Last Updated: on June 10, 2023 by Jack
Headphones inevitably reach the end of their lifespan at some point or just straight up break on you.
Like most electricals, you can’t just throw them in your standard collection bin. You’ll need to dispose of them responsibly, which sounds like a bit of a challenge.
You have to think about the headphone plastic, electrical parts, wires, and batteries if they have them. These all need to be separated correctly and can be hazardous if disposed of in a general household waste bin.
Disposing of headphones isn’t something you think about until you actually need to get them out of your life, and your options for disposing of them isn’t always clear either.
Here are the best ways to dispose of headphones in the UK regardless of whether they’re in-ear, over-ear, wireless or Bluetooth headphones.
1. Take Them To A Recycling Centre
Providing your local recycling centre accepts electrical waste, then it’s a great ending place for your headphones if they’ve broken.
If the recycling centre has a designated area for electronics, it’s perfect for leaving your headphones alongside other electrical items with plugs, cables and circuitry.
Remember to remove any batteries inside your headphones if they are a wireless pair. Batteries need to be disposed of separately at recycling centres to avoid starting any fires. Simply asking someone that works at the recycling centre where certain parts and pieces go if you’re unsure helps avoid creating any hazards.
Check with your local council to see if they accept electronics such as headphones at your local recycling centre; if not, you can always use a more general centre for headphone disposal.
If a trip to a recycling centre isn’t on the cards for whatever reason, or the headphones are still in usable condition, other recycling options are available.
2. Have Them Taken Away With Waste Collection
Your local council might offer an electronics collection service as part of your monthly waste collection.
Generally, you’re not allowed to just throw headphones or any other electricals for that matter in general waste bins. General waste bins end up in landfills, and exposing electrical parts isn’t great for the environment.
Contact your local council to see what their rules or guidance is on disposing of domestic electronics. They might not be able to collect your headphones as part of their waste collection service; however, companies out there will collect your old electronics from outside your home. Look around for electronic waste collection services near you to see what options you have.
Having headphones collected from your doorstep saves you from having to travel to recycling centres and such, just don’t be tempted to throw them into any waste bin, or worse, out on the street for someone to take.
3. Use Small Electrical Recycling Banks
Like a recycling centre, you can use designated small electrical recycling banks to dispose of headphones, much like the ones you usually use to put clothes bags and glass bottles into.
It’s as simple as throwing the headphones in the recycling bank. You will, however, need to check the front of the bank first to see what electronics they do and do not accept to see if headphones are listed. Like recycling centres, you will have to remove any batteries from your headphones, if they have any and dispose of them separately.
Most larger supermarkets in the UK have recycling banks in their car parks that you can use any time for free, provided they’re not overflowing. Town centres usually have them typically near charity shops next to other donation banks for easy collection.
Although general recycling banks are relatively common around towns, electrical ones aren’t, and you might have trouble finding one. You can always have a look online to see what small electrical recycling banks are in your area.
4. Hand Them Into A Store With A Recycling Program
Some retailers in the UK accept old electricals that you can hand over or drop off for money off a new purchase, refurbishment, or just to be taken away and recycled.
Currys is one retailer that offers one of these waste management programs and should take headphones off your hands regardless of their style and condition. Currys even have a service for recycling your batteries which is handy if you have a wireless set of headphones.
These recycling programs offered by retailers aim to encourage you to dispose of electronics in an environmentally friendly manner and avoid waste when simply throwing things straight in the bin. They usually have a specialist process for recycling old electronics that’s much greener than disposing of them at a general recycling centre.
Each one of these programs varies from store to store. Some will accept headphones, and some won’t. Have a browse around to see what retailer offers what service to you; you might even be able to get money off a new set of headphones by handing in your old pair.
5. Give Them To A Charity Shop
You can avoid the whole electrical graveyard that comes with disposing of headphones by passing them on to someone else.
Providing the headphones are in respectable condition, clean and in good working order, most charity shops should accept them to sell on. We will emphasise, though, that you really should only hand headphones into a charity shop if they work perfectly (no wiring issues or such) and are clean. Any in-ear headphones must be clean, as someone doesn’t want to get your earwax all up in their ears or take on any health risks.
Take your headphones into a local charity shop and show them their condition to see if they would be interested in taking them off your hands for selling.
If the charity shop doesn’t accept electronics such as headphones or simply doesn’t want your headphones, but they’re still in good condition and work, you can always pass them on to someone who might appreciate and use them, such as a friend. Again, ensure they’re in good condition and not dirty before putting someone on the spot about taking them off your hands!
If the headphones are broken, the wiring is slightly sketchy, or the sound is a bit of a hit-and-miss, take them somewhere else to be recycled or disposed of.
Wrapping It Up
Headphones must be disposed of correctly and can’t just be binned or left out on the street. Many local options are available for disposing of them in an environmentally friendly manner. Headphones have lots of different parts that need to be separated when recycled, so having them taken care of properly is important. If none of the options for disposing of your headphones above appeal to you and you have a broken pair, you can always look at a headphone repair service if they’re worth salvaging. Alternatively, if they’re still in good working order but you’re considering purchasing a new pair, you can always try selling them on.