Cash for Trash, a collection system for e-waste and end-of-life products launched by the UK electricals retailer, Curry’s has been named the Green Initiative of the Year by the prestigious Retail Week Awards.
An initiative first launched in 2022 to lay a foundational infrastructure for a circular economy for e-waste within the business, Trash for Cash has – as of 2023 – collected over 46,500 tonnes of electrical goods, household appliances, and tech for recycling.
Curry’s Cash for Trash addresses head on the UK’s electrical waste crisis – recognised as the fastest growing waste stream in the country – and the staggering 155,000 tonnes of e-waste thrown into households bins each year.
Meanwhile, there is a further 190,000 tonnes of unused electrical items currently being hoarded by UK households, all of which is potential resource, lying dormant and unused.
Curry’s building circular economy for e-waste
Cash for Trash – which incentivises UK customers to trade in their ‘e-waste’ for monetary value at Curry’s stores in the UK was recognised by the Retail Week Awards for the strides it is taking in improving current systems for e-waste collection.
Hannah Jackson, managing director at Retail Week, said: “The judges were really impressed with all the shortlisted entries in this category but felt that Curry’s Cash for Trash ticked every box. It is a fantastic initiative that not only aligns with the crucial goal of achieving net-zero impact but goes above and beyond by weaving in social mobility and purpose.
“Curry’s operation, combined with the universal reality of old electrical kit at home, positions this initiative as a game-changer with the potential for a significant impact. This isn’t just about green credentials, it’s a bold step towards a more sustainable and purpose-driven retail landscape.”
Curry’s Collects targets untapped resources in UK homes
Curry’s Cash for Trash scheme has already evolved in the time since its first introduction and last summer the retailer launched its Curry’s Collects campaign, a new service designed to not only raise awareness of how to correctly dispose of tech devices but to deliver a door-to-door recycling service for them.
The new scheme landed in the wake of eye-opening research revealing that 76% of people feel guilty for not recycling tech properly. A further 38% admitted they did not know how to dispose of electrical goods correctly, while one in three 18-to-34 year olds said they had no idea small batteries, such as those from a TV remote, could be recycled.
Curry’s Collects’ pilot scheme launched in Bradford last year with electric Currys Collects vans driving around the city, collecting unwanted tech from people’s front doors.
Commenting on the Retail Week Award win, Paula Coughlan, chief people, communications, and sustainability officer at Curry’s, said: “Very well done to the team who have owned it from day one, through self-motivation and hard work. They’ve enabled Curry’s to repair, refurbish, and harvest parts from 5,000 products a week. They are critical to the circular economy we are building when it comes to technology, allowing us to reuse thousands of tonnes of tech a year, which otherwise would have been broken down. This award is well-deserved – congratulations.”
