IT Reuse and recycling
If you're a business or an organisation donating multiple items, we can collect IT equipment for free (eligibility criteria apply).
IT Reuse and recycling
Recycling and reusing old computers and IT equipment is a great way to help reduce the impact of your tech on the environment. Plus, with our reuse schemes, your computer recycling is helping tackle digital exclusion in Bristol.
Items eligible for recycling include:
- Laptops, desktops, and Apple Macs (no older than five years)
- Re-usable electronics – this excludes Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
- Mobile phones and tablets (Apple, Google and iCloud accounts must be removed from devices)
- Routers, switches, servers and networking equipment
- Monitors (minimum 24” and in working condition)
- Boxed, unused toner
Recycling business IT equipment
If you’re a business, we can collect working devices for free*.
We adhere to strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE) regulations and employ an IT Asset Disposition Service (ITAD).
We guarantee secure data destruction, use dedicated hardware which means once deleted data is unrecoverable, and we are audited annually. Bristol Waste holds ISO 27001 and BS EN 15713 certification.
*Please note that we can only collect for free where there are multiple items being donated (eligibility criteria apply). If you’re donating one or a few pieces of equipment, please donate these at the IT reuse donation points in your local household reuse and recycling centre.
Recycling household IT equipment
Bristol residents can recycle old or redundant devices by dropping them off at our IT reuse donation points or reuse shops in the household reuse and recycling centres.
Looking for computer recycling in Bristol? You can donate IT equipment at the designated IT Reuse donation points in your local household reuse and recycling centre, or book a collection with our team.
Recycled electrical items will either be donated through our Digital Inclusion Scheme to improve access to education and employment opportunities, sold in one of the reuse shops or on our eBay site, or will be recycled for components.
What happens to recycled IT equipment in Bristol?
IT equipment can be a treasure trove of valuable and rare metals. Recycling your devices will help protect the environment and ensure materials are recovered and reused.
Harmful chemicals in electronics like computers can be very destructive if they leak into the environment. We are certified to remove and dispose of these chemicals safely and securely – nothing will go to landfill.
There are three possible processes for your recycled devices that protects the environment and helps reduce the need to mine for new resources.
1. The computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone is donated
We are working with Bristol City Council to give working electrical IT equipment to schools, charities, and disadvantaged communities for free. Your old devices help residents access education and employment opportunities.
2. We sell IT equipment in our Reuse Shops
If your old or redundant device is suitable for reuse, we will wipe all your data, test it, and sell it in the Hartcliffe Way and Avonmouth Reuse Shops or via our eBay store. The money raised from sales helps support our reuse and also local charity work in the Bristol area.
3. Recycle components from your devices
You can drop off redundant devices and computer recycling at one of Bristol’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centres, at our IT reuse donation point.
Technology that’s in good working order is prepared for reuse. If broken, we recycle the components, stopping toxic materials from leaking into the environment.
How to recycle your IT equipment in Bristol
Recycle your equipment at our IT Reuse donation points in any of our Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (you will need to book in advance). We will then either donate it through our Digital Inclusion Scheme, sell it in one of our Reuse Shops, on our eBay store, or we will recycle the components.
Digital Inclusion Scheme
By reusing IT equipment, we are reducing digital exclusion in Bristol. Our aim is to give away thousands of reused devices to people, groups, and charities in Bristol to help reduce digital poverty.
FAQ – Computer/IT equipment recycling in Bristol
Absolutely! You can take it to your local Household Reuse and Recycling Centre and we will give it a new life or dispose of it safely. We will wipe all your data, test and donate the device to a local charity, school, or disadvantaged group, or sell it in one of our Reuse Shops.
Take it to the IT Reuse donation point in one of the city’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centres. Don’t forget to book your visit in advance!
We recommend reformatting your device and removing all your data before dropping it off in the Household Reuse and Recycling Centre. Any mobile phones donated will need to have their Apple, Google and iCloud accounts removed. Don’t worry, we wipe all data as part of our standard practice. If you donate it through the Digital Inclusion Scheme or we sell it in one of Reuse Shops, you can be assured we will securely delete any remaining data.
Go to our Digital Inclusion Scheme section. Businesses can call 0117 440 6681 or fill in this form and we can collect desktop computers, laptops, phones, tablets, routers, switches and servers, networking equipment, monitors (minimum 24” and in working condition) and boxed unused toners for free. This is subject to eligibility criteria (for example computers/laptops must not be older than five years).
Our Reuse Shops
Through our Reuse Shops, at the Household Reuse and Recycling Centres, we divert good condition items from the waste stream. These include laptops and other electronic items at our Avonmouth and Hartcliffe Way Reuse Shops.
