Choose the highest-useful-value route
| Route | Best when | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Keep/reuse | It still meets a household need | No disposal needed |
| Give to family/friend | It works and can be reset safely | Data and account removal |
| Sell | It has meaningful resale value | Time, condition and buyer risk |
| Fundraising collection | You want a simple community route | Value varies by device |
| Recycle | It has little reuse value | Use a responsible electronics route |
Deal with your data first
Back up anything important, sign out of services and follow the receiving organisation’s data instructions. For a managed Tech for Change campaign, the current homepage describes certified data-destruction workflows after collection.
Do not throw laptops in household rubbish
Electrical equipment needs an appropriate reuse or recycling route. A laptop contains materials and components that should be handled separately from general household waste.
Use your old laptop to support a cause
If a school, PTA, charity or community group is running a Tech for Change campaign, handing in an unused laptop can combine clear-out, responsible handling and fundraising in one route.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to sell or donate an old laptop?
If the laptop has strong resale value and you have time to sell it safely, selling may maximise the value to you. A managed fundraising collection prioritises convenience and returning value to the participating cause.
What if the laptop is broken?
The current Tech for Change site says non-working devices can still have recycling value.
Planning a technology collection?
Register your organisation through the current Tech for Change collection form and confirm the latest accepted-device, logistics and data-handling guidance before launch.
Request a collection