Old phones, laptops, kettles and hairdryers can now go to 15 libraries, leisure centres and hubs in Kingston. Which site takes what, and what to leave at home.
Kingston residents can now drop off old phones, laptops and small broken electricals at 15 sites across the borough, without a trip to the tip. The council announced the scheme on Monday 28 September.
The sites are in libraries, leisure centres and community hubs. There are two kinds, and the difference matters before you set off:
- 7 sites take both: broken small electricals for recycling, and working smart devices for reuse
- 8 sites take working smart devices only, such as phones, laptops and tablets. They do not take broken kettles or hairdryers
Four of the seven full sites do not open until the start of October.
Where to take what
The council’s small electricals page lists every site:
| Site | Address | Takes |
|---|---|---|
| Guildhall 2 | 2 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1EU | Recycling and donations |
| Save the World Club | 18 Southsea Road, Kingston, KT1 2EH | Recycling and donations |
| The Hook Centre | 13 Hook Road, Chessington, KT9 1EJ | Recycling and donations |
| Weir Archer Athletics and Fitness Centre | Kingston Road, Kingston, KT1 3PB | Recycling and donations, from the start of October |
| Malden Centre | Blagdon Road, New Malden, KT3 4TA | Recycling and donations, from the start of October |
| Tolworth Recreation Centre | Fullers Way North, Tolworth, KT6 7LQ | Recycling and donations, from the start of October |
| Chessington Sports Centre | Garrison Lane, Chessington, KT9 2JS | Recycling and donations, from the start of October |
| Kingston Library | Fairfield Road, Kingston, KT1 2PS | Donations only |
| Tudor Drive Library | Tudor Drive, Kingston, KT2 5QH | Donations only |
| New Malden Library | 48 Kingston Road, New Malden, KT3 3LY | Donations only |
| Old Malden Library | 13 Church Road, Worcester Park, KT4 7RD | Donations only |
| Surbiton Library | Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6AG | Donations only |
| Tolworth Community Library | 37 to 39 The Broadway, Surbiton, KT6 7DJ | Donations only |
| Maple Works | 73 Maple Road, Surbiton, KT6 4AG | Donations only |
| Canbury Works | Units 6 and 7, Elm Crescent, Kingston, KT2 6HJ | Donations only |
Kingston Library and Tudor Drive Library also run Repair Cafés, where volunteers help people fix broken items. If your kettle might be saved, that is worth trying before the recycling bin.
What goes in which bin
The recycling bin takes anything roughly shoebox-sized, working or not. The council’s examples include:
- kettles, toasters, blenders and mixers
- hairdryers, straighteners, electric toothbrushes and shavers
- keyboards and mice
- irons, radios, speakers, cameras, clocks and watches
- electrical toys and small power tools
- chargers, cables and remote controls
Take the batteries out first where you can. They go in a separate battery bin.
The smart technology bin is for devices that work and are in reasonable condition:
- laptops and tablets
- mobile phones
- games consoles
- smart watches and other smart devices
What they will not take
None of the sites takes:
- large appliances such as washing machines and fridges
- televisions or computer monitors
- microwaves
- light bulbs or fluorescent tubes
- batteries
- anything hazardous, such as a device with a leaking battery
Those still go to the council’s household reuse and recycling centre on Villiers Road.
What happens to your old phone
Every donated device is data wiped, the council says. The collection is run by Relove Technology, which the council describes as a Kingston-based circular technology firm. Its team assesses each device, wipes it, then tests and grades it.
Working devices go to local charities and voluntary groups that help residents without a suitable phone or computer. Devices that cannot be reused are repaired, stripped for parts or recycled. The council says none of the material goes to landfill.
The scheme is paid for with £27,996.94 of pilot funding from Material Focus, through its national Electricals Recycling Fund.
Why the council is doing it
The council estimates that 570 tonnes of small electrical items end up in Kingston’s household rubbish bins every year. Councillor Nicola Nardelli, the portfolio holder for sustainable transport, waste and recycling, said the drop-off points would let residents recycle small items locally “without having to make a trip to the Villiers Road HRRC”.
What it means for you
- Wipe your own data too. The council promises a secure wipe, but signing out of your accounts and doing a factory reset before you hand over a phone or laptop costs nothing
- Check the site type. If your item is broken, only the seven full sites will take it, and four of those open in early October
- Remove batteries from anything you recycle
- Keep them out of your household bin. That is where the council says the 570 tonnes a year are going now
- Bigger or bulkier, but still working? Four charities will collect from your door free of charge, and some take small electricals and televisions. The list is on our Kingston bin collection days page
Sources
- New small electrical recycling points launch across Kingston, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, 28 September 2026, for the 15 sites, the 570 tonnes estimate, the data wiping and reuse process, the £27,996.94 Material Focus funding and Councillor Nardelli’s comment.
- Recycle small electricals, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, read 30 September 2026, for the site list and addresses, the October start dates, the Repair Cafés and the lists of accepted and excluded items.
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