Computers
Every year in the UK 1.5 million computers are dumped in landfill sites and a further 1.5 million are kept in storage and are not put to any use at all.
One way to help reduce harmful effects on the environment through disposal of this material type, is to take part in re-use schemes. You can find out about your nearest re-use organisations here, and see if you can organise for your computer to be collected from your home.
Re-using your household items will save a significant amount of energy compared to disposal, and also less energy than recycling, as even reprocessing materials will require energy.
Our recycling / disposal advice
Ideally PCs and computer equipment should be given to a re-use scheme or be recycled. If the equipment is beyond repair, it can be taken to a HWRC, and possibly re-used. Please ask the site operator for advice on where to place it.
Please be aware of our tips for safe recycling of computers:
If possible, remove hard drives from PCs before recycling. Use commercially available erasing software, as simply re-formatting or overwriting the hard drive will not remove any of the information stored on it.
Alternatively, some PC and hard drive manufacturers offer a recycling service which customers can sign up to.
Use the search below to find where to recycle / dispose of Computers.