Beyondly hosts electricals swap for International E-Waste Day
On Wednesday 14 October, Beyondly was proud to host our big Beyondly electricals swap for International E-Waste Day 2026. We asked our colleagues to have a hunt around their homes and gather any unwanted working electricals with a plug, battery, or cable for our office swap to give them another lease of life.
This year, International E-Waste Day focused on the challenges around fast tech electronic waste volumes, such as disposable vapes, wireless earbuds, smart accessories and other small gadgets. These items can be easy to overlook, forgotten in drawers or cupboards, or incorrectly disposed of when they are no longer needed.
We sat down with Cody Fisher, WEEE & Batteries Account Manager, to chat about all things electronic waste and reflect on the role the event plays in highlighting importance for keeping valuable resources in use for longer.
Hi Cody! What inspired Beyondly to run its electricals swap for International E-Waste Day?
“The average UK household accumulates around 20kg of electrical items per person every year, putting the UK among the highest producers of e-waste in Europe. However, our old electricals aren’t just waste as they contain precious and finite materials that can be recovered and put back into use.
Here at Beyondly, we believe that reuse should always be considered before recycling or disposal, in line with the waste hierarchy. If something still works, giving it a second life is one of the best things we can do to keep valuable resources in circulation and prevent perfectly usable items from becoming waste. That’s why it was important for us to get behind the International E-Waste Day campaign and host our big electricals swap once again this year, to help raise awareness among colleagues and promote a culture of reuse, circularity, and responsible e-waste management.”
What electrical items were donated?
“We received a real mix this year, with smaller items such as electric toothbrushes (heads removed!) and power banks to larger items such as fans and printers. One colleague even brought in an iMac computer! It’s always fascinating to see what comes through the door and we’re so pleased with this year’s turnout.”
What happened to the electrical items that weren't swapped?
“Any electricals left over at the end of the day were donated to local charity Sense, and community hub Share Skipton.
Share Skipton is a wonderful volunteer-led community initiative that enables residents to borrow, lend, and share a wide range of items from their ‘Library of Things’, such as gardening equipment, computers, toys, and games. We were thrilled to receive this delightful feedback from Jill Coope, Project Coordinator:
Thank you so much for the iMac and printer! One of our laptops, for borrowing items at the Library of Things, broke last week. This was exactly what we needed, and we set it up and used it yesterday! We love what you do, and we are always trying to find second-hand items that we can reuse. Thank you for all your support.
It’s times like these we’re reminded of how small gestures can make such a positive difference in our local community. These initiatives can, and do, go beyond simply raising awareness – they create connection that inspires real action to protect our planet.”
What small, everyday actions can help reduce the growing problem of electronic waste?
“One small action is to give your tech drawers or garage a clear out, as they could contain a valuable pool of resources – mobile phones, cables, smart watches, earphones, and other unwanted fast tech. For anything that’s still in working order, why not host your own electricals swap with friends and family, or take them to an in-store takeback location, collection point, or local charity shop? It’s best to reach out beforehand to let them know what items you’re donating, so you can be confident they’re happy to accept them, as some items will require PAT testing and a data sweep.
As we get closer to the holiday season, it’s also worth considering what items you already own that can be used again for another year, rather than buying new. From Halloween lanterns and spooky ornaments to Christmas lights, pre-lit trees, and other festive décor, many seasonal items can be enjoyed year after year.”
If someone has a broken electrical item they can't reuse, what should they do with it?
“If you do find any broken electricals at home, please don’t put them in your general waste bin. Many fast tech devices that are incorrectly disposed of contain hidden lithium-ion batteries. When these items enter the waste stream and are crushed or shredded during processing at an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF), the batteries can become damaged, potentially causing short circuits, overheating and fires. To read some real-world case studies, you can read Charlotte Davies’ article ‘Playing with fire: the cost of binned batteries and electricals’ here.
You can use the Material Focus Recycle Your Electricals locator to enter your postcode and find your nearest recycling point.”
How much value are we throwing away when we fail to recycle our broken electricals?
“Research from Material Focus found that around 379 tonnes of critical and precious raw materials are found in waste electrical components each year, totalling to around £148m in value! However, less than 1% of all rare earth elements in electricals are currently being recycled. It’s shocking to think how much money is being lost due to simply not recycling electricals, but sadly, many people still don't fully understand the importance of electronic recycling. Behavioural change is key, and we need to build consumer confidence through education and awareness campaigns, helping people recognise electrical recycling as a simple but valuable action that benefits both the environment and the economy.”
We would like to say a huge thank you to all our Beyondly colleagues who participated in our electricals swap!
