Tech and electricals are amazing, they keep our clothes clean and our food fresh, they keep us warm, connected to friends and family and even save lives. They’re also full of valuable, critical and finite materials. So, we need to treat them with respect and buy, use and dispose of them responsibly. 

Here are some top tips from Professor Cathrine Jansson-Boyd on what you can do to make sure that these items are used responsibly and when you don’t need them, how to re-use or recycle them. 

1. Think before you buy – Before you buy any new tech, think about whether you actually need it. If you think you are only going to use it once or twice, don’t buy it! You should be planning to use it regularly. 

2. Take a break – If you are unsure about what you are buying, give yourself some space and time to consider it. Have a cup of tea or look in another shop – going off to do something else might make you realise that you no longer want it. Taking some time out before buying something also helps you to resist making impulse buys. If you do something else for a few minutes, the adrenaline rush settles and you are less likely to buy the item on offer.

3. Try second hand – Check if what you want can be bought second hand, it might very well be that a local charity shop or second-hand online platform such as Vinted or eBay has what you need.

4. Don’t be fooled by flashy deals – Don’t get seduced into buying more than you need. Discounts, 3 for 2 offers, sales for limited times are all strategies to get you to experience an adrenaline rush. It makes you get carried away and you may end up with an unwanted purchase. 

5. Repair before you replace – If something breaks, check if it can be repaired. Many high street stores, like Currys, offer repairs. Or go online and look for the closest repair shop. 

6. Give your tech a second life – when you are done with your tech, never shove it in a drawer. If you do it is likely it will be there for a long time as you will forget about them. Stick with the ‘one touch rule’. When you get your hands on the tech, and if it’s broken deal with it there and then by popping it into a bag or a box ready to be recycled.

Think about giving it to a neighbour with kids, put it on eBay or donate it to charity. Schools, nurseries, libraries, and hospitals often welcome tech donations if they are in good condition. Never put unwanted tech in your bin, anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled.

If in doubt about where you can repair, donate, or recycle, help is at hand, use the Recycle your Electricals’ postcode locator – there’s almost 30,000 locations across the country.

You can also keep a box or bag in your home to store your unwanted tech items, then when it is full take it to be recycled. The key is to try and make it as easy as possible for you.

Behaviour changes don’t usually happen automatically. So, if you think about what to do every day, for around 6 weeks, you will find it becomes second nature to do what is best for the environment. And you will find that you do your bit for the environment without having to think about it. Bonus!

The post Finding it difficult to be a planet friendly tech user?  appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

Many of us have a ‘drawer of doom’. Among the old post-it notes, dried-out pens, tarnished coins and random hair accessories usually lie used batteries – from AAs and AAAs to button cells and torch batteries. And don’t forget the other items with hidden batteries that we stash away in cardboard boxes and cupboards, like old mobile phones, vapes or kids’ toys.

There’s little point in holding onto these batteries and unused electricals. But when you do get around to disposing of them, never put them in the bin!

Why you should never bin hidden or loose batteries

When hidden and loose batteries are thrown in with general rubbish, they can get crushed in bin lorries and at recycling centres and spark dangerous fires. Last year alone, there were over 1,200 preventable battery fires across the UK, which led to significant air pollution spikes and danger to the local community.

Batteries also contain some of the most valuable materials on earth that are infinitely recyclable. We lose these materials forever when we throw batteries and electricals containing hidden batteries in the bin.

So remember to always recycle them separately from your household rubbish or recycling by using a designated drop-off point for batteries and electricals. 

Fire services warns of the dangers

Battery-related fires are particularly challenging to deal with because of the hazardous chemicals. “These fires can be explosive and spread rapidly with the risk of reignition and toxic gasses a risk to firefighters,” explains Mark Andrews, Waste and Recycling Fires Lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council. “To control and fully extinguish the fire requires large numbers of firefighters and drains finite fire service resources, creating further risks to the community.” 

“You only have to view live footage of a lithium-ion battery fire to see the scarily rapid rate of development which makes these incidents particularly hazardous and volatile,” adds James Bull, Station Commander for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. “They can take many fire service resources to tackle them and they are notoriously difficult to extinguish given that the flame heat release rate from a lithium-ion battery fire can be 7 times more intense than a traditional flame.”

These preventable fires are not only time consuming for firefighters, but also unnecessarily endanger their lives and the lives of those working on lorries and at waste plants. 

The impact of battery fires on the community 

Battery fires are not only putting fire services and waste plant staff at risk; they also have a significant impact on local communities. 

Herne Hill in South London experienced a battery fire last September (2023), where a fire broke out at a waste transfer station caused by a binned battery. The fire lasted over 4 days, covering a very densely populated area in a pall of smoke.

Families like Bethan Taylor-Smith’s faced dangerous repercussions. “We live half a mile from the scene of the fire and the smoke was so bad we were advised to close our windows and stay indoors for the duration of the incident – four days, in the middle of a heatwave! My toddler started having breathing issues and developed a cough, and things got so bad we visited a walk-in centre and eventually A&E. In the end, we went to stay with family for a few days so that our daughter and dog could enjoy time outside.”

“We were all concerned about the length of time that the fire burned for and how this affected the local community, especially given how some residents were forced to move out of the area because of the impact this had on their health and due to the fact they were unable to go outside during a national heatwave,” adds Councillor Jim Dickson, Herne Hill Ward & Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Lambeth. “Fires like these could be so easily prevented by ensuring that batteries are recycled.”

Battery fires are causing air pollution spikes

Battery fires like this also cause significant spikes in air pollution, as found by Professor Frank Kelly from the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London. “Our analysis of fires at waste sites in Herne Hill and Brentford showed they contributed to the local pollution burden, with the fire in Herne Hill clearly leading to exceedances in the WHO health-based guideline for PM2.5.” 

Air pollution is not only a serious environmental concern, but a health concern too. Studies show that spikes cause hundreds of cardiac arrest and strokes in the UK and particularly affect those with health conditions. 

“The health impacts of waste fires, including respiratory issues, are of great concern, and we’d advise that residents avoid opening windows at all costs while local air pollution concentrations are elevated and that everyone should wear a mask if they absolutely must venture outside while the fire is burning,” adds Professor Kelly. “The status of local air quality can be checked on www.londonair.org.uk”.

The science behind battery hazards

It’s easy to think something so small won’t matter. But if we throw batteries and electricals in with our general rubbish, they can get crushed or punctured in bin lorries and waste centres. This releases chemicals, which, when they come into contact with the air, can spark serious and dangerous fires.

Battery-related fires can be explosive and spread rapidly, with re-ignition and toxic gases posing a huge risk to firefighters.

Such incidents also pollute the atmosphere and cause health issues for local residents, schools and businesses, raising serious concerns among public health officials and firefighters.

Getting rid of your old batteries and electricals

“Something as simple as recycling your small electricals correctly can go a long way in preventing lithium-ion battery fires,” Laura Fisher, re3 Operational Manager for FCC Environment.

The only safe way and responsible to dispose of old batteries and electricals is by recycling them. Make sure you recycle them separately from your household rubbish and recycling. Find a designated drop-off point for batteries and electricals. 

The post Fires: the hidden hazards of binning batteries appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

Written by: Charlotte D

Are you on the lookout for ways to save money or to make an extra bit of cash?

Could your unwanted tech be the answer? You might well have 31 unused items floating around in your home – and there are millions of people in the same boat. In fact, our research suggests there are currently 880 million unused working electrical items gathering dust in UK homes. And by reselling these items, we could make between £1,304 and £6,331 per household.

There are a range of ways to make some extra cash from your unwanted electricals. You can use trade-in offers to swap your electrical item for cash, use second-hand selling platforms who will purchase your item from you to sell on their website, or you can sell them direct on peer to peer platforms. 

Here are our top tips for where to sell mobiles and other electricals for cash:

Trade in your electricals for cash

Many companies will trade in your old phone, laptop, headphones and other electricals for cash or money off your next purchase. Your old tech will be refurbished for resale or responsibly recycled, saving precious materials from going to waste. 

Here are some of the best options available: 

Currys

Currys’ Cash For Trash scheme offers at least £5 off your next purchase for any old tech items you recycle in store. Visit your local Currys with any unwanted tech, even if you didn’t buy it from them, and hand it to a member of staff to be recycled. You’ll get a discount voucher for online or in-store purchase on orders over £25. Recycling drop offs are available in all Currys stores – meaning customers can find a drop off point which works best for them! Find your local Currys on our locator.

O2

O2 will give you cash for your old phone and recycle the device. Visit the O2 website to see how much your phone is worth. They will then send you the quoted amount or – if you’re an O2 customer – give you money off your next phone bill.

Vodafone

Vodafone’s Trade-in the Tool in their My Vodafone app offers new and existing customers an instant and guaranteed Trade-in value, providing trust and transparency when you trade in. You can receive your Trade-in value as an account credit to use towards settling an existing loan, as a monthly saving on a new Airtime Plan or directly to your bank account.

BackMarket

Turn your tech into cash with Back Market. Answer a few simple questions about the item you have, and an expert refurbisher will provide you with an offer within 2 minutes. Back Market offer trade-in for smartphones, MacBooks, tablets, consoles and audio devices. Send your item for free, and receive a direct deposit within 5 days.

Use second-hand selling platforms 

Some companies will sell your old gadgets for you, so you don’t have to deal with the trouble and risks of finding a buyer on your own. Just go to their website, see how much your device is worth, and wait for a kit to mail your item. Then sit back and wait for your money. 

Here are a few places where you can buy and sell used phones:

Reboxed

You can buy refurbished phones with Reboxed, and you can send your old mobiles to be valued and sold on their platform. Once you’ve received your offer, if you choose not to sell, you will get your phone back for free. A Reboxed phone is up to 40% cheaper than buying new and they promise to make it carbon positive by planting 5 trees paying to offset its lifetime CO2 emissions! All reboxed devices are fully tested and come with a 12-month warranty.

Mazuma Mobile

Mazuma Mobile makes getting cash for your old tech easy! Simply find the device you’re wanting to sell on their website, choose from a variety of free postage options (including them collecting from your door), post off your device and receive the payment on the same day they receive it. They have over 140,000 5-star reviews on TrustPilot and have been offering customers fast cash for their old tech since 2006!

Sell it yourself

There are many second-hand selling platforms, including eBay, Vinted, Gumtree and more. Read our advice, and tips from the platforms themselves, on how to sell your unwanted electricals online. Read more.

The most important thing to remember when deciding what to do with our old, unwanted electricals is that we should never bin them. Electricals contain precious materials that are lost forever when thrown away. If your item isn’t in good enough condition to sell, consider repairing or donating it. Otherwise, take your electricals to a local recycling centre or retailer. Some local authorities even offer kerbside collection for small electrical items. To find your nearest recycling, repair and donation drop-off points, pop your postcode in our locator.

The post How to make money from your unwanted electricals appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

28th March 2024

Decluttering extraordinaire Vicky Silverton shares her top tips for decluttering your home of old electricals, and how to get organised to sell, donate or recycle them.

Written by decluttering expert, Vicky Silverthorn 

The key is to get started and stop seeing your home as one giant task that you have an urgency to complete. Chipping away at your home is a great way to declutter, so start with something small like a drawer or a shelf, nothing more.

People often get disheartened when they don’t initially get rid of as much as they’d have hoped to. Don’t worry if you feel like that. Letting things go can be a really emotional process. You can feel really attached to things sometimes, even if they’re just functional items with no sentimental attachment. Always revisit areas you have worked on days or weeks later and you’ll probably find you pick out additional items to go

#1 Get organised

If you are having a clear out of your home, get your rubbish bag, recycling bag, box for charity and box for any electrical recycling at the ready. You need somewhere to put things so you’re not tempted to just shove them back in the cupboard. If you are selling old electricals, be realistic as to how much time you have to get this done. You don’t want to end up storing bags and bags of resale belongings which you simply don’t have the time to sort, list and post.

#2 Small wins are better than no wins!

It doesn’t matter how much you get through, as long as you follow a simple rule – only start an area you can complete. Work on it, complete it and then stop. If you leave an area unfinished at the end of the day, it can leave that defeated feeling and you may not want to begin again. The aim is to finish on a high – even tackling small areas can give you the biggest buzz.

#3 Don’t let tech stop you in your tracks

What to do with old technology often makes people stop in their tracks when they’re having a clear out. Why don’t we want to get rid of it? Perhaps because it could still be useful or it cost a lot? See the potential if we donated or recycled old technology. The alternative? It will sit in a box for the next ten years when it could be having a second life. Don’t forget to remove batteries from old electricals! These should always be recycled separately, as otherwise they can cause fires in the waste stream. 

#4 Don’t make ‘bin’ your decluttering default

You may be surprised that the majority of things you clear out can be reused or recycled. Do some research and check out Recycle Your Electricals  website for information on what to do with your old electricals – did you know anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled – including the plugs, batteries and cable themselves? Clothes, shoes, books, wood, toys, ornaments, batteries, other small electricals – there is somewhere for all of it to go and you’re likely to have a drop off point near you – just check out the Recycling Locator which has a whopping 22,000 places you can recycle your electricals. 

#5 A simple snap can save a lot of space

Did you know a photograph of an object can spark the same memory as the actual object itself? This means you don’t always need to keep an item you are holding onto sentimentally! This is especially useful for bulky items you are only keeping because they have memories attached to them. Try taking a photograph and see how it makes you feel. It may help you let go and clear the space.

Remember, anything with a plug, battery or cable, and it’s made so easy by using Recycle Your Electricals’ Recycling Locator. Happy decluttering!

The post How to declutter old electricals appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

13th February 2024

Written by: Charlotte Davies

Are you scrambling for Valentine’s Day gifts at the eleventh hour? Relax. We’ve got 7 great tips to help show the love for your significant other – and the planet.

1. Look out for eco-friendly candles
   Swap out paraffin-wax candles for eco-friendly alternatives crafted from natural ingredients like soy wax, housed in recycled glass. Soy candles are a great choice for those seeking clean burning candles with minimal environmental impact. Check out Peace with the wild or Elizabeth & Ernest.
   
   
2. Bake together with sustainable ingredients
   Spend quality time in the kitchen whipping up delicious treats using sustainably sourced ingredients with minimal plastic packaging. And if you uncover gadgets you no longer use, such as a popcorn maker or juicer, consider selling or donating them! Or if they are unusable appliances, remember to recycle them responsibly using our electrical recycling locator.
   
   
3. Buy sustainable jewellery from recycled electricals
   Choose jewellery that has been made from recycled metals, which saves the need to mine for new materials and saves carbon emissions. Our research shows that if all the electricals that we no longer use or throw away were recycled, we would have enough gold to make 858,000 recycled gold rings! Check out our list of jewellers that produce recycled jewellery.
   
   
4. Cook an eco-friendly Valentine’s dinner
   Instead of going out for a meal, surprise your loved one with a delicious veggie or vegan feast to reduce your carbon footprint. Research shows that plant-based diets have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to meat-based ones.
   
   
5. Gift handcrafted tokens of affection
   It may be a cliche, but receiving a handmade gift is sure to make you feel all warm inside. Whether it’s crafting organic wax candles, knitting a cosy jumper, or creating a heartfelt DIY project, spending time hand-making a gift yourself shows how much you care.
   
   
6. Give the gift of houseplants 
   Instead of buying flowers, gift a houseplant instead. Not only do houseplants beautify spaces, but they also purify the air, promoting a healthier indoor environment.
   
   
7. Opt for environmentally friendly wrapping
   If you’re wrapping your Valentine’s present, say no to excessive wrapping paper waste by opting for eco-friendly alternatives like brown paper and natural string, which are easily recyclable or reusable. Not all wrapping paper can be recycled so it’s important to recycle the ones you can. Some wrapping paper will say “Widely recycled” on. If you’re uncertain, try the “Scrunch test” – if the paper stays scrunched up, it’s recyclable; if it unfolds or pops back open, it cannot be recycled. Or buy a tote bag to gift the present in – it can be reused later as an alternative to paper.
   

This Valentine’s Day, let’s woo our planet and our sweetheart with gifts that are as sustainable as our love—because nothing says “I love you” like reducing our carbon footprint!

The post Sustainable Valentine’s gifts: recycled electrical jewellery appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

As we bid farewell to the festive season, many of us are making a conscious effort to kick off the new year with eco-friendly resolutions. If you’re looking to reduce waste and make sustainable choices after Christmas, keep reading for our top tips:

1. Recycle your Christmas wrapping paper: Not all wrapping paper can be recycled so it’s important to recycle the ones you can. Some wrapping paper will say “Widely recycled” on. If you’re uncertain, try the “Scrunch test” – if the paper stays scrunched up, it’s recyclable; if it unfolds or pops back open, it cannot be recycled.

2. Upcycle Christmas decorations: Instead of discarding worn-out Christmas decorations, why not upcycle them? Numerous online tutorials offer creative ideas to repair or transform your decorations into fresh, reusable pieces, ready to sparkle for another year!

3. Reuse Christmas cards: Repurpose your Christmas cards by turning them into gift tags for future occasions. While cards with glitter and embellishments may not be recyclable, you can still give them a second life as charming and personalised gift accessories. Read this blog from Upcycle My Stuff on how to create gift tags from our old Christmas cards.

4. Recycle your Christmas tree: After the festive season, don’t forget to recycle your Christmas tree! Many local councils offer tree collection services, and the trees can be shredded into chips for use in parks and woodland areas. For an even more eco-conscious choice, consider renting a Christmas tree next year, that can then be replanted and reused year after year. Check out Gardeners World for seven ways to recycle your Christmas tree.

5. Donate unwanted items: If you’ve received new electrical items as gifts, don’t discard your old ones. Numerous charities and reuse organisations are eager to give your unwanted electricals a new lease of life. By donating, you also help reduce demand for raw materials, cut CO2 emissions, and support people in need by offering fantastic second-hand electricals for an affordable price!

6. Recycle old electricals: Whether it’s broken Christmas lights or outdated electrical gadgets, make sure to recycle them responsibly. By recycling our old electricals, the precious materials inside our electricals are put to good use and turned into something new, including children’s playgrounds and life-saving equipment. Use our Recycling Locator to find your nearest electrical donation and recycling points.

Share your sustainable Christmas tips with us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

The post How to wrap up Christmas in a sustainable way appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

But remember – if you’re looking to nab a deal on new headphones, laptops, kettles or any other electricals, remember – don’t let your old electricals go to waste! We want to help turn this Black Friday green.

On average, 2 million unwanted electricals are thrown in the bin between Black Friday and Christmas – that’s a lot of precious materials being needlessly lost, when they could have been donated or recycled and been given a new life. Some electricals also have hidden batteries in them, which can cause fires when binned.

So how can you have a ‘Green Friday’? If you’re on the hunt for bargains this Black Friday, here are some sustainable shopping tips that will allow you to treat yourself and protect the planet:

Reuse before you replace: In the whirlwind of Black Friday discounts, it can be tempting to grab a shiny new gadget. However, before you make a purchase, ask yourself – do you already own something similar that you can reuse or repurpose? If you’re thinking of replacing or upgrading an item, explore the possibility of repairing it first. We have over 500 repair drop-off points on our locator! Making conscious buying decisions can help you avoid impulse purchases and reduce waste, benefiting both the environment and your wallet.

Buy refurbished: Many marketplace platforms, such as eBay and BackMarket, run their own Black Friday deals. EBay has launched its ‘deals that don’t cost the earth’ campaign, and BackMarket are offering great tech deals on second hand electricals. You can find discounts on refurbished or second-hand items that are thoroughly tested, certified for quality, and sometimes come with warranties. Opting for refurbished products not only saves you money but also extends the lifespan of these items, reducing electrical waste.

Seek out sustainable brands: Look for brands that prioritise environmental and social responsibility in their products and practices. Some brands use recycled or sustainably sourced materials and eco-friendly packaging. Others focus on minimising waste throughout their manufacturing process. You can use platforms like “reallygoodculture” and “goodonyou” to assess a company’s sustainability efforts before making a purchase.

Donate your unwanted electricals: If you decide to upgrade your electricals on Black Friday but your old ones are still in working condition, consider donating them. Donating your electrical items is a win-win! It reduces the demand for raw materials and helps others access affordable goods, potentially transforming their lives. Use our postcode locator to find local donation points.

‘Take-back’ your old electrical to a local retailer: Did you know many retailers are part of the retailer take-back scheme? The retailer take-back scheme which states that, “All electrical retailers are legally obliged to help their customers recycle their electricals. Retailers must take back customers’ items for recycling that are the same type of product that has a similar function when they buy a new electrical item, regardless of brand, on a like-for-like basis principle.” Some retailers, including Currys and B&Q, will take back all electricals without the need for you to repurchase. If you’re planning to buy a new electrical in the tempting Black Friday deals, take-back your old electrical for recycling! 

Recycle your broken electricals: If your old electricals are beyond repair and no longer functional, remember to recycle them. Anything with a plug, battery, or cable can be recycled! Recycling your electricals has never been easier; simply enter your postcode to find the nearest donation and recycling points.

This Black Friday, let’s not just chase after the best deals, but also strive to make a positive impact on the environment. By following these sustainable shopping tips, you can shop consciously, minimise waste, and contribute to a greener, more responsible future for us all.

The post Best tips for being more sustainable on Black Friday appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

Written by: Charlotte Davies

We’ve all got one of those drawers, haven’t we? You know, the one overflowing with tangled chargers and forgotten cables that haven’t seen the light of day in years. You might not think much about it, but what if we told you that the UK alone is throwing away and holding onto a staggering 627 million cables? That’s enough to stretch all the way to the moon and back!

Those forgotten cables are more than just clutter—they’re packed with precious copper. This copper, when recycled, could help meet the growing demand for the metal in the UK’s push for a greener future. With copper becoming more scarce and mining taking a serious toll on our planet, it’s clear: we need to rethink our cable chaos. And the solution is easier than you think—recycle what you already have!

Kirsty from Bristol

Kirsty is a 26-year-old university staff member from Bristol who lives with her partner in a small flat. Due to their lack of storage space, Kirsty finds herself overwhelmed with all of her old electricals and cables which are stored away in her “bag of doom” – a large travelling rucksack full of hidden copper, laying there taking up needed space in her spare room. 

Kirsty’s unused tech consists of a dead laptop, broken blender, an old hoover, broken iPod and more. Tangling up all of these electricals are over ten broken chargers, unknown wires and defunct computer cables. Kirsty has kept hold of some of these electricals for over three years but wants to get rid of them in a responsible and sustainable way. 

The reason she keeps hold of them is because she’s considered repairing them or selling them on, but doesn’t have the time or finances to get round to it. Kirsty, wanting to make a positive sustainable change, has recycled her electricals for the first time and freed up some needed space in her flat.

Leroy from Nottingham

Leroy, 47, is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast and environmental advocate based in Nottingham, who has always been passionate about recycling and minimising waste. 

Leroy estimates to have 50 cables taking up space in drawers and bags in his home, from HDMI cables to old chargers, in what he says resembles a tangled spaghetti bowl. In amongst these cables are unused electricals such as a laptop, a kettle, a broken phone and outdated gadgets. 

Leroy participates in an E-waste collection day meet up with his neighbours once a month to get rid of unused electricals and to see which electricals are worth getting fixed. As well as this, he has been to his local recycling drop off point before, and still has electricals and cables to recycle. Leroy is now keen to encourage fellow tech lovers to declutter their homes sustainably.

Melanie from Cumbria 

Mel is a 41-year-old NHS staff nurse who has accumulated a lot of tech over the years, especially through her wider work as a musician and open-mic host. Mel’s bulging bags and drawers of doom include 60+ cables, from 20 year old Ethernet and modem cables to chargers and damaged XLR/microphone cables, headphones and mobile phones. She added that she has even kept hold of, but never used, a brand-new landline phone set that is about 16 years old!

Despite being a keen recycler of old batteries and bicycle inner tubes already (through the Cycle 4 Good programme), Mel is keen to break her habit of holding onto old and broken tech just because she believes it might be useful one day or possible to repair. She is only recently aware of just how simple it is to recycle anything with a plug, battery or cable and has already taken her cables to be recycled through a retail take-back scheme as part of the Great Cable Challenge.

Jean Johansson from Scotland

Glaswegian TV Presenter and Broadcast Journalist, Jean Johansson, is known for her roles on flagship Channel 4 show A Place in the Sun, as well as being a regular reporter for The One Show with stints on ITV This Morning. 

Jean first started recycling electricals back in 2021, after realising she had a variety of electricals from cheap Black Friday deals. Since then, Jean has been an advocate for recycling electricals, saying it’s just as easy and important as recycling clothes.

Nowadays, Jean has made a habit of rounding up cables and electricals, to take them to her nearest donation point. Noting how easy it is, Jean’s local recycling point is the Co-op in Wemyss bay, which is just a five minute walk from her house. 

She’ll fill boxes with about 30-40 cables, with electricals including a hairdryer, kettle, headphones and a blender! Jean also gets her 13 year old son involved, and they enjoy taking the challenge together.

Kids Against Plastic from Nottingham

‘Kids Against Plastic’ was created by Amy and Ella Meek, who started their environmental work when they were just 12 and 10 years old. 

Having been concerned about the amount of single-use plastic being used and littered, and the impact it was having on the environment and the wildlife we share this planet with, they took serious action.

They admit that recycling electricals wasn’t the first thing that jumped to mind when addressing issues like plastic pollution and e-waste, but now realise the real impact it can have. 

When getting involved in The Great Cable Challenge, Amy and Ella managed to find over 10 cables throughout their house, in various cupboards and drawers. Their local drop off point was their local Curry’s, about 5 minutes away, and they were surprised with how quick the process was. 

The young campaigners say they’ve now realised the importance of recycling electricals and how the challenge serves as a reminder to how interlinked issues are, how key it is to be aware and how every bit helps.

Join the millions taking one small action to make a big difference

So, are you ready to tackle that drawer of doom once and for all? The Great Cable Challenge is here to help you clear out those forgotten cables and give them a new life! Whether you’ve got old phone chargers, tangled HDMI cords, or mysterious wires that you’re not even sure what they belong to, it’s time to bag them up and recycle them. Not only will you free up some much-needed space, but you’ll also be playing a part in building a greener, more sustainable future. Let’s do this—one cable at a time!

Visit our recycling locator to find all your local drop-off points.

The post The cable clutter chronicles: real stories from The Great Cable Challenge appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

Moving house is an exciting time. It is a great opportunity to declutter, deciding what will and won’t come with you to your new home. It is also a perfect time to sort things into what you want to keep, sell, donate or recycle! 

We’re all about making sure we recycle and reuse materials. With August being the most popular month for moving, we’ve prepared our top packing tips to help you have a more eco-friendly house move.

1. Reuse cardboard boxes – Try not to buy new boxes that you may not use again. Your local grocery shop may have spares you can use; platforms such as Freecycle, Olio, Facebook Marketplace or other neighbourhood community groups and apps are also a good place to look. Otherwise try searching for ‘rent packing boxes near me’.

2. Avoid bubble wrap – Popping bubble wrap is fun for sure, but reducing the amount of plastic we use makes a huge difference to the environment. When packing fragile items, ask around to see if anyone you know has bubble wrap they no longer need, or try wrapping them in eco-friendly packing materials such as tea towels or newspaper.

3. Reduce journeys – Making as few trips as possible between your old and new home is great news for the planet! Decluttering before you move will help with this, making more space for your essentials and meaning fewer trips.

4. Reduce food waste – Don’t waste the food that you have in your freezer or cupboards that you think you can’t take with you. BBC Good Food and Tesco have lots of useful tips online about what to do with leftovers. Or you can donate leftover food to local food banks or share with neighbours and local businesses on the app Olio.

5. Make a smart move – If you need help with your move, try choosing an environmentally-friendly and green removal company. Have a look at their website for any green credentials like whether they are carbon neutral, use electrical vehicles and recycled packaging.

6. Donate, sell or recycle your electricals – Packing up your home is the ideal time to sort through all your old, unwanted and broken electricals. Why not divide them into 3 piles: Donate for electricals that are still in good working condition; Sell for those that can be sold online or at a car boot sale; and Recycle for those that are broken and unrepairable. Anything with a plug, battery or cable should always be recycled, including kettles, toasters, electric toothbrushes, drills and TV remotes. Everyday electricals are full of precious materials that can be turned into anything from children’s playgrounds to lifesaving equipment.. 

To find your nearest recycling point and to start recycling your electricals check out our postcode locator.

The post Top tips for a sustainable house move appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.

14th June 2024

Written by Will Treharne

We’ve all been there… It’s the end of the university year and you suddenly realise you have more stuff to pack up! From that upgraded phone and the blender that broke to the unused lamp sat under your bed, figuring out what to do with these items can be daunting. 

Many students we have spoken to aren’t sure what, how or where to recycle, sell or donate their old electricals.

That’s why we’ve created some top tips for what to do with your old electricals at university – whether you’re moving out at the end of term or just looking to declutter! 

5 benefits of reusing and recycling your old electricals

1. Make money from your old electricals
   If your electricals are still in good working condition then selling them is always a great option to make some extra cash. Our research shows that you could make over £1,000 from selling your old electricals online, depending on what you own and their condition. Check out our blog for tips on how to start selling your electricals online. Many companies will also trade in your old phone, laptop, headphones and other electricals for cash or money off your next purchase. Currys’ ‘Cash For Trash’ scheme offers at least £5 off your next purchase for any old tech items you recycle in store. Read our blog on how to make money on your old electricals for more information.
   
   
2. Tidy space, tidy mind!
   Freeing up your space by sorting out your old electricals make your home or workspace feel more spacious and organised. A clutter-free environment is also proven to reduce stress levels and promote a sense of calm – perfect during exam season!
   
   
3. Recycling is good for the planet
   We know students are passionate about the environment, and recycling your electricals is a quick and easy way to do your bit for the planet. Recycling unwanted electricals means valuable materials like gold, silver and copper get a new lease of life. If we recycled all our old electricals, we could cut as much CO2 as taking 3.8 million cars off the road! 
   

4. Help someone in need by donating old electricals
   With ongoing coursework, exams (or having some much-deserved fun!) you may feel not have time to sell your electricals. Donating your working electricals is an easy way to pass on your old electricals – and means someone else can use it! A lot of charity shops will be happy to take your working electricals and rehome them with someone who needs them. Find out more about donating your electricals here.
   

5. Save materials and money by repairing 
   More and more students want to fix their broken electricals before buying new items. Repairing old electricals not only has great environmental benefits, but can save you money too. Take a look at our repair page for more information on how and where you can repair your broken electricals – or learn how to do it yourself!
   

Recycling at university: getting started

1. Remember – anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled!
   Electric toothbrushes, laptops, lamps, computer keyboards, toasters and anything else with a plug, battery or cable contain precious materials that can be reused and recycled into new things – like children’s playgrounds and lifesaving medical equipment. So keep this in mind whenever you’re clearing out your old gadgets! Find out more about what can be recycled if you are still unsure.
   
   
2. Keep organised with a bag or box 
   To keep you organised throughout the year, keep a box or bag in your room or the house and use it for old batteries, cables, broken bulbs, and other unwanted electricals. Once the bag is full you can take them all at once to a recycling point – saving you multiple trips throughout the year! Plenty of retailers will take back old electricals too, if you’re popping into town and want to empty that bag. Your future self will thank you!
   
   
3. Simplify the stress 
   Clearing out or packing up at the end of uni can be overwhelming. A way to make the job less stressful could be sorting your old electricals into piles: ‘Repair’ for broken electricals that could be salvaged; ‘Donate’ or ‘Sell’ for electricals that are still in good working condition and could be sold online or go to another home; ‘Recycle’ for those that are unrepairable and can be recycled into something new; and ‘Keep’ for those working electricals you don’t want to let go of! Watch Konnie Huq and Nicola Lewis’ video for inspiration.  
   
   
4. Prepare your electricals before passing them on
   Check if your electricals are ready to be passed on before they are sold, traded in, donated or recycled. Do your old electricals contain batteries that can be removed safely? If so, make sure you recycle them at a designated battery recycling point as binned batteries can spark serious and dangerous fires. If not, recycle the whole electrical at your local electrical recycling point. Take out memory and SIM cards, and remember to delete any personal data from smart devices – read our FAQs for more information on how to do this. 
   

5. Find your local repair, donation and recycling drop-off points
   So you’ve gathered up your old and unwanted electricals… but what next? Simply pop in your postcode into our recycling locator along with the items you have to repair, donate or recycle, and it will show you all of your local recycling centres, retailers, community bring banks and other drop-off points. There may even be a recycling point in your university! Some recycling centres will only allow cars inside. If you don’t own a car, you can easily recycle your old electricals for free at your local electrical retailer under the Retailer Take-back scheme. Some retailers will recycle on a like-for-like basis; other retailers like Curry’s, B&Q and John Lewis will take back any electricals for recycling, even if you’re not buying new.

There are plenty of ways to reuse or recycle your old, unwanted electricals at university. By following these simple tips you could make some extra cash, help someone in need or save precious materials from being lost forever. 

The post Top tips for recycling, selling and donating old electricals at university appeared first on Recycle Your Electricals.