Instead, consider selling or donating working items. Put broken / non- working items into a dedicated bag or box and take it to be recycled when full.

Gove your Fast tech a second life. Don't stash it in a draw. Donate anything that's working, and recycle anything that's broken.

Like anything else with a plug, battery or cable, FastTech can and should be recycled at the end of its life and more and more people are discovering how easy it is to recycle theirs. Find your nearest drop-off point using the #RecycleYourElectricals Recycling locator 

When FastTech is recycled, useful materials such as gold, lithium and copper can be recovered and used in new products. That means they can have a second life in anything from wind turbines and electric vehicles to life-saving medical equipment. If you recycle your old electricals in the right way, almost all the materials get processed in the UK and become a valuable UK commodity. 

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