Written question asked by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 May 2024. It was answered by Lord Douglas-Miller (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 May 2024 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Electronic Equipment: Supply Chains

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve data collection, mapping, and tracking of critical minerals and other material streams within electrical and electronic equipment.

Answer: Defra has recently announced the world’s first United Nations-backed International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management in the Circular Economy. In partnership with national and international partners the centre will deliver environmentally sustainable primary extraction of Critical Minerals and map the flow of these critical and priority minerals across there complete life cycle, from extraction to reuse, recovery to disposal. In addition, Defra also published a consultation and call for evidence on reforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. This sought evidence in support of future policy measures intended to improve treatment standards and critical mineral recovery from WEEE. Defra is currently analysing and will publish a summary in due course.

Secondary information