Quick guide to: What Electronics can you recycle?
S2S Group, July 2025
As of 2024, 215 million tonnes of waste are produced in the UK each year, with 85% of this deriving from businesses. This staggering figure is a warning to all UK businesses that they should be adapting the way in which they operate to ensure they’re as environmentally conscious as possible.
Your business has a responsibility to follow UK law when getting rid of any e-waste. Read more to understand what electronics your business can recycle and how best to manage any electronic waste.
By Chris Hare, July 2025
What is Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)?
WEEE refers to any electrical or electronic device that is no longer in use and needs to be disposed of. This can include a wide range of business IT equipment, as long as the item operates with a battery or plug.
The UK government typically uses the following categories for compliance reporting and recycling purposes of the wide range of items that are classified as WEEE:
Unfortunately, at some point, the disposal of redundant electrical and electronic equipment is necessary for all businesses, with the average laptop needing to be replaced every 3-4 years, and 3-5 years for a printer.
Whether this is because they are broken or have become redundant and no longer function effectively, electronics eventually reach the end of their use. When broken, some items can become difficult to dispose of or even hazardous, making them potentially dangerous when not disposed of by a certified waste carrier.
At S2S Group, we work alongside businesses to take the hassle out of WEEE recycling, ensuring that the process remains as safe and compliant as possible.
What electronics can you recycle?
Although some industries produce more WEEE than others, all UK businesses have a responsibility to dispose of their e-waste correctly, regardless of the amount. If companies all contributed to a circular economy, the UK would move away from the growing throwaway culture, which is developing from industries with extremely high production rates.
For example, since records began in 2008, the amount of IT and telecoms waste has steadily grown. In 2008, 19,053 tonnes were produced, which rose to 52,008 tonnes in 2016 (a 173% increase) and is set to steadily increase beyond 2030.
Understanding what electronic items your business can recycle is the first step in identifying how you can reduce e-waste. Here is a simple list to take guidance from:
How should you manage your e-waste correctly?
It can be difficult to understand where to start when you have mounting levels of e-waste that you don’t know what to do with.
In January 2014, new WEEE regulations were introduced in the UK that legally require e-waste disposal to be kept away from landfill or incineration. This means that producers of WEEE in any form have a responsibility to recycle and reuse electrical waste where possible.
Reliable e-waste collections in compliance with the WEEE directive ensure your commercial e-waste is removed and disposed of properly. If you are struggling to manage your e-waste, consider engaging a third-party provider to take the hassle away.
At S2S Group, we specialise in safe e-waste collection for any type and volume of old business electronics. This includes laptops, phones, white goods, and other devices from your company. We provide a complete end-to-end solution for your business’s redundant IT equipment, helping your business stay on track with IT assets and comply with stringent legislation on e-waste reuse and recycling.
How does it work at S2S Group?
Using the waste hierarchy model, we promote reuse before recycling, saving money by reusing a business’s current assets where possible and keeping items out of landfills. Where we recycle, a rate of 99% is achieved in excess, and zero waste is sent directly to landfills, ensuring the correct disposal of business electrical items.
Whatever the volume, all collected WEEE is recycled at S2S Group’s Approved Authorised Treatment Facility and goes back into the circular economy.
Below is our step-by-step guide on how WEEE waste management works at S2S Group:
How it works
Why should you work with S2S Group to manage your WEEE waste?
S2S Group has built an enviable reputation, delivering the most secure, innovative, and environmentally responsible set of Asset Recovery and Disposal services in the industry.
With its expert employees, S2S Group continually improves its practices, meaning it can deliver top-level and tailored services to simplify complex IT requirements.