A new SUEZ survey shows people in England are disposing of over £150 million worth of items when moving home annually.
The survey, conducted by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK of 1,000 people who have moved home over the past 12 months, shows on average people are throwing away around £83.78 worth of possessions during the moving process.
Based on the latest figures from the English Housing Survey, which highlighted that 1.8 million people had moved home in the previous 12 months, SUEZ says this could add up to £150m a year in England.
However, the research also shows that respondents want to extend the lifespan of household items as 51% repaired broken or damaged goods rather than throwing them away during their last move. When replacing or buying additional items for the home, 91% said they actively seek out “preloved” items.
Moving home is becoming increasingly expensive – even before you consider the cost of disposing of, replacing, and buying new items.
Of respondents who didn’t consider repairing their items, a lack of time (44%), the cost of repair services (44%), and a lack of knowledge or skills to repair items (39%) were cited as the most common barriers to doing so.
55% of respondents also feel it would help them if they had access to further information about repair and reuse services.
Sarah Ottaway, Sustainability and Social Value Lead at SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, commented: “Moving home is becoming increasingly expensive – even before you consider the cost of disposing of, replacing, and buying new items.
“The circular economy empowers consumers to not only cut waste but save money through by getting the most out of the items they already have and choosing pre-loved items when looking for something new for their home. It’s great to see the research reveal a genuine desire by Brits to extend the life of their belongings.”
