Google Trend data has shown a 16% year-on-year increase for the FastTech product as of May this year.
The research – which comes from the organisation’s Recycle Your Electricals campaign – found that 55% of the FastTech items bought each year are thrown away or otherwise discarded.
Professor of Consumer Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, said: “FastTech is growing as quickly as fast fashion and is going to have a similar negative impact, as it ends up in landfill and has a detrimental environmental impact.
“Like fast fashion, we can change things for the better though. That starts by making sure we don’t see these items as disposable, being more conscious of what we buy in the first place, and at the very least, we recycle FastTech when we’re finished with it.”
Material Focus warned that the trend shows no signs of slowing down, with the annual spend on FastTech growing from £2.8 billion in 2023 to a forecasted £11.6 billion in 2025.
It is thought that 84% of the UK population purchased at least one FastTech product last year, with each adult owning an average of 21 items.
The organisation also warned that the many new “fad” items are entering the market, with a collective 7.9 million sunset light projectors, light-up toilet seats, mini karaoke machines and LED balloons sold during the last 12 months.
What is “FastTech”?
FastTech refers to everyday, cheaper, mass-produced items, such as mini-fans, earbuds, LED lights and cables. They can cost as little as £1 and are sold for an average of £12.
The amount of FastTech binned has increased by 25% from 471 million in 2023 to 589 million items in 2024/25 – this means the UK is now binning the equivalent of 2,278 football pitches worth of tech a year.
The rate at which people use and then dispose of the items result in valuable metals such as lithium, copper and gold being lost. Copper demand alone is set to outstrip supply by 2030.
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said: “We had fast food, then fast fashion, now FastTech. It’s cheap, it’s easy to buy and it ends up in the bin.
“FastTech might be cheap but it’s not disposable. In fact, anything with a plug, battery or cable should never be binned.
“They’re full of useful metals and can be used again. I won’t judge you for buying a light-up toilet seat, ok maybe a little bit. Think before you buy your latest FastTech item, and if you do really need it.
“When the novelty’s worn off, just make sure you visit our recycling locator, where you’ll find how quick and easy it is to make sure tech doesn’t end up in bins. 70% of us now recycle unwanted electricals, let’s apply that to the small and cheap ones, too.”
Subscribe for free