White goods may not been green
Brits are increasingly throwing away appliances rather than trying to repair them, a survey entitled the 'Changing Face of British Homes' conducted by Legal and General Insurance company has found.
In the under-35 age group, 91 per cent said they would not attempt to repair such items as MP3 players, stereos or DVD players.
The reluctance to get the screwdriver out means that 12 per cent of people would replace an item if the fuse had blown, and almost one in five people throw away a kettle once it becomes furred with limescale.
Ruth Wilkins, head of communications at Legal & General's general insurance business said: "With environmental issues increasingly on the public agenda, it is surprising that such a large number of us, 86 per cent, are still choosing to replace our household goods and possessions rather than try to repair them.
"The cost of replacing all the appliances being thrown away, with brand new appliances, can mount up. Replacing household items, especially electrical goods with a ‘brand new' or latest version, may cost more than the price paid for the old one. So when replacing, or upgrading items in a home, Brits should also check and if necessary update their household insurance cover so it is still at an appropriate level to cover all their home contents, including any new or replacement items."
Brits looking to recycle their old goods should contact their local council to research the best method of disposal. Sometimes large items, such as fridges, will be collected for a small fee.
May 13th 2008