Millions of unused mobile phones, DVD players and unwanted TVs sit in British homes – as owners don’t have time to fix them. | Tech Reddy

A study of 2,000 seniors found properties across the country served as repositories for technology artifacts, because the owners didn’t have a chance to fix their stuff.

Of those polled, 39 percent currently have unused electronics in their home, including 3.5 million discarded iPods, nearly 4.7 million unused headphones and 4.6 million retro VCR players.

Reasons for holding on to outdated tech include keeping them as used items in case their current item breaks (17 percent), hoping they can fix it (11 percent) and not knowing how to get rid of it (nine percent).

The survey was commissioned by Virgin Media O2, in association with the environmental charity, Hubbub, to launch the Time After Time e-waste fund for community groups and organizations to run projects dealing with e-waste and promoting recycling.

It also revealed the most unused items were mobile phones (23 per cent), DVD players (16 per cent) and televisions (13 per cent).

Items that are out of date (15 percent), no longer needed (14 percent) and broken or faulty (12 percent) are among the reasons for not using electrical equipment.

But these tools are usually held for six years, and are stored in cupboards (30 per cent), attics (25 per cent) and garages (22 per cent).

Despite this, 31 percent say they are concerned about the impact of e-waste on the planet but 25 percent do not know where an electronic recycle point is nearby.

Nicola Green, from Virgin Media O2, said: “It’s shocking how many old, unused and obsolete devices such as phones, VCR players and USB sticks are gathering dust in drawers, lofts and garages across the country.

“We know people are concerned about their old technology ending up in landfills and the impact they’re having on the planet.

That’s why we launched a fund of 500,000 late with Hubbub to support eco projects that deal with electronic waste and help old devices to be recycled.

The study also found that 51 percent of adults do not think enough is being done to deal with the problem of e-waste, while 21 percent feel that recycling old electronics that are not used.

Almost four in 10 (38 per cent) take an old or unused appliance to landfill, and 32 per cent dispose of it with household waste.

While 28 percent plan to donate the items to charity and 24 percent hope to sell them when they go around refurbishing their unused electronics.

But more than half (53 percent) still have personal data on unused electronic devices, including photos (52 percent), emails (40 percent) and work-related documents (26 percent).

And 44 percent don’t know how to delete such data from things they no longer use.

As a result, 34 percent are concerned about their information being stolen or shared if they use the device again.

And it turned out that those polled, by OnePoll, would be more motivated to use technology again if it is easy (46 percent), they know where to take it (43 percent) and if they can do it from their homes (30 percent).

While 73 percent would help a local group by recycling their old electronics if they could.

But 56 percent argued that there is not enough information widely available about how to dispose of e-waste ethically.

Gavin Ellis, founder of Hubbub, said: “IE-waste is a serious environmental issue and we encourage organizations to apply for this funding with projects that remove barriers and help people extend the life of their old electronics by repairing, recycling or reusing them.

“Organisations can apply for funding of between £10,000 and £75,000.

“We urge people to spread the word about this funding that can have a significant impact.

“If you know a charity, social enterprise, local authority or community organization running internet waste initiatives then point them in our direction to apply for this financial support.”