Recycling and/or Disposing Of Old Computer Equipment
Article ID = 67Article Title = Recycling and/or Disposing Of Old Computer Equipment
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 12th January 2012
Article Last Updated = 25th November 2021
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?67
Article Brief Description:
A guide to recycling and/or disposing of your old computer equipment including Apple Macs, iPhones, iPods, iPads
Recycling and/or Disposing Of Old Computer Equipment
Types of IT product that you can recycle in the United Kingdom:- Paper
- Optical discs including CDs and DVDs
- Computer equipment including Apple Macs/iPods/iPads/iPhones
- Batteries
- Mobile devices including Mobile Phones, Apple iPhones/iPads/iPods
Paper
Pretty much all paper and cardboard is now collected at the doorstep in the UK or at local/community recycling centres. Check exactly what can be recycled. You might want to consider shredding (sensitive) documents before recycling them.Find your nearest recycling location in the UK
Optical discs
There is only one primary company in the UK (Polymer Recycling Ltd) that will recycle optical discs. They are happy to accept postal/courier deliveries of unwanted CDs (CDRs), DVDs (DVDRs), whole or cut/shredded, from organisations and members of the public for recycling, provided that postage/delivery is paid by the sender. The address to send them to is:Polymer Recycling Ltd
Peninsula Business Park
Reeds Lane
Moreton
Wirral
CH46 1DW
Opening hours: Monday - Thursday, 7.00am - 5.00pm.
Computer equipment/portable devices
Electrical goods for recycling are known as WEEE and there are strict rules for the recycling of WEEE in the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK). Below are some ways of disposing of computer equipment.NOTE: In all cases you should prepare the equipment before disposing of it:
- Backup and/or archive your data.
- Computers should have software and/or services de-authorised/deactivated.
- Computers should also have any internal storage devices/hard disks securely erased. NOTE: If your Mac computer has a T2 security chip then it is likely to have an "Activation Lock" - you should deactivate the activation lock before erasing the device and disposing of it!
- iPhones, iPads and iPod touches can be easily factory reset using the Erase All Content and Settings option on the device itself. NOTE: If your iOS device is running iOS 7 or later it will have an "Activation Lock" - you should deactivate the activation lock before erasing the device and disposing of it!
- iPods can be easily factory reset using the iTunes application (macOS 10.14 or earlier)/the Finder (macOS 10.15 or later).
- Apple Airport Express/Base Stations/Time Capsules can be (factory) reset.
- Other computing equipment like routers and printers can usually be (factory) reset - check the manual for the device for more information.
Authorised/Activated Software and/or Services
- Apple software and related services
- Adobe Creative Suite/Creative Cloud and other products/services
- Microsoft Office 2011/2016/2019/365 for Mac but not Office 2004 or 2008
- Microsoft Windows and other products/services
- QuarkXPress
- Enfocus Pitstop Pro
- Mathworks MATLAB and Simulink Student Version
- Unity Technologies Unity 3D
- OnOne Software Perfect Photo Suite and other products
Mac computers
- First backup some/all of your data or clone your startup disk as required.
- If you use iCloud archive your cloud data.
- If you use them, turn off "Find My Mac" and sign out of "iCloud".
- Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud
- Untick "Find My Mac"
- Click "Sign Out" on the left hand side (data is automatically removed from your Mac) NOTE: If your Mac computer has a T2 security chip then it is likely to have an "Activation Lock" - you should deactivate the activation lock. Macs that we know have a T2 security chip include:
- iMac (2020 model or later)
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro (2019 model or later)
- Mac mini (2018 model or later)
- MacBook Air (2018 model or later)
- MacBook Pro (2018 model or later)
- Sign out of all Apple related software/services including some or all of the following:
- macOS 10.14 and earlier - iTunes application:
- Account menu > Authorisations > De-authorise This Computer…
- Account menu > Authorisations > De-authorise Audible Account
- Account menu > Sign Out
- macOS 10.15 and later - Music application:
- Account menu > Authorisations > De-authorise This Computer…
- Account menu > Authorisations > De-authorise Audible Account
- Account menu > Sign Out
- macOS 10.15 and later only - TV application > Account menu > Sign Out
- App Store application - Store menu > Sign Out
- iBooks/Books application:
- Store menu > De-authorise This Computer…
- Store menu > Sign Out
- Photos application - Photos menu > Preferences… > iCloud > UNTICK "iCloud Photos" and "My Photo Stream"
- Messages application - Messages menu > Preferences… > iMessage > click "Sign Out"
- FaceTime application - FaceTime menu > Preferences… > Settings > click "Sign Out"
- De-authorise/deactivate any software/services on the computer (see the list above).
- If you are running macOS 12 or later, factory reset the computer using the Erase All Content and Settings option.
- If you are running macOS 11 or earlier securely erase the internal storage and reinstall macOS / OS X / Mac OS X:
- Securely erase the internal storage.
- If you have a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar you might want to take the additional step of clearing all the information from the Secure Enclave in the Touch Bar (see step 6 in the linked Apple article).
- Install the macOS / OS X / Mac OS X version of choice.
iPhone/iPad (mini)/iPod touch models
- First backup some/all of the data on the device either to your iTunes application (macOS 10.14 or earlier)/the Finder (macOS 10.15 or later) or iCloud.
- Factory reset the device using the Erase All Content and Settings option.
Pass it on to another family member or friend
Just remember to follow the guidelines above.Reuse and repurpose
You may be able to reuse/repurpose an old Mac computer as a- Basic File Server
- Media/iTunes/Music Server
- Print Server
- DVD and CD Server
- iPhoto Sharing Server
- DNLA/PLEX Server e.g., to PlayStation, Xbox, PLEX client
- Backup Server
- Archiving Server
- PDF Library Server (paperless office)
Donate it
Charities and local educational institutions may be able to make use of your equipment.IT For Charities - resource guide for UK charities and not-for-profit organisations
IT Schools For Africa
Recycle it
Dispose of it properly and using some schemes like Apple's "Reuse and Recycle" you may even get some money for it!Apple's Recycling Programmes
Find your nearest recycling location in the UK
Batteries
All types of batteries can usually be recycled and where possible you should always recycle batteries rather than throw them in the bin as they all contain highly toxic chemicals! However, different types of batteries may require different recycling so always check where you are recycling them.You can recycle Apple laptop batteries at any official Apple retail store.
Find your nearest recycling location in the UK
Mobile devices including Apple iPhones/iPads/iPods, mobile phones and tablets
All mobile phones can easily be recycled and some will even get you money back or money off a future purchase. If you are using an Apple iPhone/iPad/iPod with iOS 7 or later you will need to de-activate/unlock it before selling/recycling it. iPhones can be easily factory reset using the Erase All Content and Settings option on the device itself.Useful mobile device recycling/trade-in links
- Apple's Recycling Programmes
- O2 UK's recycling programme
- EE UK's recycling programme
- Vodafone UK's trade-in programme
- Carphone Warehouse UK's trade-in programme
- Amazon.com iPhone trade-in programme
(United States of America - USA only)
- Freedom Mobiles - non-profit comparison site featuring mobile recyclers
- Envirofone
Useful Web Sites for Recycling in the United Kingdom
Recycle NowRecycle More
Find your nearest recycling location
Freecycle
Apple's Recycling Programmes
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