Has your garage has become a resting place for old TVs, computers and phones? Then maybe the time’s come to say goodbye to those greying gadgets by hitting the recycle button.
It’s really not as much of a faff as you might think. And definitely no more hassle than lugging it down to the tip. As a nation, we throw away 155,000 tonnes of electrical goods every year[1], so why not recycle instead of mixing them with household rubbish?
Why recycle?
As well as clearing out some much-needed space for the kids’ bikes and earning a bumper crop of brownie points for getting around to a job that has probably needed doing for months, you’ll also earn do your bit to cut down e-waste.
Loads of us hang onto old phones, TVs, desktop PCs and other items with the vague hope of using them again one day. But for most that day never comes, and these once impressive gadgets end up in landfill. And, since many appliances contain hazardous substances, their arrival at landfill is bad news for the soil, plants and wildlife.
Recycling cuts carbon emissions too. When you dispose of your old tech responsibly, you’re reducing the amount of energy needed to create brand-new tech. In fact, if we all recycle it would cut as much CO2 as taking 1.3 million cars off the road! [2]
What can you recycle and how do you do it?
Well, pretty much anything you can think of is fair game. Phones, printer cartridges, washing machines, computers, fridge freezers and TVs – you name it. And there are lots of ways to do it too – you can make use of websites such as Freecycle to give your unwanted appliances to other people, take them to a charity shop or flog them online.
Recycling with us
If you want a one-stop recycling shop, then look no further than your nearest Currys store. We’re actually the UK’s biggest electrical recycler – collecting, re-using and recycling over 65,000 tonnes of tech every year.
You can recycle any old tech with us for free, even if you didn’t buy it from us. Just bring it down to your local shop and we’ll sort the rest. We’ll make sure your personal tech like phones, laptops and the like are wiped of all your data too. So what’s private, stays private.
If it’s big, bulky tech that you don’t fancy lugging to the store – like a tumble dryer or fridge – we can come take it away for you for a small fee.
But if you want to try something else, here are some other ideas…
Phones
If you want to give the environment a helping hand, phones are a good place to start. Many recycling schemes donate cash for recycled handsets to environmental charities.
Computers
If it’s an old computer you want to see the back of, your local council may be happy to take it off your hands. They’ll often restore it and put it back to use. Some councils offer a collection service, whereas others will have a recycling site.
But if you’d prefer to pass it onto a charity or a voluntary organisation, all you need to know is at Computers4Charity. But remember to remove all your personal data first.
TVs
Much of a television set is ripe for reuse too, so why not give yours a second wind by dropping it into a council-run site?
If you’re ever unsure of what you shouldn’t be putting out with household rubbish, look out for a wheelie bin symbol with a cross through it on your electrical goods.
Cutting down waste
Remember, when you recycle your tech you’re doing your bit to prevent tech being thrown on the scrap heap.
If you'd like to recycle with us, have a look at our recycling options at Currys!
