Where to Recycle Unwanted Electronic Goods
If you have frayed unused cables, fill up a Zero Waste Bag from Terracycle with other hard-to-recycle goods (to make in something else). Or recycled at your local depot.
Don’t send unwanted electronics to Africa. In Gambia, Bakoteh rubbish dump is the most toxic in the world, housed with all the electronic trash we are encouraged to send over there, when we’ve finished with it here.
Because the laws are not so strict there, workers suffer pollution and injuries from processing the used phones and laptops that companies try to ship over there, a kind of ‘environmental racism’.
Know that if you buy something from a store, by law you should be able to take back the old/broken version to be recycled.
For the most part, you can recycle electrical items at your local refuse centre (the average person buys 3 new items a year so that’s a massive amount of electrical waste, if not recycled.
Don’t donate goods as they could be faulty. Many shops now offer take-back schemes (ask in-store, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new item in order to do this). Some local councils even accept small electrical goods in clear bags from kerbside, if it’s convenient.
Items that can be recycled include:
- Anything with a plug or charger (or has a picture of a crossed-out wheelie bin) along with items that use batteries (jewellers can recycled small batteries).
- Garden tools (mowers, shredders)
- Personal care items (hairdryers, shavers, electric toothbrushes)
- Small appliances (kettles, blenders, toasters)
- Toys, games, lamps, radios, CD/DVD players
- Phones, printers, cameras, torches
- Smoke alarms and vacuum cleaners
- Christmas tree lights
All of these items are classed as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). So cannot go in normal refuse bins.
From January 2026, UK firms that until now have not contributed to the Environment Agency fund to collect and recycle electronic goods (washing machines, vacuum cleaners, radios) must now do so, by reporting how many items they sell to consumers, to ensure they pay their fair share.
Charities like Donate a PC often refurbish old hardware for reuse.
Love Tech Hate Waste (refurbished electronic goods)
Love Tech Hate Waste is a super website, where you can find refurbished technical products, to help create a circular economy for a sustainable future, and of course, items cost less too!
Founded by a group of businesses 15 years ago, this company has helped to stop tens of millions of tons of electronic waste going to landfill. The brand uses a unique restoration/refurbishment process, to help bring items back to a state where they can be enjoyed once more, to extend their useful life.
The range of items includes:
- Laptops – these are refurbished but in good working order. If you just require a basic model, some are just over £100, ideal for sending emails and basic surfing. Right up to professional-level office laptops.
- Computing – all items are backed by a 36-month warranty, from internal memory cards to tablets.
- Electronics – again backed by a 36-month warranty, these gadgets include refurbished photography gear, from cameras to headphones.
- Gaming – If you use consoles, choose ones that are refurbished, but be sure to turn them off often, and get outside in nature!
- Mobile Phones – again with 36-month warranties, here you’ll find top brand and models, refurbished to like-new, good or acceptable condition. From budget-friendly to smartphones.
Quick checks to protect data and prevent damage
- Start by sorting items into three rough piles: devices with storage (phones, laptops, tablets), anything with a battery (including vapes and power banks), and “dumb” electricals (kettles, hairdryers, toasters). This helps you pick the right drop-off point and pack things safely.
- Next, check if the item still works. If it powers on and isn’t damaged, reuse may be a better first step than recycling. A working laptop is like a second-hand book, it can still be useful to someone else.
- Finally, remember that rules can vary. Your local council may have different categories at its site, and retailers don’t all run the same take-back scheme. Before you travel, take 60 seconds to check local guidance on your council website or the retailer’s recycling page.
Back up, sign out, and wipe your devices
- Back up what you want to keep, like photos, contacts, and notes. Then remove your SIM card and any memory cards. After that, sign out of key accounts (Apple ID, Google, Microsoft) so the next person can’t access your services.
- Also switch off activation locks, such as Find My on iPhone or similar tracking features on Android and laptops. If you skip this, a device can become unusable for the next owner, even if it’s headed for reuse.
- Finish with a factory reset. You don’t need advanced steps, just use the reset option in settings and follow the prompts. If the device came from work, ask your employer what proof they need. Some organisations want written confirmation that you wiped it.
- If you’re donating a working item, include the charger and lead if you can. It makes reuse more likely, and it stops extra cables being bought later.
Handle batteries, cables, and broken items
Batteries are the part that needs the most care. Loose lithium batteries shouldn’t go in household bins, because they can short out and start a fire. Keep batteries dry, keep terminals covered, and never pack damaged batteries with other items.
Use non-conductive tape to cover exposed terminals, especially on lithium packs. Put small batteries in a separate bag, so they can’t rattle together. If a battery looks swollen, hot, or split, keep it isolated in a non-flammable container and take it to an approved drop-off point as soon as you can. Don’t crush it, and don’t try to puncture it.
Cables can often go to electrical recycling too. Some sites collect them separately for copper recovery, so it’s worth keeping a cable bundle apart from your mixed e-waste. Broken items should travel in a box or bag, so sharp bits don’t cut hands or snag other recycling.
Red flags: illegal collectors, unsafe pickups, and data risks
Be wary of door-to-door cash offers for scrap, or vague social posts that promise “free collection” without details. For bulky collections, ask for a waste carrier licence number. If you’re clearing items for a business, keep a record of where they went.
Also avoid leaving devices outside for collection days. Even “dead” laptops may still hold data on the drive, and opportunists know that.
Tricky items: vapes, smart home gear, and old TVs
Disposable vapes are a special headache, because the battery and electronics are packed together. Treat them as e-waste, not litter, and use approved vape recycling points where available, or take them to an HWRC that accepts small electricals.
Smart home kit can store footage, logins, or Wi‑Fi details. Reset cameras, doorbells, and hubs before you pass them on. Old TVs, especially very large flat-screens and CRT sets, can be awkward to handle, so take them to an HWRC and ask staff where to place them.
If you need to transport a damaged battery, pack it so it won’t move around. When in doubt, call the site first and describe the damage.
