If your old electrical device still works, think about donating it to a charity or Havens Hospice shop at Stock Road Household Waste Recycling Centre for someone else to use.
If your device is not suitable for donation we offer a free bookable kerbside recycling collection of small electrical items. Each household can book one collection each month.
How do I recycle small electrical items?
- before recycling electrical items, check if they contain batteries* or bulbs and remove them (*some batteries, including lithium types, can ignite – never put in your waste, recycle separately)
- for devices like phones, laptops or tablets, please delete all personal data before recycling
- once ready, place your item(s) in a carrier bag and book a collection via MySouthend
- each household can book one collection per month and put out up to 10 bags per booking
Remember, never put electricals or batteries in your pink recycling bin or sacks, they cannot be recycled this way and we may be unable to collect the bin or sack.
You can also take your small electrical items or batteries to be recycled to either of the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC).
These are located in
- Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea
- Leigh Marsh, Leigh-on-Sea
Free in-store recycling is also now offered with drop off points in Southend-on-Sea. If you are replacing a small electrical item many shops will recycle your old electricals when you buy a new electrical item. Batteries may also be recycled.
Some shops will offer a recycling service for electrical items and batteries regardless of whether you are replacing an item. Find your nearest recycling point and more about recycling your small electricals on the Recycle your Electricals website.
How can I book a electrical collection?
To book a small electricals recycling collection use our online form.
You will be asked to:
- confirm your name and address
- choose a collection date
- confirm whether you have textiles, electricals, or both to be collected
On your booked collection day:
- put your small electrical bag(s) on the front edge of your property by 7am
- it should not be placed on the public footpath, grass verge or road, doing this may result in enforcement action
What can be recycled?
Most small items with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled such as:
- hairdryers, straighteners, epilator, electric shaver, electric toothbrush
- telephones, mobile phones
- chargers, plugs and wires and cables.
- video recorders, DVD players, cameras
- digital alarm clocks, radios and watches
- toasters, kettles, iron, blender, electric whisks and mixers
- laptops, smart watches, smart speakers, electronic IT accessories
- drills, small miscellaneous power tools
- electronic toys, torches, remote controls
Please remove batteries.
Hidden batteries inside electricals or individual batteries can spark dangerous fires when crushed. Battery fires endanger lives and cause serious environmental and health risks.
Check the A to Z of recycling and waste to see how to recycle batteries and bulbs.
Recycling large electric items
Any large electric items and household batteries can also be taken to one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC).
You can also have bulky items collected by arranging a bulky waste collection.
Some manufacturers or shops will recycle your old electricals when you buy a new electrical item.
Find your nearest recycling point and more about recycling your electricals on the Recycle your Electricals website.
What to do if your small electrical recycling bag(s) are not collected?
If your small electrical items were not collected on your booked day, please check that you have not put items that cannot be recycled, they will need to be removed before making another booking.
If your small electrical items were not collected on your scheduled day, please report a missed collection.
Before reporting a missed collection, please:
- make sure your items were out for collection by 7am on your collection day
- make sure you put the right items in the right sack or bag
- make sure you are reporting this to us within two working days of your booked collection day
- check to see if your sack or bag has been tagged or stickered with a reason for non-collection