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Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

You can take household electrical items to Oxfordshire's waste recycling centres for recycling.

Electrical items are banned from landfill sites and should be disposed of separately to your other waste. The manufacturers, producers and retailers of the equipment will pay for it to be recycled. If your item is in working condition or could easily be fixed consider donating it.

Where to take household WEEE

The seven waste recycling centres in Oxfordshire are registered as collection points for household waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This means you can take electrical items (anything with electrical or electronic parts, or a plug or battery) there, including:

  • clocks
  • computers and laptops
  • cookers
  • electric heaters
  • fluorescent tubes and lamps
  • fridges and freezers
  • hairdryers
  • irons
  • lawnmowers (electric)
  • microwaves
  • monitors
  • shaving equipment
  • stereos
  • telephones
  • televisions
  • toasters
  • vacuum cleaners
  • washing machines/tumble dryers

...and place them in the appropriately-marked container.

Please note: Any mobile phone, laptop or other appropriate electronic device delivered to any of our sites may be recycled or reused by our contractors and it is up to individual residents to ensure that prior to disposal such devices are cleansed of all personal information and data before delivery to our sites. The council will not cleanse these items after delivery and cannot be held responsible for any data held on them.

Some district councils also collect small electrical items from the kerbside, or have containers around the county. For more information please visit:

Collection of large items

Your district or city council is able to take away fridges, freezers, washing machines and other large items through their own bulky waste collection schemes. Contact them directly for more details, including charges.

What happens to WEEE?

WEEE items are broken down so that the different materials they are made up of can be removed and recycled.

Some companies offer an in-store take-back of electrical items on a like for like basis. If you purchase a new electrical item, these stores will dispose of your old item for you.

Businesses - how traders can recycle their old electrical items

Waste recycling centres are for use by householders only and cannot accept waste from commercial sources. However, small businesses and traders have a duty of care under this scheme, which means they also have to comply with the WEEE regulations.

Read the duty of care to find out how to comply with the new regulations and make financial savings for your business.