Benefits of recycling old electricals
There are many benefits to recycling your old electronics – also known as e-waste, electronic waste and WEEE.
Key benefits of reusing and recycling unwanted electronics
Discarded electricals are one of the fastest growing sources of waste – and a big threat to the environment and human health. Recycling old electronics is better for the planet and your pocket, putting valuable resources back into the economy.
Cleaner environment
Recycling old unwanted electricals uses less energy and creates less waste than making new products.
More from less
Precious materials in old electrical items can be recycled into life-saving equipment, bicycles – and even new electricals.
More cash
We’re hoarding billions of pounds worth of electricals that we could be reselling or passing on – imagine the extra cash and shelf space.
More jobs
Recycling all our old unwanted electricals would create hundreds of new jobs in electrical reuse and recycling.
YOUR STORIES
In the bag
How Megan took the hassle out of recycling old gadgets
‘My old games console stopped working – so did the hair dryer. I didn’t want to throw them away, but recycling seemed such a pain. Then a friend said why not collect them all up in a bag? Now we just put old electricals in a separate carrier bag until it’s full enough (for my dad) to take to the recycling centre. Simple as that.’
Did you know?
Recycling your electricals is good for the planet
We could save a whopping 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions if we recycled all our small unwanted electricals instead of binning or holding on to them. That’s like taking more than a million cars off the road.
