Otis Singleton
With global e-waste at 62 million metric tons in 2022, according to the United Nations Global E-Waste Monitor, it is important to know how to dispose of broken electrical equipment properly. Electrical items can often be recycled, with some items being broken down into separate parts so that the different materials they are made of can be removed and recycled. There are many ways to dispose of broken electrical equipment, including selling, donating, or recycling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to do with broken electrical equipment | Sell, donate, recycle, or trade-in |
| Where to recycle | Local authority recycling centres, e-waste programs, retailers |
| What can be recycled | Large electrical items, small electrical items, batteries, vapes and e-cigarettes |
| What to do before recycling | Remove personal information from devices |
| Why recycle | Keep toxic chemicals out of landfills, reduce e-waste, reuse valuable materials |
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What You'll Learn
Sell old devices for parts
If you have broken electrical equipment, you can sell it for parts. Even if your devices are broken, they can still be sold for parts, although you'll get a higher price if you clean and repair them first.
There are several options for selling old devices for parts. You can sell directly to people through eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Nextdoor. However, you will need to arrange delivery or meet up to exchange goods, and buyers often like to haggle. For a more hassle-free experience, you can use sites like Swappa or Gazelle, which use online questionnaires to determine a price and provide free postage.
Another option is to use a dedicated electronics buyback service, such as WeBuyBackElectronics, Decluttr, or EcoATM. These sites will provide an instant quote based on the specifications of your device, and some even offer free shipping. They will then refurbish and resell the device or recycle its parts.
It is important to remember to factory reset your devices and remove any personal data before selling them. By selling your old devices for parts, you can make some extra cash and help reduce e-waste, which is a growing problem, with global e-waste reaching 62 million metric tons in 2022.
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Trade-in or buyback schemes
You can also sell your broken devices online through platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Nextdoor. These platforms often allow you to sell directly to individuals, which can result in a higher selling price. However, you will need to arrange delivery or meet up with the buyer, and they may want to haggle over the price. For a more straightforward sale, consider websites like Swappa or Gazelle, which use online questionnaires to determine a price and often provide free postage.
Back Market is another option for trading in your old devices. They offer trade-ins for smartphones, MacBooks, tablets, consoles, and audio devices. After answering a few simple questions about your item, you'll receive an offer within 2 minutes. If you accept, you can send your item for free and receive payment within 5 days.
Remember that even broken devices can be sold for parts, though you may get a higher price if you clean and repair them first. So, before trading in or selling your broken electrical equipment, consider giving it a quick refresh if possible.
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Recycle at a local centre
Recycling at a local centre is a responsible way to dispose of broken electrical equipment. Many local authorities and specialist recyclers now offer this service.
Firstly, check with your local council to see what services they offer. Some councils will collect large electrical items from your home, while others will ask you to take them to a recycling centre. Some councils also have dedicated bins for items such as batteries, vapes, and e-cigarettes.
Before taking your broken electrical equipment to a local centre, it is important to check what items they accept. Some centres may reject items that are badly damaged or pose a health and safety hazard, such as old TVs with broken cathode ray tubes. It is also important to note that some items, such as computer peripherals, may not be included in certain recycling programs.
When recycling computers and mobile devices, remember to completely remove any personal information beforehand. Most recycling centres will not cleanse these items after delivery and are not responsible for any data held on them.
If you have a large number of items or bulky equipment to recycle, you may need to book a collection or drop-off slot in advance. Contact your local centre to find out their specific requirements and procedures.
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Give to friends and family
Passing on broken electrical equipment to friends and family is a great way to ensure your old devices remain useful. Before giving away your old devices, it's important to consider whether they can be used for a little longer. If they can, repurpose them. For instance, you can turn your old phone into a webcam. If you're certain you no longer need the device, ask your friends and family if they can use it.
If you have a collection of old chargers and cables, it's worth checking their functionality before giving them away. Most home entertainment cords and cables can be used with other devices. Your old chargers and cables may also be useful to schools and non-profits with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs or projects.
You can also give away broken devices for parts, although they will be more appealing to your friends and family if you clean and repair them first. You can give away broken devices directly to friends and family or sell them at a lower price. To sell, you can use platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Nextdoor. Remember to arrange delivery or meet up to exchange the goods, and note that buyers often like to haggle.
If your friends and family cannot use the broken electrical equipment, consider selling, donating, or recycling it.
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Reuse or repurpose
If your electrical equipment is still functional, consider reusing it or passing it on to someone else who can use it. This could be a friend, relative, or neighbour. You could also donate your equipment to local schools, homeless youth programs, local refugee organizations, or other various groups that can benefit from used electronics. Places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill also accept usable old electronics.
If your equipment is broken, you can sell it for parts, though you'll get a higher price if you repair it first. You can sell your devices through local resale apps or websites, such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, or Nextdoor. Alternatively, you can use a service like Swappa or Gazelle, which uses online questionnaires to determine a price and provides free postage.
You can also look into trade-in or buyback schemes, which will get you a discount on something new. Manufacturers like Apple and Samsung offer refurbished devices at a discount, and you can find refurbished goods on Amazon and Back Market.
If you're feeling creative, you could try to repurpose your broken electrical equipment. For example, you could use the parts to create something new, such as art or furniture. Just make sure to take out any toxic substances like batteries first and dispose of them properly.
Remember to always delete all personal information from your devices before passing them on to someone else.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to dispose of broken electrical equipment. You can sell them for parts, trade them in or pass them on to friends and family. If the item is not in a usable state, you can recycle it at an electronic waste recycling centre or through a local authority collection service.
To recycle broken electrical equipment, you can take it to a recycling centre or use a local authority collection service. Some retailers also have electronic waste recycling programmes. Before disposing of your electrical equipment, make sure to remove any personal information.
All types of electrical equipment can be recycled, including large household electrical items, small electrical items, batteries, vapes and e-cigarettes.
