How to recycle your laptop

When you're done with your old laptop, Mac or PC, make sure you recycle it properly, including removing any personal data.

Recycling an old computer can keep it out of landfill for longer by giving it a new lease of life. From passing it on to friends and family, to selling, donating to charity and recycling, there are plenty of options to make the most of your old tech.

Remember that removing your personal information is a vital step. We've got more details below.

Tech Support – stay on top of your tech and get unlimited expert 1-2-1 support by phone, email, remote fix and in print.

Before you recycle

It's essential to take some steps to securely remove the data on your computer. Some charities and companies may offer to do this for you, but if you'd prefer to take matters into your own hands, follow our advice.

Factory reset your computer

Before recycling a laptop or desktop, you should reset it to its factory settings. In theory, this leaves only the bare operating system and pre-installed programs on the device – removing access to your files and any programs you’ve added.

It's vital to make sure you've backed up all the files you want to keep before you begin this process. Store them safely on an external hard drive, your new computer, or in online cloud storage. 

If you want to reinstall software from your old computer onto a new one, note down the licence keys. You'll need these to install paid-for software (including Microsoft Office) on a new machine.

Read our full guide on how to factory reset a Windows 10 computer.

Use data-shredding software

Scrapped computers can end up being recycled anywhere, often with the components stripped out to extract valuable metals. But it’s also possible to extract potentially sensitive data at this point, even with a computer that's been factory reset by following the steps above.

To be certain your data is gone, you should consider using data-shredding software. Windows 10 and 11 let you shred data from within their factory reset options. To access this, go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Then select Remove everything and clean the drives. 

For other operating systems, it's a good idea to run additional software. Our Tech Support team recommends the free program Eraser.

Remove the hard drive

If you’re recycling a laptop or desktop and would prefer not to dabble with data-shredding software, the safest way to make sure your data isn’t accessed is to physically remove the hard drive.

You can put an old hard drive into an external caddy, which are available for about £12 online. This will convert it into a USB hard drive that you can use to store and access data, just like a regular external hard drive. 

 Alternatively, you can smash the old hard drive to make it unrecoverable. It's physical work – you'll need to destroy it with a few satisfying blows of a hammer to break the ‘platters’ that hold the data.

From toasters to unwanted chargers, find out how to recycle electrical items

Use a retailer's trade-in or recycling system

There are a number of ways you can recycle your computer via a retailer, such as through Apple's Trade In store and Currys' recycling service. 

For most retailers, including the ones mentioned above, you won't have needed to have bought your device from the retailer to be able to recycle it there. So you can take your Dell, HP, Asus, or other branded laptop to any Apple Store or local collection point for free responsible recycling from Apple.

If you have an Apple Mac to trade in, you can earn money back on your old device to spend on a new Apple product. You can either spend this right away, or put the money on an Apple gift card to use later.

Looking to recycle or trade in through Currys? You can go through its online evaluation and get an estimated trade-in price for your old tech. Then you can either print this out or screenshot it and take it to a Currys store, or you can complete your trade-in online.

If you do it in-store, you'll receive your payment in the form of a Currys gift card, or if you complete the process online, the money can be transferred into your bank account within three to five working days. 

It's also important to know that when you buy a new electrical item, such as a PC or laptop, the retailer you buy from is legally obliged to help you safely and responsibly dispose of the item you are replacing.

Retailers should either:

• Provide a free in-store take-back service for your old item when you buy a new version, or
• Set up an alternative, free take-back service

If the seller can't provide either of the above, it must contribute to the cost of local recycling services.

Whichever service a retailer provides, it must provide free written information, including details of the service, how electrical equipment can be reused and recycled, and why electrical items need to be separated from other household rubbish. The information that retailers provide can include posters in-store, online information or printed leaflets.

Use a computer recycling scheme or charity

If you can't go through a retailer to recycle your tech, you might consider using a computer recycling scheme. One of the best recycling services we've come across is  WeeeCharity.

This charity will collect your old computing equipment free of charge from your home. It will also offer to wipe your data securely, also free of charge.

WeeeCharity donates refurbished computers to those in need, or else disposes of them in an environmentally responsible manner.

Alternatively, your local council might run a scheme for recycling old computers (but it might charge for collection). For more details, go to the Environment Agency Website or contact your council.

If your council isn't able to collect small electricals directly from your home, you can visit a recycling centre. For an overview of nearby donation points, enter your postcode on Recycle Your Electricals.

You can also enter your postcode at the Recycle Now website to see whether there’s a recycling scheme near you. There's also the Freecycle Network, where you can give away your old machine, and Computer Aid International sends computers to developing countries.

Be aware that some charities might not accept devices that are too old to receive security updates.

Sell or donate your old computer or laptop

You can get paid for your unused device by selling it through a tech-buying high-street retailer such as CeX, which also lets you sell products through its CeX website. 

You could also check out musicMagpie, which takes a range of items from laptops and MacBooks to CDs and books.

Most online tech-buying companies will provide free postage for sending in your device, too.

Alternatively, if you have a friend or relative who isn't bothered about having the latest gadgets, and your unwanted device is still in good working order, consider passing it on to them. However, if the device is too old, it will no longer be receiving software and security updates, making it vulnerable to hackers. So check its status first:

• For Windows computers, only Windows 10 and 11 are supported
• For Macs, Monterey, Big Sur and Ventura are supported
• Got a Chromebook? Use our free Chromebook update checking tool to find out how long it will be supported for.

Save money on your next computer - find out how to buy a refurbished laptop

Join Which? Tech Support

Which? Tech Support can help you keep you on top of your tech. Our experts explain things clearly so that you can resolve issues and feel more confident using your devices.

Get unlimited 1-2-1 expert support:

• By phone Clear guidance in choosing, setting up, using and resolving issues with your home tech devices.
• By email Outline the issue and we’ll email you our answer.
• By remote fix We connect securely from our office to your home computer and resolve issues while you watch.
• In print Which? Tech magazine, six issues a year delivered to your door.

You can join Which? Tech Support for £4.99 a month or £49 a year.