What Electricals Can I Donate? Our Yes and No List
The simple test for any gadget is this: if it’s small, safe and still works, we’ll take it. Most of what people clear out of drawers and cupboards passes easily, from old phones and laptops to toasters and drills. Here is what our free doorstep electricals collection takes, the few things we can’t, and why.
Kitchen gadgets
Toasters, kettles, blenders and mixers.
Laptops and PCs
With their keyboards, mice and other accessories.
Phones and tablets
With their chargers, and your data cleared.
Hand power tools
Drills, saws and the like.
Welcome on your doorstep
Electricals we collect
We take a wide range of small electrical items and gadgets, as long as they are in working order, including:
- Toasters, kettles and other kitchen gadgets
- Blenders, mixers and food processors
- Irons
- Laptops and desktop computers
- Keyboards, mice and trackpads
- Smartphones, tablets and iPads
- Headphones and speakers
- Cameras
- Hand power tools, such as drills and saws
If it’s small, electrical and in working order, we’ll usually take it off your hands. A few kinds need a little extra care:
Phones, tablets and laptops
These hold your photos, messages and passwords, so sign out and reset them before they go. How to do it is on old phones, tablets and laptops.
Hand power tools
Don’t let unused drills and saws gather dust. Pack blades and bits safely so no one gets hurt lifting the bag.
Leads and accessories
Chargers, cables, remotes and spare parts make a gadget far easier to use again. Keep each one with the item it belongs to.
Please leave out
Electricals we can’t take, and why
There are only a few, and each has a reason. We only collect things another person can use and that our drivers can carry safely, because anything we can’t pass on costs money to get rid of, and that money should be going to charity.
TVs
Screens are bulky and break easily on the way, and a cracked screen can’t be used again.
Instead: your council recycling centre takes TVs for recycling.
Printers and microwaves
They are heavy, awkward items that don’t travel well alongside bagged donations.
Instead: offer working ones to friends or neighbours, or take them to a council recycling point.
Record players, VHS and cassette tapes
We aren’t able to find new homes for these older formats.
Instead: collectors and local swap groups are often interested.
Sewing machines and tower fans
Sewing machines are heavy and delicate, and tower fans are tall and awkward to carry.
Instead: a council recycling point, or a community group that could use them.
Lamps, lampshades, light bulbs and electrical fittings
Bulbs and shades break easily in transit, and fittings are made to be wired into a home rather than plugged in and used again.
Instead: your council recycling centre takes bulbs and lighting for recycling.
Large appliances
Washing machines, fridges, freezers and other white goods are far too big and heavy for a doorstep collection.
Instead: many councils run a bulky waste collection, or take them to a recycling centre.
Broken or unsafe electricals
We only collect working items, so they can be used again.
Instead: a council recycling point, where the materials inside can be recovered.
The full list of everything we can and can’t collect is on what we collect.
Before you pack
Is it good enough to donate?
Does it work?
Switch it on and check before you pack it. We only collect working electricals.
Is it safe?
No frayed leads, cracked casings or swollen batteries.
Is the lead with it?
Pack the lead, charger or remote with the item it belongs to.
Would you give it to a friend?
If yes, and it’s wiped of any personal data, it’s ready to go.
A good rule of thumb: wipe it down, wrap the lead around it, and pack it as if you were posting it to a friend. Small gadgets travel best in bags or boxes, with anything fragile wrapped in a tea towel or some paper. You can put them out alongside any other donations, such as clothes or books.
Unsure whether it still works? Leave it out. We can only pass on gadgets that someone can plug in and use.
Broken or not on our list?
What about electricals we can’t take?
Please don’t put them in your donation bags, but please don’t put them in the bin either. Electricals hold metals and other materials that can be recovered, and they don’t belong in landfill. Your council’s household recycling centre, or a local electrical recycling point, will take broken gadgets, light bulbs and other items we can’t collect and send them for recycling.
It’s worth doing. Material Focus estimates there are 880 million unused electrical items sitting in UK homes, about 30 per household. Why working gadgets deserve better than the bin is on why shouldn’t electricals go in the bin?
Ready to pack? Our step-by-step guide, how do I donate my electricals?, covers booking, packing and the day itself.
Ready to donate your small electricals?
It’s free, you don’t need to be at home, and you choose the charity your donation supports.