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Recycling and/or Disposing Of Old Computer Equipment

Article ID = 67
Article 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

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:
Authorised/Activated Software and/or Services
NOTE: If you know of any other Macintosh software that requires activation please contact us.

Mac computers

  1. First backup some/all of your data or clone your startup disk as required.
  2. If you use iCloud archive your cloud data.
  3. If you use them, turn off "Find My Mac" and sign out of "iCloud".
    1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud
    2. Untick "Find My Mac"
    3. Click "Sign Out" on the left hand side (data is automatically removed from your Mac)
      4. 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)
  4. 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"
  5. De-authorise/deactivate any software/services on the computer (see the list above).
  6. If you are running macOS 12 or later, factory reset the computer using the Erase All Content and Settings option.
  7. If you are running macOS 11 or earlier securely erase the internal storage and reinstall macOS / OS X / Mac OS X:
More information from Apple about what to do before you sell or give away your Mac.

iPhone/iPad (mini)/iPod touch models

  1. 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.
  2. Factory reset the device using the Erase All Content and Settings option.
More information from Apple about what to do before you sell or give away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
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
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

Useful Web Sites for Recycling in the United Kingdom

Recycle Now
Recycle More
Find your nearest recycling location
Freecycle
Apple's Recycling Programmes

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