What goes to shop or manufacturer take-back
15 things that belong in shop or manufacturer take-back.
| Item | Answer |
|---|---|
| Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) | Battery collection point — a supermarket or DIY store box, or the household waste centre. Never the kerbside bin. |
| Lithium-ion batteries | Battery or WEEE collection point only. A lithium cell in a bin lorry is a fire, not a littering problem. |
| Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes | A vape shop or supermarket take-back bin. It is electrical waste with a lithium cell inside, not litter. |
| Mobile phones | Wipe it, then trade it in, donate it or hand it to an electricals take-back point. |
| Disposable coffee cups | Not the kerbside bin. Take them to a shop cup collection point, or general waste — the lid and sleeve recycle separately. |
| Button and coin cells | Battery collection point. Tape them first — and keep them away from small children until they go. |
| Coffee pods and capsules | Brand take-back scheme if aluminium; general waste for most plastic pods. Compostable ones need a food waste collection. |
| Rechargeable batteries (NiMH, NiCd) | Battery collection point. NiCd cells contain cadmium and are hazardous waste in most jurisdictions. |
| Laptops and computers | Wipe the drive, then donate, trade in or take it to WEEE recycling. The battery makes binning it a fire risk. |
| Printer cartridges | Manufacturer freepost return or a shop collection box. Not the kerbside bin. |
| Tyres | Tyre fitter or household waste centre, usually for a small fee. They are banned from landfill in the UK and EU. |
| Power banks and portable chargers | Small electricals collection or a battery take-back point. It is a lithium cell in a plastic shell. |
| Propane and patio gas cylinders | Back to the supplier or exchange point. Refillable cylinders are almost never yours to scrap. |
| Bubble wrap and postal air pillows | Soft plastics collection at a supermarket, or reuse it. Not the kerbside bin. |
| Toys and gadgets with batteries inside | Take the batteries out and deal with them separately; the toy then goes in small electricals. Sealed ones go in whole. |
- Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) Battery collection point — a supermarket or DIY store box, or the household waste centre. Never the kerbside bin.
- Lithium-ion batteries Battery or WEEE collection point only. A lithium cell in a bin lorry is a fire, not a littering problem.
- Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes A vape shop or supermarket take-back bin. It is electrical waste with a lithium cell inside, not litter.
- Mobile phones Wipe it, then trade it in, donate it or hand it to an electricals take-back point.
- Disposable coffee cups Not the kerbside bin. Take them to a shop cup collection point, or general waste — the lid and sleeve recycle separately.
- Button and coin cells Battery collection point. Tape them first — and keep them away from small children until they go.
- Coffee pods and capsules Brand take-back scheme if aluminium; general waste for most plastic pods. Compostable ones need a food waste collection.
- Rechargeable batteries (NiMH, NiCd) Battery collection point. NiCd cells contain cadmium and are hazardous waste in most jurisdictions.
- Laptops and computers Wipe the drive, then donate, trade in or take it to WEEE recycling. The battery makes binning it a fire risk.
- Printer cartridges Manufacturer freepost return or a shop collection box. Not the kerbside bin.
- Tyres Tyre fitter or household waste centre, usually for a small fee. They are banned from landfill in the UK and EU.
- Power banks and portable chargers Small electricals collection or a battery take-back point. It is a lithium cell in a plastic shell.
- Propane and patio gas cylinders Back to the supplier or exchange point. Refillable cylinders are almost never yours to scrap.
- Bubble wrap and postal air pillows Soft plastics collection at a supermarket, or reuse it. Not the kerbside bin.
- Toys and gadgets with batteries inside Take the batteries out and deal with them separately; the toy then goes in small electricals. Sealed ones go in whole.