It’s always exciting when that big new piece of tech arrives at your door. Be it a shiny new fridge freezer with all the bells and whistles, or an awesome OLED TV that'll bring movies to life in your living room. But what do you plan on doing with all the packaging that's left over after you’ve finished setting up your new tech?
In the thrill of it all, it’s not something many of us think about when our fancy new tech arrives. But there are plenty of ways to get rid of all that unwanted packaging without it ending up in the loft, shed, or worse — in landfill.
Recycling packaging is the way to go. And we’ve broken this helpful guide down into the main packaging materials you’ll receive, and recommended what you can do with each of them. You’ll be reclaiming your home from cardboard flatpacks and bubble wrap in no time!
Cardboard
It doesn’t matter who your council or local authority are — if your tech arrives in a cardboard box or sleeve, you can put that straight in your household recycling box and it’ll be accepted. If it’s a big box, just fold it or break it down so it’s small enough to fit in your recycling bin. But make sure to remove all the parcel tape first, as this isn’t recyclable.
Want to get rid of the box faster? When you buy your tech online at Currys and get it delivered by us, we’ll take that packaging "stuff" away if you’d like us to. Just make sure you empty the packaging of all the essentials first, like any handy setup equipment for your appliance and, of course — that all-important user guide!
Polystyrene
Wondering what to do with polystyrene packaging? Unlike cardboard, polystyrene is pretty difficult to recycle. And although local authorities might accept it, a lot of it will head off to landfills. Fortunately, there's a way we can help out.
Did you know that Currys is one of the largest polystyrene recyclers in the UK? While it’s tough to get rid of polystyrene, it can go on to find a new life as insulation for homes. If you have polystyrene from TV packaging, just leave it with us and we'll make sure it’s recycled responsibly.
Cable ties
Don’t go throwing plastic cable ties into your normal kerbside recycling bin, because most council collections won't accept them. Although you should be able to take them to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Besides, there’s no reason to throw out cable ties when you can reuse them for loads of things around the house — like keeping loose computer wires neat and tidy. You can just loosen them with a small screwdriver and they'll be ready to tie things together again.
Bubble wrap and cellophane wrapping
Even though we're all trying to progress towards more sustainable tech packaging, things like plastic bubble wrap are still necessary for best protecting lots of tech. They keep everything looking box fresh and clean by padding it out and limiting any damage from accidental knocks and scrapes.
We're afraid to say that it’s unlikely your local authority will accept it in your recycling box. Not to worry though, as big supermarkets often have recycling drop-off points. Or you can hand it over to us instead.
Foam padding
Like polystyrene and bubble wrap, foam padding can be used to keep our new tech safe and sound during shipping. It's especially good at absorbing any bumps that happen along the way. And fortunately, most types of foam padding can be recycled in the UK.
This includes expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), which is the most common type used to protect electronics. It's 100% recyclable — often compacted into bricks and used to make new products like plant pots and garden furniture. But it can be expensive to recycle, so not all local authorities will accept it. That means it's always best to check.
Plastic inserts and trays
These moulds are typically used to keep smaller tech products nice and secure in their boxes. That way, they won't get rattled around too much in transit. What's more, most plastic packaging inserts and trays are made from PET or PETE — which can be recycled in most areas.
It's always advised to check your local council's website to see if they definitely accept these items though. And if you can recycle them, just remember to remove any sticky tape or non-recyclable parts that might be attached before placing them in your recycling bin.
Plastic bags
How about those little plastic bags that sometimes come with our new tech? These usually contain small parts like nuts, screws, or maybe a spare pair of tips for some wireless earbuds. Luckily, these bags are often made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) — a type of plastic that can be recycled.
But again, not all recycling programs in the UK accept plastic packaging bags. Some might only accept certain types of plastic, so it's important to check with your local council before sticking them in the recycling bin. Many big supermarkets will have collection points for plastic bags too, so it's also worth seeing if they'll take them.
How Currys are helping
You might already know how committed we are to recycling old tech. But we’re very serious about packaging too. We’re working with suppliers to cut down on unnecessary plastics and packaging from our products. And with our own label gaming accessories brand, ADX, we’re creating amazing products while reducing and removing all needless plastics from the packaging.
Find out more about our Currys recycling service and mission to be the UK’s greenest and most responsible tech retailer, or watch our colleague Rob explain more:
If you want to up your recycling game even more, you might want to check out this cool tech made from recycled materials.
