Kingston council has partnered with e-waste recycling company Relove Technology, inviting residents to hand over unwanted tech to be reused or recycled.
If you have a drawer full of miscellaneous wires and old handsets, the Big Tech Mop Up is the perfect time to make use of them.
As part of the scheme, the council is calling for donations of unwanted mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, cables and mobile accessories.
Mayor of Kingston upon Thames, Liz Green said: “I’m really thrilled to have teamed up with Relove Technology for the Big tech Mop Up. It’s a fantastic project that helps to reduce e-waste and bridge the digital divide by providing technology to those in need.”
According to Ofcom, there are approximately 1.5m homes in the UK that don’t have access to the internet.
Relove Technology works with charities and mobile operators to redistribute devices and provide internet and digital access to people that need it most.
Paul Crossman, founder of Relove, said that the scheme will prioritise data security.
He said: “We appreciate that personal data on devices is a big concern for people donating devices, and that’s why we make this simple promise: If a device cannot be certified data wiped, we will remove the motherboard from the device and arrange for it to be ethically granulated, so all data is completely destroyed.”
Devices that can’t be recycled will be stripped for parts and sold to retailers, with any value generated going towards the Mayor’s Charitable Trust, which is this year supporting Habitats & Heritage.
The charity is dedicated to protecting and enhancing south and west London’s historic environment. £20 generated from an old smartphone could help nature conservationists to plan wildlife in green spaces.
Paul Jennings, CEO of Habitats & Heritage, said: “We are delighted that Relove Technology are running the Big Tech Mop up in support of the Mayor’s Charitable Trust. As the Mayor’s chosen charity and with a commitment to sustainability, we can’t think of a better sponsor.”
You can return any tech items, and there are no limits on the age or model, however it is advised to remove the SIM card from any old phones before they are handed in.
The Mayor added: “Reuse and recycling is so important if we are to meet our climate change ambitions, and we all need to make sure we do our bit to help, so if you do have any unwanted tech lying around, please consider donating your devices.”
Items can be dropped off at any of the designated locations within the borough.
The appeal is open until 28 February 2025, with plans to hold another Spring Clean collection period in April 2025.
