"Green" Washing Machines Can Be greenwash

Here's a quote from the Government's (DTI) Unwanted Whitegoods booklet - "Every year more than 900,000 tonnes of used electrical and electronic goods are discarded in the UK. This figure includes up to 350,000 tonnes of large domestic appliances such as washing machines, fridges and cookers - so-called "white goods" - over 8 million."

I have quite strong (and detailed) views on this subject, which are littered all over Washerhelp. Many of them are in the buying washing machines section though and it's quite possible that many people assume it's only for people looking to buy a washing machine and they might not realise there are some provocotive comments there.

Here are a few of them, which may spark off a new thread in this new forum

Are new washing machines not made as well as they used to be?

How long should a washing machine last?

If I buy a more expensive washing machine, do I get a better washing machine?

At the risk of being too frank, I blame the general public. The washing machine manufacturers are ultimately just trying to give them what they demand - cheaper and cheaper washing machines. They just leave it up to us to realise if there are any hidden long term costs and side effects, and most people don't see them. The chances are that if one of the major manufacturers (like Hoover, Hotpoint etc) brought a washing machine out that was built as well as they were capable of building one, it would be as good as a Miele - but as expensive too. Even if they made a washing machine that was as good (and repairable) as they themselves made in the 1970s and 80s the cost would probably go up so much that the public would probably refuse to pay it and buy their rivals cheaper washing machine instead.