How to Recycle Electricals, Batteries & Packaging

Find out how you can play your part and reuse or recycle your waste electricals, batteries and packaging responsibly.

Path

What role can you play?

Producers of electrical products, batteries and packaging have legal responsibilities to fund their recycling.

Consumers play a key role in reusing and recycling electricals, batteries and packaging to protect the planet and economy. Unwanted electricals, spent batteries and discarded packaging all contain valuable materials and by passing them on for someone else to use, repair or recycle, you can help the planet, and possibly your pocket, whilst putting valuable resources back into our circular economy.

Our research shows that uncertainty about what and where to recycle is the biggest barrier, leading to materials being wasted unnecessarily. To make reuse and recycling easier across the UK, we’ve gathered helpful information to guide you in responsibly disposing of electricals, batteries and packaging – every effort counts.

Learn more about how you can reuse and recycle

How to recycle your electricals

Electricals include anything with a plug, battery, or cable and contain valuable materials. To recycle them properly, check local recycling centres, retailer take-back schemes, or council collection services.

Understanding waste electricals and your role

What is WEEE?

WEEE is an acronym for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. It can also be referred to as e-waste or waste electricals. There is legislation in place in the UK and Europe to ensure it is responsibly recycled. The UK WEEE Regulations place certain obligations on companies that manufacture and/or sell electricals, including a requirement to take financial responsibility when they become waste.

1

What does the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol mean?

The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol reminds you that the whole product and any batteries or cables it uses must not be disposed of in your general waste.

bin
2

What does Ecogenesys do?

Ecogenesys was established by many of the UK’s trusted household electrical producers to support them in meeting their end of life recycling obligations. Ecogenesys is a producer compliance scheme and manages the collection and treatment of WEEE from recycling centres across the UK, to ensure responsible recycling and material recovery. It also collaborates with organisations to repair and refurbish reusable electricals.

3

How can I play my part?

Give working electricals to family, friends, or a reuse organisation. If not reusable, take them to a recycling centre, remove and separately recycle batteries, and avoid putting them in general waste or bins that don't accept them.

4
Path

Examples of electricals

Household Gadgets

Phones, mobile phones, TVs and TV remote controls, chargers, printers, radios, VCRs, DVD players, speakers, Hi-Fi, electronic toys

Large Appliances

Fridges, freezers, cookers, dishwashers, tumble driers, vacuum cleaners

Kitchen Appliances

Kettles, toasters, irons, blenders, coffee machines, bread makers, smoothie makers

Personal Care Gadgets

Hairdryers, straightens, curlers, electronic toothbrushes, shavers and hair clippers

Gardening Gadgets

Drills, power tools, sanders, lawnmowers, pressure washers, strimmers

Why should I recycle electricals?

The reuse and recycling of electricals helps prevent harmful materials from damaging the environment, while valuable components like gold, silver, and rare earth metals can be reused. Recycled materials can be used in everything from children's playgrounds to lifesaving equipment, while donated tech can help close the digital divide.

Where can I recycle electricals?

People have used this locator to find their local reuse and recycling point over a million times!

Find your nearest recycling point
Path

Reuse before recycling

Consider donating your unwanted but useable electricals to trusted reuse organisations, where they will be repaired, tested, sold or given to those in need.

How to recycle your batteries

To recycle your batteries, take them to designated battery recycling bins at local recycling centres, supermarkets and shops that sell batteries. Never dispose of them in general waste.

Understand battery recycling and your role

Why should I recycle batteries?

Batteries are found in hundreds of different electrical items in our homes and places of work. By recycling every used battery, you can help save energy and materials that can be used to make something new. Batteries contain substances which require specialist treatment and can be harmful to the environment or cause fires when not treated in the correct way. So next time you remove or replace a battery, put it in a dry, safe place and recycle at your local recycling centre on your next trip.

1

Which batteries can be recycled?

Portable batteries – typically, these types of batteries include (but are not limited to) button cell, AA, AAA and 9v batteries, rechargeable batteries and batteries commonly used to power household devices. Retailers with collection bins will accept all portable battery types, provided they are not damaged. They can also be taken to your nearest battery recycling point at your local household recycling centre. Larger and heavier batteries such as car batteries, specialist battery types and batteries from industrial equipment can also be recycled at your local household recycling centre.

2

What does the crossed-out symbol mean?

The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol reminds you that batteries must not be disposed of in your general waste.

bin
3

How can I play my part?

If you have batteries sitting in cupboards, drawers, or your garage, sort through them and take action now. Many supermarkets, retailers, and recycling centres have battery collection bins, so if they are spent or damaged store them somewhere dry and take them along on your next visit. This will ensure your batteries are recycled responsibly, protecting the environment and preserving natural resources. Most importantly, please don’t throw them in your general household waste bin or other recycling bins unless you have been told they can accept waste batteries.

4
Path
Find your nearest recycling point
Recycling Locator

Recycling right

Most supermarkets and retailers with battery sales have in-store collection bins, so bring your used batteries along when you shop.

How to recycle your packaging

To recycle your packaging, sort it by material – cardboard, plastic, and glass – and place it in the correct wheelie bins at home. For large quantities, take it to your local recycling centre. Be sure to clean and flatten items to help the recycling process.

Understanding packaging and your role

Can all packaging be recycled?

Many different types of packaging can be recycled. Recycling symbols and packaging labels on our everyday items help us to identify whether the packaging can be collected from the home for recycling or if you can take it to your local recycling centre.

1

Why should I recycle packaging?

Recycling packaging helps to conserve resources, save energy and protect the environment. It reduces waste, as recycled materials are transformed into new products, minimising the need for additional raw materials. The recycling process also requires less energy compared to producing new items from raw materials, contributing to a more circular economy outlined in each country's strategy.

2

Where can I recycle packaging materials?

Find out where and how to recycle, by entering your postcode into the Recycling Locator. Not all local authorities collect the same materials so ensure you follow the advice of your local authority.

3

How can I play my part?

Separate your waste packaging for recycling, depositing this in the recycling bins provided by your local council. This will ensure your packaging is recycled responsibly, protecting the environment and preserving natural resources. Most importantly, please don’t put packaging that can be recycled in your general household waste bin.

4
Path
Find your nearest recycling point
Recycling Locator

What do all the packaging symbols mean

Recycling symbols are used to help identify the different types of packaging and if they are capable of being recycled. Our guide will help you increase what you recycle in and out of the home.

Widely recycled

This label means – 65% of people have access to recycling facilities for these items.

Rinse widely recycled

This label means you should rinse these items and put their lids back on.

Not recycled

This label means less than 15% of people have access to recycling facilities for these items.

Green dot

This symbol is used on packaging in some European countries and signifies that the producer has made a financial contribution towards the recovery and recycling of packaging.

mobius loop

This symbol indicates that an object is capable of being recycled, not that the object has been recycled or will be accepted in all recycling collection systems.

PET

This symbol identifies the type of plastic used in the packaging. PET bottles are recycled by the majority of local authorities.

Recycle glass

This symbol asks you to recycle your glass container. Using your glass household waste recycling collection or recycled in coloured specific bottle banks.

Made from recycled aluminium

This symbol means that the product is made from recycled aluminium.

Made from steel

This symbol means that the product is made from steel. All local authorities collect steel cans for recycling.

Keep Britain Tidy

This is the Keep Britain Tidy symbol and asks you not to litter.

Crossed out wheelie bin

The crossed out wheelie bin symbol indicates that the product should not be discarded as unsorted waste but must be sent to separate collection facilities for recovery and recycling.

Seedling symbol

Products that are industrially compostable are given this seedling symbol for industrial composting. Compostable plastics with this logo should go in with your garden and/or food waste.

Home composted

This symbol means that it is suitable to be home composted.

Forest Stewardship Council

This symbol helps to identify wood-based products from well managed forest independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC.

Path

Recycling right

Please remember to rinse and dry containers before recycling so more materials can be successfully reused.

Specific Waste Strategies