Moving house is the moment most of us find out how many old electricals we own. The broken kettle in the cupboard, a drawer full of chargers, the TV from the spare room, a laptop nobody has switched on in years.

It’s tempting to bag it all up with the rest of the rubbish, but electricals shouldn’t go in your general waste bin. Here’s how to clear them out properly before moving day, without paying more than you need to.

Sort before you pack

WEEE stands for waste electrical and electronic equipment. Put simply, if it has a plug, a battery or a cable, it counts. That covers fridges, washing machines and TVs, but also electric toothbrushes, vapes, fairy lights, power tools and smart speakers.

Look for the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on the item or its packaging. It means the item shouldn’t go in household waste.

A few weeks before the move, go room by room and split your electricals into three piles:

• Keep: pack these for the new home
• Reuse: still working, so sell, give away or donate them
• Recycle: broken, obsolete or not worth moving

Wipe your data first

Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, games consoles and even fitness trackers hold personal information. Before anything leaves your hands, back up what you want to keep, sign out of your accounts and do a factory reset.

The National Cyber Security Centre has a simple guide to doing this safely. Do it early, as it’s easy to forget once the boxes start piling up.

Take the batteries out

Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire when they’re crushed, which is why batteries in bins and bin lorries cause so many problems. Take out any removable batteries and put tape over the terminals.

Items with built-in batteries, such as vapes, phones and cordless tools, should go to an electricals drop-off point, never the bin. Many supermarkets have battery collection boxes near the entrance.

Where to take it

You have more free options than you might think:

• Retailer take-back. Shops that sell electricals must take back your old item when you buy a similar new one, and you usually have 28 days to bring it Some large retailers take small electricals with no purchase at all. Recycle Your Electricals explains how the scheme works.
• Drop-off points. Thousands of shops, supermarkets and community sites accept small The Recycle Your Electricals locator shows the ones near you.
• Your council recycling Household waste recycling centres have separate areas for small and large electricals. Check whether you need to book a slot first.
• Working items can go to charity shops, community groups or friends and neighbours. Some charity furniture shops collect working appliances, so ask before you book anything else.

Large appliances and fridges

Big items need more planning. If you’re buying a new washing machine or fridge for the new home, ask the retailer to take the old one away when they deliver. Many offer this, though some charge a small fee.

Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases and need specialist treatment, so never leave them out on the street. Your council may also run a paid bulky waste collection. Book early, as slots fill up quickly at busy times of year.

Using a clearance company? Check the licence

If you’re short on time, a clearance company can take everything in one trip. Just check they’re licensed first. In England, anyone who carries waste as a business must be registered with the Environment Agency, and you can check in a minute on the public register of waste carriers.

Ask for a waste transfer note or receipt too.

This matters because you have a legal duty of care for your household waste. If it’s fly-tipped and traced back to you, your council can fine you up to £600, as set out in GOV.UK’s duty of care guidanceGOV.UK’s duty of care guidance. A quote that looks too cheap usually is.

Your moving-day checklist

• Sort electricals room by room into keep, reuse and recycle
• Back up and factory reset phones, laptops and smart devices
• Remove batteries and tape over the terminals
• Take small items to a drop-off point or retailer
• Arrange take-back or collection for large appliances
• Check any clearance company on the waste carrier register
• Keep your waste transfer note

Clearing old electricals properly takes a little planning, but it means a lighter move, safer data and nothing coming back to you after you’ve handed over the keys.