What to do with old tech: sell it, pass it on or recycle it

Most UK homes have a drawer, box or cupboard full of tech that's been replaced but never dealt with. Old phones "in case the new one breaks", tablets, earbuds, cameras, a laptop, a tangle of cables. It feels easier to leave it there — but working tech loses value the longer it sits, and broken tech belongs in a proper recycling stream, not a drawer.

Here's a simple way to work through it.

Step 1: Gather it all in one place

Go through drawers, the loft, the car, desk drawers and kids' rooms. You're looking for phones, tablets, e-readers, laptops, consoles, cameras, headphones, smartwatches, chargers and cables, hard drives and USB sticks.

Step 2: Test it

Charge each item and see if it turns on and works properly. Sort into three piles:

• Works well — candidates for selling or passing on.
• Works, but old or low value — candidates for donating.
• Broken — recycle.

Step 3: Deal with your data

Anything that stores data needs care before it leaves your hands:

• Phones and tablets: back up, sign out of iCloud or Google, then factory reset. See how to wipe an iPhone.
• Laptops: back up, sign out, and reset with the "remove everything" option. See selling an old laptop.
• Hard drives and USB sticks: wipe them, or if they're broken, physically destroy them before recycling.
• Smart home devices and cameras: remove them from your apps and reset them.

Step 4: Sell what's worth selling

Working tech worth £15 or more is usually worth selling. With SendForCash you describe the item and get an instant cash offer; accept and we email a free postage label, and we pay the same day we inspect. No listings or haggling.

Specific guides:

• Selling an old phone
• Selling an iPad, Kindle or tablet
• Selling a smartwatch
• Selling AirPods and headphones
• Selling camera lenses
• Selling a drone or GoPro

Step 5: Pass on or donate the rest

Older working devices can still be useful to someone. Some charities and community schemes collect working laptops and phones for people who need them. Ask locally or search for device donation schemes in your area — and always wipe devices first.

Step 6: Recycle what's broken

Electrical items carry the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol, which means they shouldn't go in household waste. Take them to your local household waste recycling centre, or use a retailer take-back scheme. Our e-waste recycling guide has the details.

Cables and chargers on their own are usually low value. Keep one or two good ones; recycle the rest.

Why it's worth doing

Every working device that finds a new owner is one that doesn't need to be manufactured from scratch. Selling your old tech gets you cash, gets someone else a device at a lower cost, and keeps it in use for longer. That's the idea behind "empty the drawer".

FAQ

Is it worth selling a phone that's five years old?

If it works well and is a popular model, often yes. Get an instant offer to find out — it takes a minute.

Can I put batteries in my household bin?

No. Batteries should go to battery recycling points, which you'll find at many supermarkets and at recycling centres.

Do you buy cables and chargers?

Only as part of an item they belong to. On their own they're unlikely to meet our £15 minimum.

What if I've lost the passcode to an old phone?

You can usually reset it via the manufacturer's recovery process, but you'll need your account password to remove activation lock. If you can't, it can't be sold — recycle it instead.