Electronics recycling in Winchester: where old gadgets should really go

What counts as e-wasteSection titled What%20counts%20as%20e-waste

E-waste, formally called WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment), is essentially anything with a plug, battery or cable. Recycle Your Electricals says that anything with a plug, battery or cable can be reused or recycled. Common examples include:

• Phones and tablets
• Computers and laptops
• TVs and monitors
• Small appliances such as kettles, toasters and torches
• Cables and chargers
• Batteries

Why it should never go in the binSection titled Why%20it%20should%20never%20go%20in%20the%20bin

Hidden batteries are the biggest practical worry. Recycle Your Electricals warns that batteries inside electricals can spark dangerous fires when crushed in bin lorries and recycling centres, which is why they should never go in the bin. Winchester Council also asks residents not to put small electricals inside either bin (council guidance).

There is also the wasted value. The UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2024 reports that only 22.3% of the e-waste produced in 2022 was documented as properly collected and recycled, with natural resources worth an estimated US $62 billion unaccounted for. Recycle Your Electricals says around 75% of the materials in old electricals can be recycled.

Recycling centres serving WinchesterSection titled Recycling%20centres%20serving%20Winchester

Hampshire County Council runs the household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) in the Winchester district. Winchester Council's recycling centres page lists four: Winchester, Bishops Waltham, New Alresford and Waterlooville. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is among the items they accept.

• You must have an appointment to visit an HWRC, booked through the Hampshire County Council website (linked from the council page).
• The council page does not break down exactly which electrical items are accepted, so check with Hampshire County Council before taking anything unusual.

Shop and retailer take-back schemesSection titled Shop%20and%20retailer%20take-back%20schemes

Retailers that sell electricals have to offer a way for customers to dispose of old ones. The Distributor Take-back Scheme (DTS) was approved by government as an alternative to in-store take-back for retailers and distance-sellers, and it is funded by those retailers. Whether a particular shop takes items in store depends on how it meets that duty, so ask the retailer before you carry anything over.

To find a nearby drop-off, the Recycle Your Electricals locator covers recycling centres, shops, charities and community points, and says it lists almost 30,000 locations. It only searches UK postcodes.

What Winchester Council will collectSection titled What%20Winchester%20Council%20will%20collect

Winchester Council collects small electricals and batteries from the kerbside. Any small electrical item that uses batteries or plugs, such as a toaster, torch or kettle, can go out if it fits in a standard carrier bag. Put the bag next to your bin on collection day, not inside it and not in a black sack. Small household batteries go in a small plastic bag (a sandwich bag will do) on top of your bin. The council cannot collect light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, car batteries or large commercial batteries.

Larger items go through the council's bulky waste service, booked with Biffa. At the time of writing, Category A (£22.19, including VAT, quoted as valid until 31 January 2027) covers a TV and small electricals such as a hi-fi or hoover, and Category B (£38.01) covers items such as washing machines, dishwashers and under-counter fridges. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official pages before booking.

Wipe it, then donate or reuseSection titled Wipe%20it%2C%20then%20donate%20or%20reuse

Clear your data firstSection titled Clear%20your%20data%20first

Before any phone, tablet, laptop or console leaves the house, back up what you want to keep, sign out of your accounts, and carry out a factory reset. For drives holding sensitive data, use a secure wipe or have the drive physically destroyed rather than relying on a simple delete. Remove SIM and memory cards too.

Where to donate working electronicsSection titled Where%20to%20donate%20working%20electronics

Recycle Your Electricals suggests repairing, donating, selling or recycling old electricals, and its locator includes charities that take working items. Winchester Council's bulky waste page also points residents to the Smart Living Reuse Directory and Freecycle for items in good condition (council page). Check what a charity accepts before you visit, as policies on electricals vary.

When a private collection makes senseSection titled When%20a%20private%20collection%20makes%20sense

A private collection suits house clearances with mixed electricals, office clear-outs, broken TVs too big for the car, or any time other waste is going anyway. Winchester Rubbish Removal collects e-waste alongside general clearance loads, with licensed disposal.

Which option fits your situationSection titled Which%20option%20fits%20your%20situation

Related servicesSection titled Related%20services

• E Waste Disposal
• Commercial Waste Removal
• Rubbish Removal