Discarded electronics are one of the fastest growing waste streams in the UK – but if handled appropriately they can be recycled into life-saving gadgets.
According to research conducted by Recycle Your Electricals, collective UK cupboards hold a whopping 18.2 million kitchen electronics rarely or never used. Meanwhile, 92% of UK households own trendy 'FadTech' items, including blenders, air fryers, ice cream makers, chocolate fountains, bread makers and more.
An estimated two million tonnes of electronics are discarded in the UK every year, instead of being properly recycled. In fact, the 2.4 million blenders gathering dust in kitchen cupboards could be recycled into 2.1 million defibrillators.
"It's about going back to how our grandparents lived. We're always wanting the latest gadget or item, but we should really be thinking about the environment and not buying and buying all the time," Joanna Page, a Welsh actress and presenter, tells Country Living.
"I'm a mother of four children and they are always coming home from school telling me about how we can help the environment. I've been learning a lot from them, but still of course get drawn into these kitchen FadTech items — many of which we only use once a year. There's always a new thing that comes out every Christmas. It's so much better to either recycle them or donate them to someone else," Joanna adds.
But what electronics can be recycled? Anything that has a cable, battery or plug. If your unused electricals are still working, you can donate them, and if they're broken, they can be recycled into other useful objects.
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"We're all in the same position — we're all buying air fryers or blenders that we don't ever use. If we just go and recycle them, they could become something fantastic like a defibrillator. That would have far more use than an old blender," Joanna explains.
In order to help Brits recycle better, Recycle Your Electricals has launched a clever postcode locator for households to drop off their old electronics. Simply enter your postcode, and it will highlight your nearest donation drop-off centre. Each item will then be taken apart and recycled accordingly.
"Instead of keeping things in your cupboard that are just gathering dust, go and recycle or donate them to somebody else. It's so easy to fall down that trap and buy something. In lockdown, we were all buying bread makers. Enough is enough; life is perfectly fine without always wanting to have something more," Joanna says.
And if you do need a new kitchen appliance, why not consider borrowing from a friend? "We had such a sense of community in lockdown, even if it was just talking over the garden hedge. We were all sharing things and talking to each other. Instead of just using a candyfloss machine once, you can share and borrow things."
Take a look at the electronics that you can easily recycle into something useful:
20 electronics you didn't know you could recycle
- Ice cream maker
- Chocolate fountain
- Hostess trolley
- Popcorn machine
- Bread maker
- Spiraliser
- Waffle maker
- Juicer (or blender)
- Slushy maker
- Teasmade
- Omelette maker
- Pie maker
- Electric plate warmer
- Yoghurt maker
- Electric knife sharpener
- Cake pop maker
- Soup maker
- Candy floss maker
- Electric coffee cup
- Toastie maker
To find out the nearest (donation or recycling) drop off location, visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk and pop your details in the postcode locator.
12 things you didn't know you could recycle
Toothbrushes
How often do you throw away a toothbrush? Every few months? Well, instead of contributing to waste, you could actually recycle your toothbrush because both the plastic holder and bristles have other purposes. In the UK, you can recycle toothbrushes through the website Preserve Products.
Stamps
If you get a card in the post with a stamp on, instead of throwing the whole thing away – or recycling the whole envelope – why not recycle the stamps on their own for a good cause? Against Breast Cancer turns old stamps into funds to support breast cancer research. Macmillan, the Dog's Trust and PDSA are just a few other charities that have similar schemes.
Carpet
Redecorating? Don't just chuck out your old, shabby carpet. Carpet can be re-used for a range of things including insulation and making new equestrian surfaces, according to Carpet Recycling UK who say each year 40,000 tonnes of carpet is wasted in the UK. Visit the organisation's website to find out how you can recycle your old carpet.
Old pound coins
If you still have old pound coins lingering around after the October switch, you can put them to a brilliant charitable use. Recycling For Good Causes will accept the coins and then turn that into money for a chosen charity or good cause.
Pens
Most households have a collection of broken and old pens that they keep 'just in case' they start working again. But really, wouldn't these be better recycled?
Terracycle and BIC have partnered to create The Writing Instruments Recycling Programme which separates the writing instruments, cleans and melts them into hard plastic which can be made into new products.
Makeup packaging
Why not clear room in your vanity case by recycling your old blusher pots and eyeshadow palettes .
There are a range of different schemes to help you recycle from makeup brands themselves. MAC, Kiehl's and Origins all have recycling programmes, and at MAC you even get a free lipstick when you give back at least six empty MAC cosmetic containers.
Bikes
If you thought your old bike was too big to recycle then you're wrong. There are now a few schemes which promote recycling your bike instead of dumping it in the local tip.
One is The Bike Project which takes second-hand bikes, fixes them up and then donates them to refugees and asylum seekers in London. Similarly Re-Cycle donates old bikes to children in Africa.
Mobile phones
If you've upgraded to a newer model, you can get rid of your phone while helping the environment and earning money thanks to Envirofone who end up recycling 98% mobiles sent its way. Find out more here.
Bras
If you have a bra which you no longer fancy wearing, has got slightly tatty or no longer fits you can recycle it! The charity Smalls For All accepts new or 'gently worn' bras of any size and donates them to women who need them most in Africa. Against Breast Cancer has a similar scheme which helps fund much-needed research into breast cancer.
Cigarette butts
While it might seem that cigarette ends should be put firmly in bin, there's actually a way to dispose of them ecologically. Via Terracycle, you can sign up to the Cigarette Waste Recycling Scheme where you can send your cigarette butts to a warehouse. The warehouse staff then use the filters, foil and plastic to recycle into plastic pellets while composting the tobacco.
Wine corks
One way you can feel a little less guilty for having that bottle of wine is by knowing you can dispose of those pesky corks in a way that helps the planet.
For every cork donated to Recorked UK and subsequently recycled, they donate a percentage of the profit to charity. They also supply corks to charities and schools to help with arts and crafts projects.
Coffee pods
It can be confusing to know what to do with coffee pods. They look like they should be recycled but a lot of local authorities do not permit it. That's where organisations like TerraCycle can step in. Their scheme allows you to purchase a box and then when it is full send it off to be recycled. Last year, coffee giant Nespresso announced they would be launching a similar scheme.
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
