E-Waste

What can I recycle?

The nine top-level material classes, and what this platform can actually do with each one. We route consumer electronics to certified recyclers and publish battery-handling guidance. For the rest, we tell you where it goes rather than pretending we take it.

• Electronics

  We can route this

  Consumer and business computing, display, imaging and mobile equipment. This is the category the recycler directory covers.

  • Smartphones and tablets Phones, tablets and e-readers — the highest-risk class for data left behind.
  • Laptops, desktops and servers Portable and desktop computing, including servers and their drives.
  • Monitors, TVs and flat panels Displays of every backlight type, plus older CRT tubes.
  • Printers and ink cartridges Inkjet and laser printers, plus the cartridges and toner they consume.

• Household hazardous waste

  Guidance published

  Batteries, lamps, mercury-containing items and household chemicals. We publish battery guidance and route batteries; the rest goes to a municipal HHW programme.

  • Rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion, Ni-MH, Ni-Cd, sealed lead-acid) Any cell designed to be recharged, loose or removed from a device.
  • Single-use batteries (alkaline, lithium primary, button cell) Non-rechargeable cells. Handling depends on the chemistry printed on the label.
  • Damaged, defective or recalled batteries Any cell that is swollen, hot, hissing, leaking, punctured, or subject to a manufacturer recall. This is a different programme from ordinary battery recycling.

• Automotive

  We do not handle this

  Vehicle batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, tyres and vehicle fluids.

  Take lead-acid vehicle batteries and used motor oil back to an auto parts retailer or service centre — most accept them free, and many pay a core deposit on the battery.

• Construction and demolition

  We do not handle this

  Timber, drywall, concrete, fixtures and renovation debris.

  Use a construction and demolition transfer station or a builder’s salvage yard; your municipality publishes the nearest one.

• Glass

  We do not handle this

  Container and flat glass.

  Container glass goes in municipal recycling. Window and mirror glass is a different stream — check with your local transfer station.

• Plastic

  We do not handle this

  Packaging and household plastics outside of electronic enclosures.

  Municipal kerbside recycling covers most household plastics. Plastic that arrives as part of a device is recovered with the device.

• Metal

  We do not handle this

  Scrap ferrous and non-ferrous metal outside of electronic equipment.

  Take clean scrap metal to a local scrap yard, which will usually pay by weight.

• Paper

  We do not handle this

  Paper, card and cardboard.

  Municipal kerbside recycling covers paper and card. For confidential paper records, use a shredding service rather than a recycler.

• Household goods

  We do not handle this

  Furniture, textiles, kitchenware and general household items.

  Working household goods are better donated to a reuse charity than recycled; your municipality lists local bulky-waste collection for the rest.

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