Keyboards and Mice is a category of electronic device that can be recycled, refurbished, or traded in at the end of their life cycle. In 2021, over 53 million metric tons of [what is e-waste](https://ecyclingcentral.com/glossary/e-waste) were generated globally, with Keyboards and Mice making up a significant portion due to rapid technological advancements and frequent upgrades.
People often search for ways to recycle old devices like Keyboards and Mice when they are no longer needed or functional. This guide provides detailed information on where to [find recycling](https://ecyclingcentral.com/tools/recycling-locator) centers and how to properly dispose of these items to ensure environmental responsibility and resource recovery.
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### What's Inside Keyboards and Mice?
Keyboards and mice are made up of various materials like plastic, metal, and circuit boards. The plastics used often contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which pose health risks if released into the environment. Circuit boards might have trace amounts of lead or mercury, which can be harmful to wildlife and humans alike.
### Where Can You Recycle?
There are several options for recycling your old keyboards and mice:
- **Retailers:** Best Buy in the US offers a take-back program where you can drop off old electronics without any charge. In the UK, Currys PC World has similar programs. Staples also provides [what is e-waste](https://ecyclingcentral.com/glossary/e-waste) recycling bins at their stores.
- **Manufacturers:** HP and Dell both have recycling initiatives for their products. You can send back your used keyboards and mice through these programs.
- **Certified Recyclers:** [R2 vs e-Stewards](https://ecyclingcentral.com/guides/r2-and-e-stewards-certification-explained) is a network of recyclers that follow strict environmental standards, ensuring your devices are handled responsibly.
### Preparing Your Devices
Before you recycle, make sure to remove any batteries from the devices. The small lithium-ion or alkaline batteries can be dangerous in landfills and should be recycled separately at [battery recycling](https://ecyclingcentral.com/guides/how-to-recycle-batteries-safely) centers. Also, wipe your data if you're concerned about privacy-use a secure erasure utility like Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) for thorough cleaning.
*According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, mobile phones contain up to 60 different elements, including critical raw materials.*
### Trading In for Cash
Certain retailers offer trade-in programs that let you exchange old devices for credit or cash. Best Buy, for example, has a Trade-In program where you can get money back on your keyboard or mouse if it's still in good condition. Similar services exist at Officeworks and Currys.
### Environmental Impact
Throwing away keyboards and mice isn't just wasteful but harmful to the planet. When these devices end up in landfills, they release toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water. According to a 2019 report by the Global E-Waste Monitor, only around 17% of e-waste was recycled globally that year. Recycling helps recover valuable materials like gold and copper while reducing pollution.
### Hazardous Materials
Be wary of hazardous components in your devices:
- **Lithium Batteries:** Can cause fires if not disposed of properly.
- **Mercury, Lead, Cadmium:** These are toxic substances found in some older electronics that can leach into the environment if improperly discarded.
*According to the BankMyCell 2024, iPhones retain trade-in value better than Android phones, losing ~40% in year 1 vs ~55%.*
### Repair vs. Recycle?
Sometimes it's worth fixing rather than recycling, especially for devices that aren't too old or damaged. If your keyboard is still functional but has a broken key or two, consider replacing just those parts instead of buying an entirely new one. Websites like iFixit offer repair guides and kits to help you fix common issues.
In summary, properly disposing of keyboards and mice through recycling programs helps prevent environmental harm while conserving resources. By taking these steps, you're making a positive impact on the planet and encouraging sustainable practices in electronics use.
*According to the UNEP, A single tonne of circuit boards contains 40-800 times more gold than a tonne of ore.*
## Sources
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- BankMyCell 2024
- UNEP
Useful kit for this topic
Independent picks reviewed by eCycling Central's editorial team. Last checked: May 2026. Links are affiliate (we may earn a commission at no cost to you).
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## Keyboards and Mice: complete disposal + recycling guide (2026-05-20)
### Three compliant disposal routes
| Route | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| **Manufacturer take-back** | Free | Replacing the device (like-for-like purchase) |
| **Retailer drop-off** (Best Buy, Currys, Apple, Samsung) | Free | Small devices, no new purchase needed |
| **Certified local recycler** | Free or low fee | All devices including bulk + older equipment |
Find specific providers via [Recycling Locator](/tools/recycling-locator) + verify producer programmes via [Manufacturer Take-Back Finder](/tools/manufacturer-takeback-finder).
### What's typically recoverable
Keyboards and Mice contains a mix of materials with different recovery economics:
- **Metals** (aluminium, copper, steel, gold, silver): 60-95% recovery at certified processors
- **Plastics** (housing, internal trays): 40-70% recovery depending on plastic grade
- **Glass** (screens, lenses): 50-80% recovery via specialist streams
- **[Rare earth elements](https://ecyclingcentral.com/guides/rare-earth-elements-in-electronics)** (magnets, motors): 5-30% recovery (improving as processes mature)
- **Lithium-ion batteries** (where present): require separate hazmat stream
Live recoverable material value lookup: [Scrap Value Calculator](/tools/scrap-value-calculator).
### Compliance + penalties
Improper disposal of Keyboards and Mice triggers measurable penalty exposure:
- **EU [WEEE Directive](https://ecyclingcentral.com/regulations/weee-directive-eu) 2012/19/EU + UK WEEE Regulations 2013**: producer + waste-generator liability
- **EPA RCRA 40 CFR Part 273**: federal Universal Waste Rule covers e-waste
- **US state e-waste laws**: 25 states have mandatory laws (California, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota toughest enforcement)
- **UK GDPR + EU GDPR**: personal data on disposed device triggers separate liability if not properly sanitised
Penalty exposure typically: £5,000-£50,000 per incident (UK), €1,000-€10,000 (EU), $1,500-$25,000 (US state-level), up to $76,764/day under EPA RCRA. Check specific risk via [E-Waste Fines Checker](/tools/e-waste-fines-checker).
### Data sanitisation requirements
For data-bearing devices, standards by data sensitivity:
- **Consumer / personal data**: [factory reset](https://ecyclingcentral.com/guides/how-to-factory-reset-any-device-before-trading-in) + sign-out of cloud services is the minimum
- **Business / commercial data**: [NIST data sanitisation standard](https://ecyclingcentral.com/guides/nist-800-88-data-sanitisation-standards) Clear or Purge required, per-drive Certificate of Destruction
- **Regulated data** (HIPAA, GLBA, GDPR special category, PCI DSS): [NIST data sanitisation standard](https://ecyclingcentral.com/guides/nist-800-88-data-sanitisation-standards) Purge for SSDs (cryptographic erase + cell-level verify), DoD 5220.22-M or physical shred for HDDs, NAID AAA certified provider, audit-defensible chain-of-custody documentation
Free Certificate of Destruction template: [GDPR Data Erasure Certificate Generator](/tools/gdpr-erasure-certificate-generator).
### Frequently asked questions
**Is disposal of Keyboards and Mice actually free?**
For consumer drop-off + mail-in: usually free at point of use, funded by producer-pays framework. Exceptions: bulk appliances ($25-$50 pickup), CRT TVs/monitors ($19-$50), oversized batteries.
**What if my Keyboards and Mice unit still works?**
Don't recycle - trade in or donate first. Working devices have meaningful resale value via Music Magpie / BackMarket / eBay. Compare via [Trade-In Best Price Finder](/tools/trade-in-best-price-finder).
**Will the recycler resell my data?**
Reputable recyclers either (a) wipe to NIST 800-88 standard before any onward sale, or (b) physically destroy data-bearing media before reuse path. Ask which method applies before drop-off.
**Can I do this for free if I'm not buying a replacement?**
Most jurisdictions: yes. EU WEEE + UK WEEE require retailers offering similar products to accept like-for-like even without new purchase (some retailers limit to in-store only). US state programmes vary; California + New York + Washington have the strongest free-recycling networks.
### Related guides + tools
- [Recycling Locator](/tools/recycling-locator) - find nearby drop-off
- [Manufacturer Take-Back Finder](/tools/manufacturer-takeback-finder) - verified producer programmes
- [Trade-In Best Price Finder](/tools/trade-in-best-price-finder) - compare 7 buyback services
- [E-Waste Fines Checker](/tools/e-waste-fines-checker) - penalty exposure if you skip compliant disposal
- [Scrap Value Calculator](/tools/scrap-value-calculator) - live commodity-price recovery estimate
- [Hard Drive Destruction Cost Calculator](/tools/hard-drive-destruction-cost-calculator) - data-sensitive devices
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*Framework verified against EU WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU + UK WEEE Regulations 2013 + EPA RCRA 40 CFR Part 273 + US state e-waste laws + NIST SP 800-88 Rev 1 as of 2026-05-20. Operated by Defining Style Limited (UK Companies House 10572391, ICO Registration ZA711914). Rules update annually - verify current penalties on enforcement-authority sites before relying on figures.*
