Laptop Recycling in London

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Learn more about Laptop Recycling in London

Laptop recycling services are in huge demand in London as the city discards nearly 700,000 laptops per year from residential and commercial premises, of which an estimated 375,000 are not collected or processed correctly, causing environmental challenges as electronic waste, more specifically laptops are hazardous. Something needs to change in the way we manage the huge amount of electronic waste we produce, this waste stream is only increasing and faster than ever before so the need for more sustainable laptop recycling solutions is now more of a need than ever before too.

As part of the laptop recycling process nearly all the plastic and metal materials which make up laptops can re enter the circular economy if they are processed correctly, and electronic waste recovery facilities in London play a vital role in carrying out a thorough laptop disposal service as they keep the hazardous waste as part of a laptop from harming the environment and back into circulation. Laptops are slightly different from most other small electronics like toasters and hair dryers that are powered directly and do not contain a battery. The laptop disposal process is key to get right as the materials found in laptop monitors, hard drives etc mean they are also classed as hazardous waste, and require specialist, professional disposal and processing. Laptops are also classified as confidential waste as the data stored on the laptop is sensitive and needs to be properly wiped in order for it to be reused, we would always recommend a data destruction process as part of any type of laptop disposal service to ensure your data has been professionally destroyed from the device before it is sent for recycling or reuse.

Laptops are a simpler and more economical alternative to traditional computers, and with the hard drive, monitor, keyboard and mouse in one unit, they are a much more convenient choice than a desktop computer for many individuals and students who need to work from multiple locations. It’s also common for many employees to have computers in the office and a company issued laptop for remote working, further increasing the need for up to date laptops on the market that sync with desktop computers, which increase the need for professional laptop disposal services.

The considerable use of laptops in homes and offices drives frequent updates to the software, and new products constantly enter the market with each system update. Many thousands of laptops are replaced every year to accommodate new hardware and CPU requirements, in line with rapid technological advancement and the need for improved performance. However the waste industry has had a hard time keeping up with the demand and speedy evolution of our technology and digital devices meaning that the way the industry handles electronic waste needs improving. We have the solution as we work with the most qualified and thorough electronic waste companies in London, however considering the ball is in your court the first step is ensuring you hire an electronic waste service provider that carries out a thorough laptop recycling process that ensures your data protection and our environmental protection.

With so many laptops requiring regular replacement, the need for large scale electronic waste operations that can cope with laptop recycling and recovering materials from discarded laptop computers is becoming increasingly important for managing this waste stream, to ensure that plastic and metal components are recycled correctly and the hazardous components do not enter landfill.

At Wayst we work with professional laptop recycling companies who are experienced in handling electronic and hazardous waste, as well as the data destruction part of the process. All of our service providers meet our Wayst standards for compliance and health and safety by following HSE and the Environment Agency guidelines.
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Laptop disposal and your data security

Before you dispose of your laptop there are several steps you should take to protect your personal data and unlink your laptop from your online accounts and subscription services. Firstly, you should backup your laptop files to cloud storage and then unlink your online accounts and App Store logins so that your laptop is no longer recognised as an associated device. Next you should restore your laptop to its default settings so that the memory is wiped and all your personal apps and settings are removed.

Be aware that wiping your laptop at this level does not erase the data completely from the hard drive and in the wrong hands your data and information is still accessible. A professional electronic waste management company will use market leading data wiping software for the purposes of wiping data in order to then refurbish and reuse your laptop. Reuse is the most environmentally friendly way of carrying out a laptop disposal. If you are not using a professional electronic waste management company then you can purchase your own data wiping programs, however the process may be time consuming, costly and less secure than hiring a professional electronic waste company to carry out a laptop recycling and data destruction service for you.
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WEEE regulations

WEEE which stands for waste electrical and electronic equipment is a huge waste stream that is processed everywhere, but especially in large metropolitan cities like London, where a vast amount of IT equipment is replaced and old machines and components enter the waste cycle every year in their thousands.

The WEEE directive set up under EU law is designed to regulate waste management to divert electronic waste from landfill and introduce incentives and penalties to encourage individuals and businesses to dispose of IT equipment in a way that is environmentally sustainable. This means that IT equipment such as laptops needs to be processed in accordance with the law and as a hazardous waste class where appropriate. The hazardous waste classification applies to laptop screens and batteries which contain chemicals that can cause harm to the environment. The other materials contained in the laptop are either of value in the case of precious metals or cannot be broken down by the environment as is the case for plastic. The value that can be derived from discarded IT equipment is a good incentive for recycling initiatives, however it is still an expensive process and much needs to be done to improve the technology used in materials extraction and separation to bring down the cost of materials recovery for this waste stream.
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Laptop battery disposal

One of the most easily removable and hazardous components of the laptop is the battery which should be disposed of separately from the rest of the laptop as it poses a fire risk along the waste journey. The lithium ion batteries used in most laptops are not as toxic to the environment as some other common types of battery, but they can be flammable if they are thrown in with general rubbish. They also contain various types of plastic and metal material that can be recovered, including aluminum and steel. Many laptop manufacturers run take back initiatives for old laptop batteries, as well as some electronics and IT retailers. Most council run household waste recycling centres can also take laptop batteries to appropriate e-waste recovery facilities. Also make sure you clearly box and label your laptop battery so it can be disposed of safely and enter the correct waste stream for recycling.
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Selling a laptop

There are many retailers and laptop manufacturers that offer trade in services or vouchers for laptops. The laptop computers that are traded or exchanged are usually refurbished to be resold by the retailer as this is the most low cost option for reuse. If laptops are not suitable for reselling the next stage is component recovery, where laptops are dismantled for parts recycling. Some components are widely reusable and depending on the type and make of laptop that is traded in, electronic waste experts will be able to assess where the electrical components can be used in current laptops on the market.

If you want to sell your laptop be aware that they depreciate in value fairly quickly. Many traders buy broken laptops in bulk because they can get more money for the components and precious metals inside than for selling the computer as a whole. Electronics are mined for gold silver and copper using various extraction methods and the metal pieces produced by the process can then be sold at a premium.

If your laptop is in good working order and less than 2 years old you may be able to fetch a good price for it on an online selling platform. However, please be aware of the pitfalls when it comes to handing your device with access to your information to another as it makes the process risky, we would recommend if you are looking to resell your laptop that you ensure you arrange for professional data wiping prior to the exchange.
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What you need to know about London

London

An ancient settlement that grew up along the banks of the Thames, London is one of the most well established and influential cities in the western world. It has reinvented itself many times throughout history to become the vibrant dynamic and complex entity that it is today with an infrastructure that is constantly developing to accommodate the progress and advancements of modern day Britain. It is well known for being one of the most integrated and culturally diverse cities in Europe, and accommodates many ways of living that make it stand out as a place that not only celebrates diversity but thrives on it. The pull of London for so many people from around the world and its increasing population demand a waste management industry that is highly organised, adaptable, and available for public use. Waste transfer companies have a large share of a market that is constantly in need of rubbish removal services, and the amount of businesses operating within this industry drives competition and a range of services that can overwhelm consumers and organisations when choosing a contractor for their rubbish disposal needs. One of the most important considerations when choosing a rubbish removal service is their commitment to the environment, re-use and recycling practices, and a diversion of waste from landfill. This can be achieved by companies who operate within statutory frameworks, practise due diligence, and adhere to the rules and regulations set out by the Environment Agency.

  • Population Size 9,304,016
  • Active Businesses 1,240,767
  • Waste Collected (tonnes)3,901,600
  • Tonnes of Waste Recycled or Reused 1,248,512

What are the different ways to dispose of waste in London?

There are hundreds of waste facilities around the city, from council run tips and recycling centres, to materials and energy recovery facilities, which are gradually replacing landfill sites. Nearly every Local Authority provides reuse and recycling centres for residents, handling a wide range of reusable items, recyclable rubbish, and general or residual municipal waste.

The local authority run facilities provide the same basic services from borough to borough in addition to offering specialised collections for garden waste, furniture and white goods and clinical waste disposal. Some types of waste, like building materials, are often classed as restricted due to their commercial use, as traders and construction companies have to pay to use the tips, and residents are only permitted to dump small amounts for it to be considered domestic waste. Hazardous waste is also seldom accepted at local civic amenity sites, and most homes and businesses are advised to contact the city of London hazardous waste disposal team, for the disposal of asbestos, oil based paint and other chemicals.

Many councils also provide competitively priced services for the collection, transfer and disposal of commercial refuse, although companies requiring industrial waste management solutions will often turn to the same private companies who are currently contracted by the council to deal with large scale waste. Private waste management organisations work closely with local authorities in London to transfer recyclable waste and sell it onto treatment facilities both nationally and internationally.
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Where are the nearest recycling centres in London

The Reuse and recycling centres and micro recycling sites available for public use throughout the city all vary slightly in terms of materials they can accept. Paper card glass tin aluminium and plastic bottles are generally accepted everywhere. Some difficult to dispose of items include paint, tyres, and plasterboard which often have to be transported to specialist facilities to be reused or recycled. Building materials like rubble soil timber garden fences and bathroom fixtures and fittings are also not typically accepted at all civic amenity sites and may require independent waste collectors to ensure swift and convenient removal of items.

Some materials frequently accepted at local authority facilities that cannot otherwise be disposed of for free include fluorescent tubes (energy saving light bulbs) car batteries, cooking and engine oil, and gas bottles. Most boroughs provide micro recycling sites for household batteries, textiles and small electrical items, however residents are encouraged to donate reusable items where possible at charity shops or at the tip, which often has links to resellers and refurbishment programmes such as Recycle my Cycle. Donated items, might include furniture, sports equipment, toys, and bric a brac. For all other waste like large electrical items, white goods, garden waste and soft furnishings like sofas, mattresses and carpets, these may still be recycled however the council often collects them from domestic properties for a fee if residents cannot transport them to the tip.
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What rubbish collection services are available in London?

Standard collection services for general refuse and recycling have significantly improved over the years to accept more varieties of plastic such as tubs, pots, trays and cutlery in dry mixed recycling bins. This has been a progressive step in tackling the problem of single use plastic that ends up in landfills or contaminating the natural environment, and recovering the raw materials ready for reprocessing and remanufacture into recycled consumer goods. The other main area of improvement has been the introduction of kitchen caddies and bins for food waste throughout London, which can contribute to a huge amount of harmful gases in the environment if it gets sent to landfill. The local authority provision of free food waste caddies along with compostable liners and regular weekly collections has meant that it gets segregated service level, and can be transported directly to an energy recovery facility to be turned into biogas, biofertilizer and fuel, which in some areas has already resulted in a 100% diversion from landfill for all food waste.

Other organic waste services include garden waste collection which is offered across most London boroughs for a yearly subscription fee. For those households that do not produce enough garden waste for regular collections some councils offer one off collections, however most boroughs have a home composting guide on their website which they encourage residents to make use of, and to reuse their garden waste to enrich the soil.

Most borough councils in London offer bulky waste collection of furniture, white goods and large electrical items at competitive prices or for free for elderly residents and those in receipt of benefit, limited to a certain amount of collections per year. Some councils direct locals towards charity operated solutions from their websites that remove bulk waste for free, however the vast majority of boroughs are limited to offering their own collection services or inviting residents to transport large waste items to the tip, which is seldom practical in most cases. Instead many households opt for using the wide range of competitively priced independent waste carriers in London that offer the same services. However the choice can be overwhelming, and some unlicensed waste carriers slip through the net and fly tip rubbish on private or even public land that then needs to be dealt with by another waste management company or by the local authorities. The Environment Agency provides a public directory of licensed waste carriers, brokers and dealers which members of the public can use to check that their chosen waste provider is compliant with the statutory requirements for waste management at every stage of the disposal process.

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How are the local authorities in London handling your waste?

Over the years many local authorities have risen to the challenge for the planning and delivery of environmentally sustainable waste management for the millions of people living within the 32 London boroughs. Even as the population continues to expand, increased pressure is placed on public services to produce cleaner waste management solutions through investment, technological innovations and the building of infrastructure to derive energy from waste and ultimately provide channels for decentralised energy provision throughout the greater London area.

Borough councils are combining their financial resources to build state-of-the-art waste management facilities for sorting and transferring waste, materials and energy recovery, reselling and in some cases exporting raw materials back to the manufacturers for reprocessing. As a response to the demand for more effective waste management solutions in the city and proposals in the The London Plan handed down at the local government level, the following authorities have been set up between borough councils to strategize and action events around public waste management.

ELWA (East London Waste Authority) which has been set up between Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham and Newham.

NLWA (North London Waste Authority) which has been set up between Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Camden, Hackney and Islington.

WLWA (West London Waste Authority) which has been set up between Hillingdon, Brent, Harrow, Ealing, Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames.

WRWA (Western Riverside Waste Authority) which has been set up between Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth and Lambeth.

SLWP (South London Waste Partnership) which has been set up between Merton, Kingston upon Thames, Croydon and Sutton.

Several Large scale private waste contractors also work in partnership with borough councils to manage waste and deliver on their objectives for landfill diversion and the increased production of energy from waste. The building of new facilities funded by regional London waste authorities has already started to deliver on the long term sustainable waste strategies proposed by the London Plan and lead to the reclamation of natural landscapes. providing renewed conservation areas that used to be contaminated by man made waste or used for landfill.

At the service level, organic waste removal services such as home composting caddies and garden waste collection are now standard practice for many London Boroughs seeking to avoid the use of landfill sites. Residents are given brown or grey bins specifically for food waste including meat, fish, and poultry waste, which is collected periodically alongside general rubbish. The organic waste is taken to facilities where it will undergo treatment such as pyrolysis or gasification which are both methods used to heat organic waste at controlled temperatures in order to produce by-products such as oil, char and gas that may be used as fuel. These controlled heating methods are relatively new, although they are in the commercial stages of development, and composting remains the most widely used method for recycling organic waste materials collected by Local Authorities in London and the surrounding areas.
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What are the plans for a greener future in London?

In addition to London boroughs pooling resources and investing in waste management solutions for the future, each council runs public awareness initiatives promoting healthy habits around sustainable ways of living in response to climate change, and encouraging engagement with the ‘circular economy’ in collaboration with community organisations charities and businesses. This model of consumption encourages individuals to conserve energy fuel and resources by making small incremental changes to their habits and lifestyle from walking or cycling instead of travelling by car, to buying and using only what they need. This feeds into the circular model of reselling or donating unwanted material goods back into the local economy for refurbishment and reuse, as opposed to the ‘linear economy’ which ends with the disposal of consumer goods and wasted materials.

In recent years London has made many efforts to become an environmentally friendly city and has adopted a practice known as ‘urban greening’ which aims to bring purpose built green spaces into the infrastructure of the city, helping to lower temperatures, prevent flooding and improve air quality. With the population in London set to increase by an estimated 3 million by 2050, and with permanent changes in the weather due to climate, urban greening is mandated to become a key part of building in the city as it expands. This consists of planning permission for green walls and roofs as standard practice for any major developments.

The urban greening factor is included in the New London Plan which is the spatial development strategy for Greater London led by the Mayor of London and the Greater London authority. Other aspects of urban greening are set to include the ‘healthy streets’ initiative, which will not only change the physical environment of London’s streets and pedestrianised areas, but intends to shift public behaviour towards greener methods of travel such as walking and cycling, and increased use of public transport for long journeys. The ‘grey to green’ project as part of the sustainable drainage action plan also encourages communities to advocate for an increase in accessible green spaces by communicating with the local council about where such improvements could be made.
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Laptop Recycling Services In Areas Of London