Got an old laptop or tablet gathering dust? Here's what to do with it

Richmond Council is reminding residents that unwanted electrical items — anything with a plug, battery or cable — do not have to end up in landfill, and in many cases need not be thrown away at all.

Working devices such as old tablets, laptops or PCs can be donated to charity or passed on to neighbours and friends. Several local charities accept drop-offs or will arrange collections for items still in good condition. For things that have stopped working, repair is often possible and cheaper than buying new.

The Fixery, a local repair organisation, is open Friday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm and accepts items brought in for fixing. There is also a monthly repair café in Twickenham, and Kew the Transition runs regular repair and share events — all free or low-cost options for getting more life out of electronics.

For items beyond repair, the council asks residents to recycle them safely rather than putting them in general waste bins. Electrical items contain materials that can be hazardous if they end up in the wrong waste stream, and many components can be recovered and reused.

Full details of donation charities, repair venues and recycling points are on the Richmond Council electricals page.