Electrical recycling
How to recycle an old laptop or computer
Wipe your data, then donate, sell or recycle your old computer. The shop where you buy a new one has to help you get rid of the old one.
The shop selling the new one
When you buy a new computer, the shop must offer a free way to recycle your old one. Many take it back in store.
Donate it
Some charities need computers in good working order. Others have technicians who can repair them.
Tips and drop-off points
Tips take computers, laptops and tablets. Recycle Your Electricals lists almost 30,000 places in the UK that take electricals.
Computers are electrical waste
Recycle Now says anything with a plug, batteries or a charger counts as electrical waste and should be recycled, not binned.
Key facts
- Binmap lists 72 places that say they take computers, laptops and tablets, including 71 tips.
- Another 678 places may take computers, laptops and tablets, but they do not say so. Check before you go.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Written by Binmap using guidance from Recycle Now, GOV.UK and Recycle Your Electricals.
Pages from the organisations involved
Advice from national bodies
What to do
- Back up your files.
- Sign out of your accounts and reset the device to factory settings.
- Take out any battery you can remove and recycle it separately.
Kinds of place that take it
- Electrical recycling points
- Charity donation points
- Recycling centres
Guides for similar items
Other kinds of place
Schemes and collection services
Binmap is independent and is not run by any council.