Waste electrical and electronic equipment (weee) recycling

What you can recycle

Small electrical and battery items include:

• Freeview boxes
• CD players and radios
• Remote controls
• Electronic toys
• Headphones
• Hairdryers
• Hair straighteners/Curling tongs
• Hair trimmers
• Electric shavers
• Electric toothbrushes
• Kettles
• Digital alarm clocks
• Irons
• Toasters
• Sandwich makers
• Electric scales
• Blenders
• Power tools
• Sat Navs
• Digital cameras
• Handheld game consoles
• Tablets and phones
• Extension leads

If the item you are looking to recycle isn't small enough to fit in a carrier bag, please recycle it at one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres. 

We do not offer secure data removal or confidentiality of data, therefore it is your responsibility to ensure your information is removed before depositing any item for recycling or reuse.

Batteries

There are also battery recycling tubes available at each collection point. The following household batteries are accepted: 6V, D, 9V, C, AA, AAA, Button. We also accept batteries from electrical and electronic equipment including mobile phone, laptop and power tool batteries. Lithium batteries must have both terminals taped over.

We cannot accept Car Batteries, other Industrial Batteries, or any Battery with a wire connected through this scheme.

Where the local collection points are

Local collection points on a map

Local collection points on a map

See all of our local collection points on a map.

How to enter the competition

Recycle at your local collection point and enter our free monthly competition to be in with a chance to win a prize courtesy of our partners at AO.com.

To enter our monthly competition, contact us by email with the name of the item you recycled (e.g. kettle) and the collection point reference number (the container at each collection point has a number e.g. number 1). You will then be entered into that month's free prize draw. Winners will be picked at random and notified by email. Terms and conditions (PDF, 130.1kb)   apply.

Items that are working and in good condition

If you have items that are unwanted but in working order/good condition, these can be donated to your local reuse charity. Visit Reusing furniture and household items or Recycle for County Durham on Facebook for more information.

How to recycle larger electrical items

Larger electrical items such as TVs and laptop computers can be recycled at any of the household waste recycling centres. Visit Recycling centres (tips) for more information.

Why you should recycle

For every item we recycle, we are reducing the need to use raw materials, which helps save energy and precious resources. Metal can be recycled endlessly, without loss of quality. Did you know, recycling just one toaster will create enough steel to make 25 new cans?

Repair Café

Do you have any electrical items that you think could be repaired? Why not visit our touring Repair Café, where there will be repair, reuse and recycling points for small electrical items.

We're working with County Durham Furniture Help Scheme who will have experts on hand to take a look at your broken electrical item to see if it can be repaired. In some instances we may need to send your item away but a lot of the time a simple fix can be done there and then and for free.

There will also be a swap shop running for any clean clothes in good condition as well as lots of information on repair and reuse from our designated team.

Our next repair cafés are: 

• Hamsteels Community Centre, Western Ave, Esh Winning, Durham DH7 9LS, Friday 31 March 10.00am to 1.00pm
• Wolsingham, Library, The Town Hall, Market Place, Wolsingham, DL13 3AB, Friday 14 April, 10.00am to 1.00pm
• Woodhouse Park Community Garden Classroom, Peterlee, Balliol Close, Peterlee, SR8 2NX, Friday 28 April 10.00am to 1.00pm
• The Cornforth Partnership, 68 High St, Cornforth, Ferryhill DL17 9HS, Friday 12 May 10.00am to 1.00pm
• The Greenhills Centre, Wheatley Hill Community Centre, Stephen's Terrace, Wheatley Hill, DH6 3JS, Wednesday 24 May 10.00am to 1.00pm

Why not set up your own Repair Café?

Community groups and venues can receive our support to set up their own repair cafés. This does not have to be confined to electrical items. Why not set up a repair café focused around clothing,  furniture or anything you can think of to fix? These events can also double as community coffee mornings and get togethers.

You may also be able to get help towards the cost of running such activities from Believe Housing, through its new Keep Warm, Keep Well Community Grants fund. Not-for-profit groups in County Durham can apply to the housing provider for £500 towards community initiatives that will support people's physical, mental and social wellbeing this winter.

More information: Apply for a community grant from Believe Housing

Our waste recycling team can also help with queries. Contact us.