Recycle or Donate Your Old Tech

Don't bin it. Whether it works or not, there's a responsible route for every piece of old tech — and it costs nothing to do the right thing.

♻️ Recycling centres ❤️ Charity donation 💰 Trade-in schemes 🔒 Data wipe guide

Local Recycling Centres

All free to use

By law, UK councils must provide free electrical recycling. Most Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) accept all electronics. Retailers with a floor area over 400m² must also take back old items in the same category as what you buy.

Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

Free

Every UK council operates at least one HWRC (also called a tip or civic amenity site) that accepts small and large electrical items for free. Your device is sorted and responsibly recycled under WEEE regulations.

✓Accepts phones, laptops, tablets, consoles, chargers, cables
✓No appointment needed at most sites
✓All electrical waste handled under WEEE regulations
⚠️Always wipe your data before dropping off — see the Data Wipe tab

Find Your Nearest Centre →

Retailer Take-Back (in-store drop-off)

Free

Retailers including Currys, Argos, John Lewis, and larger supermarkets are legally required to accept old electricals when you buy a new item — and many accept drop-offs without a purchase.

✓Currys — accepts any old electricals in-store, no purchase needed
✓Argos — in-store drop-off of small electricals
✓John Lewis — accept old items in the same category as a new purchase
✓Many larger supermarkets have collection points for small electricals

Currys Recycling → WEEE Info →

Postable Recycling — Freepost Services

Free

If you can't get to a centre or store, several services let you post small electricals for free using a Freepost address or pre-paid bag.

✓Recycle More (recyclemore.co.uk) — free postal recycling for phones
✓DPD Pickup shops often act as collection points for electronics recycling
✓Some councils offer collection of small electricals — check your council website

Recycle More →

Charity Donation Schemes

Give your tech a purposeful second life

Working devices — even older ones — can make a huge difference to families, students, and communities who lack access to technology. Always wipe your data before donating.

Laptops 4 Learning

Free to donate

A UK charity that refurbishes donated laptops and distributes them to disadvantaged students and families. They accept laptops manufactured from 2012 onwards.

✓Accepts laptops from 2012+
✓Free-post collection available
✓Refurbished and redistributed to UK students in need

Donate a Laptop →

SmartPhone for Seniors

Free to donate

A charity initiative connecting donated smartphones with elderly recipients who lack access to mobile technology for health and social connectivity.

✓Accepts iPhones and Android phones in working condition
✓Devices cleaned, reset, and set up for the recipient
✓Particularly values larger-screen, simpler devices

Age UK Tech →

Oxfam Tech Drop

Free to donate

Oxfam accepts working tech in their shops and through their online donation service. Working devices are refurbished and sold; non-working items are responsibly recycled.

✓Drop off at any Oxfam shop or use their free postal service
✓Accepts phones, tablets, e-readers, cameras
✓Revenue supports Oxfam's humanitarian work

Donate to Oxfam →

AbilityNet — IT Can Help

Free to donate

AbilityNet matches donated technology with disabled people and older adults who need it to live more independently.

✓Accepts laptops, tablets, smartphones
✓Devices set up with accessibility software where needed
✓All data wiped before redistribution

AbilityNet Donate →

Trade-In & Take-Back Schemes

Turn old tech into cash or credit

If your device is in reasonable working condition, a trade-in can get you real money or credit towards a new purchase. Prices vary significantly — always compare before committing.

MusicMagpie

Cash

One of the UK's biggest trade-in platforms. Get an instant quote online, post your device free, and get paid quickly. Accepts phones, tablets, laptops, games, DVDs, and more.

✓Instant online quote — no haggling
✓Free-post tracked returns bag provided
✓Payment by bank transfer or cheque within a few days
⚠️Quote may be revised if condition doesn't match — check grading criteria carefully

Get a Quote →

Apple Trade In

Apple Credit

Apple's own trade-in programme gives you credit toward a new Apple device. Best value if you're buying something new from Apple anyway — otherwise compare with cash buyers.

✓Accepts iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watch
✓Free-post return or drop off at Apple Store
⚠️Credit only — not cash
⚠️Cash value from MusicMagpie or Envirofone often higher unless buying Apple

Apple Trade In →

Envirofone

Cash

Specialist phone and tablet trade-in service. Competitive prices, free-post returns, and a strong reputation for paying promptly.

✓Instant quote on website
✓Free-post tracked bag sent to you
✓Payment via bank transfer, PayPal, or cheque
✓Also recycles non-working or broken devices for free

Envirofone Quote →

Samsung Trade-In

Samsung Credit

Samsung's official trade-in programme offers credit toward a new Samsung device. Like Apple Trade In, credit value can be competitive if you're buying new from Samsung.

✓Accepts Samsung phones, tablets, and TVs
✓Online quote and free returns
⚠️Credit only — compare with cash buyers

Samsung Trade In →

Back Market Trade-In

Cash

Back Market's trade-in service lets you sell your old device and, if you want, put the proceeds toward a refurbished replacement on the same platform.

✓Instant online valuation
✓Free-post returns
✓Option to receive credit on Back Market for a refurbished replacement

Back Market Trade-In →

How to Wipe Your Data Safely

Do this before recycling, donating or selling

Always wipe your device thoroughly before handing it to anyone — a charity, a recycler, or a buyer. A factory reset is the minimum; the steps below walk you through it for each device type.

📱

iPhone / iPad

Back up to iCloud or your computer if you want to keep your data.
Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Sign Out and sign out of your Apple ID. This removes Activation Lock.
Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings.
Confirm and wait for the erase to complete — this may take several minutes.
The device will restart to the setup screen — it is now safe to hand over.

🤖

Android Phone / Tablet

Back up your data via Google account sync or Android Backup.
Go to Settings → Accounts and remove your Google account.
Go to Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory Data Reset (exact path varies by brand).
Confirm the reset. The device will erase and restart.
On some older Android devices, re-encrypt the device after the reset for extra security (Settings → Security → Encrypt device), then reset again.

🪟

Windows Laptop

Sign out of all accounts (Microsoft, email, cloud storage).
Go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC.
Choose "Remove everything" — not "Keep my files".
If prompted, choose "Remove files and clean the drive" for maximum security.
The process takes 30–120 minutes. Do not interrupt it.
For extra security on older HDDs, use a free tool like DBAN before disposal.

Mac / MacBook

On Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2+): power off, hold power button, choose Erase Mac in Recovery.
On Intel Macs: restart and hold ⌘+R to enter Recovery Mode.
In Recovery, open Disk Utility, select your main drive, click Erase.
Close Disk Utility, then choose Reinstall macOS to leave it in a clean state.
Sign out of iCloud (System Preferences → Apple ID → Sign Out) before erasing if you can.

🎮

PlayStation / Xbox

PS4/PS5: Settings → Account Management → Sign Out. Then Settings → System → Reset Options → Reset Console → Full.
Xbox: Settings → System → Console Info → Reset Console → Reset and Remove Everything.
Nintendo Switch: System Settings → System → Formatting Options → Initialise Console.
All options remove your account, games, and save data from the device.

🔐

Don't Forget These

Remove any memory cards or SD cards before handing over the device.
Check that your account is fully removed — try to set the device up as new to confirm.
For payment devices or smart home hubs, check the manufacturer's specific reset instructions.
If selling, take a photo of the device before sending — useful if there's a dispute over condition.

⚠️ A factory reset alone is sufficient for modern encrypted devices (iPhone, Android 6+, Windows 10+, modern Macs). On older devices with unencrypted storage (pre-2012 laptops with HDDs), a factory reset leaves data potentially recoverable. Use DBAN (dban.org) to securely overwrite HDDs on older laptops before disposal.