How to Dispose of a Cordless Hoover in the UK
Never put a cordless hoover or its battery in your household bin. Remove the battery if you can, tape its terminals and take it to a battery recycling point, then take the hoover itself to your council recycling centre, use a retailer's take-back service when you buy a replacement, or donate it if it still works. Lithium-ion batteries crushed in bin lorries and waste plants are a growing cause of fires.
Quick answer: Working hoover: donate, sell or offer it free locally. Broken hoover: unclip the battery, tape the contacts, recycle the battery at a supermarket or shop battery bin, and take the body to the "small electricals" container at your household waste recycling centre. Buying a new one? Ask the retailer about free take-back of the old one.
On this page
Why it can't go in the bin
Two reasons. First, a cordless hoover is classed as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on it means it should be collected separately for recycling. Its motor contains copper, its board contains precious metals and its plastics can be recovered.
Second, and more urgently, its lithium-ion battery. When a battery is crushed or punctured in a bin lorry compactor, the cells can short internally and go into "thermal runaway": a self-heating reaction that can ignite surrounding rubbish. Waste and fire services in the UK have repeatedly linked hundreds of fires a year to batteries in general waste and mixed recycling.
Step by step: disposing of a broken cordless hoover
- Remove the battery. Most current models have a click-out battery. Older Dysons (V7, V8, V10 and earlier V11s) use screws, usually Torx; see battery replacement for how. If the battery is built in, leave it in and tell the recycling centre staff the item contains a lithium battery.
- Tape the terminals. Put a strip of insulating or parcel tape over the metal contacts so they can't short against other batteries or metal.
- Check the battery's condition. If it's swollen, cracked or hot, don't put it in a shop collection tub. Keep it outside or in a metal container away from anything flammable and phone your council for advice on damaged batteries.
- Empty the bin and remove the filter. Recycling staff appreciate it, and filters go in general waste.
- Recycle the body. Take it to the small electricals container at your local household waste recycling centre, use a retailer take-back scheme, or a council kerbside small-electricals collection if your area offers one.
The Recycle Your Electricals campaign website has a postcode search for nearby drop-off points.
Your disposal options compared
| Option | Cost | Battery included? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council recycling centre (tip) | Free for household waste | Usually a separate battery bank on site | Any broken hoover |
| Council kerbside electricals collection | Free where offered | Rules vary; often batteries in a separate bag | Households without a car |
| Retailer take-back when buying new | Usually free | Check with the retailer | Replacing like-for-like |
| In-store drop-off at large electrical retailers | Often free, no purchase needed for small items | Battery bins usually available | Small electricals |
| Supermarket or shop battery bins | Free | Battery only | Loose, undamaged batteries |
| Donate or sell | Free or you earn a little | Leave a working battery in | Working hoovers |
UK rules explained (WEEE and batteries)
Retailer take-back
Under the UK's WEEE regulations, shops selling electricals must offer a way for customers to dispose of their old item when buying a new equivalent one. They do this either by taking it back in store free of charge on a like-for-like basis, or by funding the Distributor Take-back Scheme, which pays for council recycling centres; in that case the retailer should point you to your nearest one. Online retailers have similar duties, often fulfilled by a free returns label or collection with delivery.
Large electrical retailers (broadly those with a big electricals sales area) are also expected to accept very small electrical items, roughly under 25cm on every side, free of charge without a purchase. A stick vacuum's body may exceed that once the wand is attached, but a handheld often doesn't. The UK government has been reforming the WEEE system, including proposals to widen free take-back and kerbside collection, so check what your retailer or council currently offers.
Battery take-back
Under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations, shops that sell a significant quantity of portable batteries must accept used portable batteries for free, whether or not you buy anything. That's why most supermarkets have battery bins near the tills. Hoover batteries are generally classed as portable batteries, but a large pack may not fit a tub; if not, ask at customer services or use the recycling centre.
Watch out: Rules on WEEE and batteries have been under review in 2025–2026, and arrangements differ between councils and retailers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Treat this as general guidance and check your council's website or the retailer's recycling page before you travel.
If it still works: donate, sell or give away
- Charity shops: some, such as the British Heart Foundation's furniture and electrical stores, accept working electricals and arrange safety checks. Call your local branch first; many smaller charity shops can't take electricals.
- Local reuse groups: Freecycle, Freegle, Olio or local Facebook groups. Be honest about runtime and any faults.
- Sell it: popular models such as Dyson V-series and Shark sticks have a used market, particularly with spare parts or a good battery.
- Trade-in schemes: some brands and retailers occasionally run trade-in offers against a new hoover. Check during sales; see cordless hoover sales.
- Repair cafés: if it's nearly working, community repair cafés can sometimes fix it free.
If the battery is the only problem, replacing it may be cheaper than you think; read how long cordless hoovers last for a repair-or-replace rule.
What happens to a recycled hoover
| Component | What happens |
|---|---|
| Lithium-ion battery | Discharged, shredded under controlled conditions; cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper recovered from the "black mass" |
| Motor | Copper windings and steel separated and recycled |
| Circuit boards | Processed to recover copper, gold, silver and other metals |
| Plastics | Sorted by type; some recycled, some recovered for energy |
| Filters and dust | General waste |
Before you hand it over
- Keep any accessories that fit your new hoover (some Dyson tools fit across V7 to V15 generations).
- Keep the charger only if it fits your new model; otherwise recycle it with the hoover.
- If the hoover is under warranty and faulty, claim before disposing of it; see the warranty guide.
FAQs
Will Currys or Argos take my old hoover?
Large electrical retailers generally offer take-back when you buy a replacement, and some accept small electricals in store without a purchase. Policies and any collection fees change, so check the retailer's recycling page before you go.
Can I put a cordless hoover battery in my recycling bin?
No. Batteries should never go in household recycling or general waste bins. Use a shop battery bin, the recycling centre, or a council battery collection if your area offers one.
What do I do with a swollen hoover battery?
Don't charge or use it, and don't put it in a shop collection tub. Store it outdoors or in a metal container away from flammable materials and contact your council for advice.
Does Dyson or Shark recycle old hoovers?
Brands sometimes run take-back or trade-in schemes, but availability varies. Check the manufacturer's UK website, and if none is running, use your council recycling centre.