The Great Cable Guide

Sorting your cables doesn’t have to be a hassle! Use our easy guide to help you quickly identify, decide and recycle those old cables you no longer need.

a close up of a ball made of various coloured electrical cables on a yellow background

Find your nearest donation or recycling point

Download our Great Cable Guide as a PDF

A simple guide to cable decluttering

We all have old, forgotten cables stashed away at home that we no longer use or need. So, what should you do with your old or broken cables? By recycling them or donating those that still work, we can give the valuable copper in our cables a new lease of life.

Download our handy guide

Laptops and computers

We’ve made a simple cable identifier!

Holding onto multiples of the same cables? Keep hold of 2 or 3 spares, and recycle the rest!

USB C cable and socket

USB-C

Charges most newer laptops and will soon be the standard for all new tech, including new IPhones.

USB A cable and socket

USB-A

Charges PC laptops. With the introduction of USB-C, they are gradually being replaced.

HDMI cable and socket on a plain background

HDMI

Connects your laptop or computer to a display device (e.g. monitor, projector or TV).

Ethernet cable and socket on a plain background

Ethernet

Connects your laptop or computer to the internet via cable.

VGA cable and socket

VGA

Connects older laptops or computers to a display device (e.g. monitor, projector or TV). Mostly replaced by USB-C, DisplayPort and HDMI.

DVi cable and socket

DVI

Connects older computers to monitors or projectors. Replaced by HDMI and DisplayPort from 2010s.

Display port cable and socket

Display Port

Connects computers to monitors. Similar to HDMI

Household cables

Use cable ties to store cables to avoid tangling and prolong their life. Recycled copper is better than newly mined ‘virgin’ copper as it uses much less energy, and carbon emissions to produce.

electric toothbrush and charger on a plain background

Electric toothbrush charger

Charges electric toothbrushes.

a two pin power adapter for a shaver on a plain background

Shaver socket lead

Charges electric shavers.

a 3 pin plug for a multi plug adapter on a plain background

Extension cords

Extends the reach from a plug or electrical outlet.

USB B cable and socket on a plain background

USB-B

Often used for older printers and hard drives. Being replaced by the newer USB-C connector.

AC 3 pin to low voltage adapter on a plain background

Universal AC adapter

Powers a range of electricals from laptops, game consoles and radios. And small home appliances like vacuum cleaners and fans.

a 3 pin plug with a 2 pin plug on one end on a plain background

Two-pin cable

Connects devices like shavers or other household electricals to a power outlet.

a three pin plug and a kettle lead plug on a plain background

Kettle Lead

Connects households electricals like computers, monitors, or kettles to a power outlet

Mobile phones and tablets

New EU law means USB-C will be the standard connector for all tech by end 2024. Say goodbye to your old cables and chargers!

USB C cable and socket

USB-C

Charges most newer laptops and will soon be the standard for all new tech.

Lightning cable and socket on a plain background

Lightning cable

Charges Apple devices made between 2012 and 2023. All new Apple devices from 2023 will use USB-C chargers.

Micro USB cable and socket on a plain background

Micro USB

Charges older Android devices and small electricals, particularly those released before 2020.

Mini USB cable and socket on a plain background

Mini USB

Charges older phones and tablets. Replaced by Micro USB from 2010s.

Apple thunderbolt cable and socket on a plain background

Apple Thunderbolt

Charges Apple devices or connects them to monitors or storage devices (such as hard drives or SSDs). Older thunderbolt cables that use the Mini DisplayPort connector have been replaced by the newer models using the USB-C connector.

two mobile phone adapter cables on a plain background

Phone adapter

Converts one type of connector into another, allowing different devices to connect. For example, a USB-C to HDMI adapter lets you connect a computer with a USB-C port to an HDMI display.

mobile phone splitter cables on a plain background

Splitter

Divides one input into multiple outputs, allowing you to connect several devices to the same signal source, such as audio, video, or WIFI connections.

TVs

Struggling to let go? If you haven’t used it in over a year, you likely don’t need it.

HDMI cable and socket on a plain background

HDMI

Connects your TV to games consoles, laptops and DVD players.

Ethernet cable and socket on a plain background

Ethernet

Connects your TV to the internet.

Coaxial TV aerial cable and socket on a plain background

Coaxial (TV aerial)

Connects older TVs to the aerial to receive live TV. Most TVs now moving towards HDMIs or fiber-optic/ wireless internet streaming.

Coaxial F-Type TV satellite cable and socket on a plain background

Coaxial (F-Type)

Connects your TV to satellite or cable devices. The rise of streaming platforms and digital content means you’ll be less likely to need a coaxial F-type cable in future.

component video cable and socket on a plain background

Component Video

Connects older TVs to DVD players; comes as a 3-part cable. Most new DVD players, Blu-ray players and HDTVs use HDMI so unless you still have your old TV or DVD, you probably don’t need these any more.

composite audio mini jack cable and socket on a plain background

Composite Audio

Connects older TVs to videos and DVD players (to play the picture and sound); comes as a 2-part cable. Mostly replaced by HDMI.

SCART cable and socket on a plain background

SCART

Connects TVs to older video and DVD players (to play the picture and sound). Mostly replaced by HDMI cables.

S- video cable and socket on a plain background

S-video

Connects TVs to older video andDVD players, game consoles, projectors and camcorders. Mostly replaced by HDMI. Retrogamers still use these sometimes.

Cameras

Try donating your cables using apps like NextDoor, Olio or Freegle. If not, recycling them still means precious copper can be reused.

Mini HDMI Type C cable and socket on a plain background

HDMI Type-C, or Mini HDMI

Connects cameras and camcorders to the TV for video playback. Still widely used, especially in mid- range to high-end models.USB-C will replace these as the new standard

Micro HDMI Type D cable and socket on a plain background

HDMI Type-D, or Mini HDMI

Connects action camera (e.g. GoPros), some DSLR and smaller digital cameras to TVs. Still widely used but USB-C will replace these as the new standard.

Audio cables (for speakers, sound systems, etc.)

Use cable ties to store cables to avoid tangling and prolong their life.

3.5 mm 4 pole mini jack cable and socket on a plain background

3.5mm mono/stereo audio jack

Connects headphones to older smartphones, laptops, gaming and audio equipment. Still widely used but is being gradually replaced by USB-C and Lightning cables in newer smartphones.

3.5 mm 4 pole mini jack cable and socket on a plain background

3.5mm 4-pole audio/stereo jack

Connects in-car audio systems or headsets to your phone, g-aming equipment, laptop, cameras and audio equipment.

6.35 mm 1/4 inch jack cable and socket on a plain background

6.35mm mono/ stereo jack

Used for high end audio equipment like guitars or professional speakers.

speaker cable on a plain background

Gauge speaker wires

Connects to amplifiers and speaker setups.