Businesses and charities urge UK to scrap VAT on refurbished electronics to tackle e-waste and cut household costs

Businesses, charities, and community groups in the UK are urging the government to eliminate VAT on repaired and refurbished electronics. This coalition believes that scrapping the 20% VAT on second-hand and repaired tech will encourage consumers to choose these options, thereby reducing e-waste and supporting the circular economy. They argue that the current VAT policy penalizes refurbished products, making them less attractive than new ones. Advocacy for this policy change is linked to the goal of achieving net zero and addressing waste from electronic goods.

"If we want to reduce e-waste by making refurbishment the norm, refurbished products must be as accessible as possible," said Katy Medlock, UK general manager at Back Market.

"Cutting VAT would directly benefit consumers by lowering prices, making it a no-brainer for more people to choose sustainable options."

Cost and convenience remain key concerns," says Dr Adam Read; "Repair feels slow, uncertain and hard compared to instant online shopping."

Read at Business Matters