Small Electrical Collections
Currently this service is not available if your bins are located in a communal bin store. You can find alternative electrical recycling options here.
Collection space on our vehicles is very limited. If your collection is missed please store your items and place them out with your next scheduled rubbish collection.
Everything with a plug, battery or cable has the potential to be recycled.
- Small electrical items and household batteries – see our collection details below
- Bulky electrical items can be recycled using our chargeable bulky household waste collection service
Service Information Leaflets
Our handy service leaflet summarises the kerbside collection process. There are two versions available to download:
- For residents with a kerbside collected rubbish bin ("black lidded")
- For residents with kerbside collected Council branded blue rubbish sacks
There is also a useful visual checklist guide showing the types of items that we can accept for collection. Please note this is not a complete list.
How does the kerbside collection work?
Most unwanted or broken small electrical appliances, those items powered by batteries or with a plug, cable or lead can be recycled at the kerbside. Small electrical appliance recycling is collected every two weeks with your normal scheduled rubbish (black bin) collection.
Little and Often - Please recycle “little and often” as space is limited on our collection vehicles for the storage of electrical items
Bag It - Simply place the item(s) into a standard carrier size type plastic bag (no larger than 35 x 40cm and not in black bin bags)
Tie It – Securely tie the bag so the items do not fall out
Recycle It - Place next to your black lidded rubbish bin on your scheduled collection day
Preparing your items for recycling
As easy as ABC
Ask?
Does your old electrical contain any of the following:
- Batteries? remove household batteries and place in a separate bag for collection with your small electricals
- Bulbs? remove and visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk for your nearest recycling location
- Cables, plugs and leads? Ensure cables, plugs or leads are left attached to the appliance
- Packaging, accessories or attachments? Please don’t include any obvious attachments or accessories, just the electrical item itself, free of any packaging.
- Gas canisters? remove and dispose of safely at your local Recycling Centre
- Oils, perfumes or other liquids? remove and dispose of safely at your local Recycling Centre
- Personal data? – It is your responsibility to remove personal data from smart devices/computers. Visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk for further advice
Bag it
- Find a standard carrier sized type plastic bag (35x40cm) that you can use to store all your old small electricals until collection day
Check
- Is your item listed on our kerbside collections checklist? If so, we will collect it from your home
- For any items not on our kerbside collections checklist visit, please visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find your nearest reuse or recycling point
What type of small electrical appliances can be collected at the kerbside?
If the item you are looking to recycle is not listed, you can find details of alternative electrical recycling options here or email wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk with your query
- Answering machines
- Audio amplifiers
- Camcorders
- Cameras
- Cassette players
- CD Players
- Chargers
- Cigarette vapes (with the battery removed and disposed of separately)
- Computers for biking, driving, running, rowing etc
- Digital photo frames (screen size 6” diameter or less)
- Digital boxes
- DVD players
- Electronic toys and games
- Facsimile
- Games consoles
- Games controllers
- Headphones
- iPods
- Microphones
- Mini Hi fi systems
- Mobile phones
- MP3 players
- Musical instruments
- Portable fitness equipment e.g. vibration plate, toning belts
- Portable stereos
- Radios
- Remote controls
- Routers
- Set top boxes
- Speakers
- Sports equipment with electric or electronic components
- Telephones
- Turntables
- Vapes (disposable) - leaving battery inside (please DO NOT attempt to remove battery)
- Vapes (rechargeable) - remove battery first and recycle this separately with other household batteries (view service leaflet above for details)
- Air purifiers / fresheners (remove perfume or oil and dispose of safely)
- Alarm clocks
- Automatic peelers / can openers / jar openers
- Blenders and smoothie makers
- Clocks
- Clothes steamers
- Coffee grinders
- Coffee machines
- De-humidifiers
- Dictaphones
- Diffusers
- Electric blankets
- Electric knives
- Extractor fans
- Extension cable/leads
- Fans (e.g. small ceiling fans or desk)
- Fan heaters
- Food processors/choppers
- Food mixers (handheld)
- Food mixers (stand)
- Fryers/Air fryers
- Hand held vacuum cleaners / dust busters
- Hand held steam cleaners
- Heat pads
- Hot water dispensers
- Grills
- Ice cream makers
- Irons
- Juicers and pressers
- Hot plates
- Kettles
- Kitchen scales (remove batteries)
- Multi cookers
- Omelette makers
- Sandwich toasters
- Sodastreams
- Toasters
- Travel adaptors
- 6V
- D
- C
- AA
- AAA
- 9v
- Button
- Mobile phone batteries
Small domestic light fittings can be recycled at the kerbside if they comprise an electrical connection. Examples include:
- Bike lights
- Ceiling lights
- Christmas tree, fairy and string lights
- Desk / table lamps
- Pendant light cables
- Torches (remove any batteries)
- Wall lights
Remove all lightbulbs from their fittings as these need to be recycled separately as some contain potentially dangerous substances. Visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find further information including your nearest recycling point.
- Bathroom scales
- Ceramic rollers
- Curling tongs
- Epilators (hair remover)
- Hair clippers
- Hair dryers
- Hair straighteners/stylers
- Nail care devices
- Shavers
- Stylers
- Trimmers
- Toothbrushes/tooth cleaning tools
- Angle grinders
- Circular saw
- Electric screwdriver
- Extension lead
- Garden pruners
- Garden saws
- Glue and heat gun
- Jigsaw
- Mini saw
- Multi tools
- Impact drivers
- Nail gun
- Power drill
- Rotary multi tool
- Routers
- Sander / planer
- Sewing machine (small)
- Shears
- Soldering iron
- Tile cutter
For help on deleting data from your smart device visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk
- Baby monitors
- Calculators (pocket and desk)
- Electrical and electronic typewriters
- Fax machines
- Go-Pros
- Headsets
- Keyboards
- IT accessories (e.g. mouse, dongles)
- Phones and telecomms
- Routers
- Sat Navs
- Scanners (not if integrated with a printer)
- Smart speakers
- Smart watches
- Webcams
- SMART energy screens (less than 6” diameter)
- Smoke alarms / detectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Thermostats / temperature control devices
- Timers (cooking)
- Timers (lights)
What can’t be collected at the kerbside?
We are unable to collect electrical items larger than 35cm x 40cm as they won’t fit into the storage cages on our collection vehicles. We are also unable to accept the following specific items:
- Non-household batteries
The following batteries are not accepted:
-
- Those left inside an electrical appliance. These should be removed and placed out for collection in a separate bag next to your rubbish bin. (Check the list of acceptable batteries above)
- Batteries with trailing wires
- Children’s ride on toy batteries
- Corroded batteries
- Motorbike batteries
- Industrial batteries
- Sealed lead acid / gel batteries
- 12V leisure batteries
- Fluorescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs
- Gas cylinders from hair styling equipment
- Glass or ceramic electrical items (e.g. slow cookers or glass kettles)
- Printers, ink cartridges and toners
- Microwave ovens
- Oils, perfumes or other liquids from an electrical device (e.g. diffusers)
- TVs and computer monitors
- Laptops, notebooks, tablets and E-readers
- Packaging, attachments and accessories
Alternative Electrical Recycling, Repair and Re-use Options
Repair and Re-Use
It is always preferable to try and repair something rather than recycling it. There are several Repair Café's within our district where you can take items for free to try and get them repaired. Visit our Community Recycling website page for details midsussex.gov.uk/community-recycling
Bulky Waste Collection Service
We are unable to collect items larger than 35cm x 40cm as they won’t fit into the storage cages on our collection vehicles. For any larger items you wish to be collected please visit our Bulky Waste Collection page.
Recycling Centre
Electrical items can also be recycled at your local Recycling Centre
Recycling Locator Tool
Everything with a plug, cable or battery has the potential to be recycled. If you would like to explore other, alternative re-use and recycling options please visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk for all the latest information and advice and use the ‘recycling locator’ tool to find your nearest recycling point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Small electrical items and batteries will be collected every two weeks with your black lidded rubbish bin on your scheduled collection day
We are unable to provide a kerbside collection to properties with communal bins at the present time. You can recycle small electrical items at your local Household Waste Recycling Site, for larger items you can also use our bulky waste collection service or alternatively visit the recycling locator www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find alternative recycling options.
- Items should be placed in a standard size carrier type plastic bag (35cm x 40cm) or smaller, which has been tied to secure the contents and left next to your rubbish bin
- Items should not be placed in black bags. Any black bags will not be collected
- Batteries should be placed in a separate bag, which has been tied and left next to your rubbish bin
- Do not put any electrical items inside your rubbish bin (even if it is raining) as this could lead to the bin being rejected
All bags must be placed out for collection next to your rubbish bin by 7 am on the scheduled collection day
Collections are limited to one bag of small electricals and one bag of batteries per collection as there is limited storage capacity in the cages fitted to our collection vehicles. Please place items out for collection “little and often” to ensure everyone can benefit from this collection service.
It is preferable to leave your items at the side of the bin rather than the top for safety reasons. Items could be knocked off by passers by or blown off in the wind
Small electricals and batteries need to be stored in plastic bags for ease of transportation and unloading. It is not possible to use paper based bags as these would be likely to get wet at the kerbside or during transit which would make it difficult for crews to collect and store items safely.
The plastic bags will be removed once the small electricals and batteries are sorted at the re-processing plant. The plastic bags are then sent to an energy from waste facility where they are used to generate electricity.
We are unable to collect items larger than 35cm x 40cm as there is limited space in the storage cages which have been fitted onto the collection vehicles. For any larger electrical items you wish to be collected please visit our bulky waste collection page
Please store any additional small electrical items or batteries ready for your next scheduled rubbish collection
If wet weather is forecasted please do not leave bags out for collection, keep them for your next rubbish collection
Simply store your items somewhere dry ready for collection with your next scheduled rubbish collection
As no return visit will be made for missed bags, please either:
- Keep the bag until your next scheduled rubbish collection
- Take the items to your local Household Waste Recycling Site
- If your rubbish bin was collected but the bag of small electricals or batteries was missed this could be due to the cage on the collection vehicle which is used to store the items being full.
To try and avoid these types of missed collections and ensure all residents are able to benefit from this service please leave bagged small electrical items and / or batteries out “little and often” rather than saving a large number of items for collection.
- If the items were left out for collection in a black bag next to your rubbish bin they will not be taken
Yes you can recycle vapes with other small electricals. You should never place vapes in your general rubbish bin as they can start a fire. Please follow the advice below:
- Rechargeable vapes - Please remove the battery first and recycle this separately with other household batteries (view service leaflet above for details). The rechargeable vape (without battery) can be bagged up with other small electricals for collection.
- Disposable vapes - Please DO NOT attempt to remove the battery and simply bag up the entire unit with other small electricals ready for collection.
If your electrical appliance is no longer usable and you want to check whether it is recyclable or not use this checklist:
- Are there any plugs in your electrical items?
- Is it battery operated?
- Does it require charging?
- Is there a picture displaying a crossed-out bin on it?
If any of these elements are applicable, then the electrical item is recyclable. Not all small electrical items are able to be recycled using our kerbside collection service. Check the list on our website. If the item is not listed you can take it to your local Household Waste Recycling Site, for larger items use our bulky waste collection service or alternatively visit the recycling locator recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find alternative recycling options.
It is always preferable to try and repair something rather than recycling it. There are several Repair Café's within our district where you can take items for free to try and get them repaired. Visit our Community Recycling website page
Electrical items we are unable to take for collection at the kerbside can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Site, for larger items you can also use our bulky waste collection service or alternatively visit the recycling locator at recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find alternative recycling options.
We are unable to collect any laptops, tablets, notebooks or E-readers at the kerbside if their screen size exceeds 6 inches. You should take these items to your local Household Waste Recycling Site for recycling or visit the recycling locator recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find alternative recycling options.
It is the owners responsibility to remove any personal information from smart devices or computers prior to recycling. This will prevent your data from being compromised or used by another person. Visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk for further advice.
Electrical items are stripped down to their component parts e.g. metals and plastics so cannot be recycled along with the contents of your blue lidded recycling bin which include items such as cans, cardboard packaging and glass. These are sorted by conveyor belts at the MRF (Materials Recycling Facility).
- Batteries need to be presented separately for recycling using our kerbside collection service as they are processed in a different way to the other small electricals we can collect. It is vital you remember to remove any batteries from electrical equipment as this could lead to a fire if left attached to the device.
- Bulbs need to be removed from their fittings assome contain potentially dangerous substances. Visit recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find further information including your nearest recycling point.
- Liquids such as essential oils from electronic diffusers/air fresheners will contaminate the recycling and could also lead to a fire as they are highly flammable. Do not dispose of such liquids down drains or via other methods that can cause the substances to come into contact with water supplies, vegetation or animals. Visit www.westsussexrecycles.co.uk for information and advice on disposal
There are several battery types we are unable to collect from the kerbside, including car batteries, as they contain acid. Please check the battery list on our website for details. Those batteries not suitable for kerbside collection should be disposed of safely at your local Household Waste Recycling Site.
All cables, leads and plugs should be left attached to the appliances
Contact Us
Waste Management Team
Tel: 01444-477440
Email: wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk