Have you ever wondered what to do with an old phone, broken laptop, printer, toaster or washing machine? These items don’t belong to your garbage bags or PMD recycling bags.
Electrical and electronic equipment has its own recycling system in Cyprus, known as WEEE: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Here’s what is important to know:
What counts as electronic waste?
The easiest rule is:
If it needs electricity or a battery to work, it may be WEEE.
This includes:
- phones and tablets
- computers and laptops
- printers
- televisions and monitors
- refrigerators and freezers
- washing machines and dryers
- ovens and microwaves
- vacuum cleaners
- air conditioners
- toasters and coffee machines
- electric tools
- electronic toys
- gaming equipment
- lamps and fluorescent tubes
- chargers and other electrical accessories
WEEE Cyprus has a much broader list of categories covering household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, lighting, tools, toys, medical equipment and other electrical products.
Where can you take electronics for recycling?
There are several options.
1. WEEE Cyprus collection points
WEEE Cyprus operates the collective system responsible for the management of electrical and electronic waste in Cyprus.
Its collection network includes points at large electrical-appliance and electronics retailers, IT stores and other designated locations. WEEE Cyprus provides a collection-point finder on its website, where you can search for an appropriate location depending on what you want to recycle.
This is usually the easiest option for small and medium-sized electronics.
2. Green Points
Cyprus’ Green Points are another important option.
They are designed to collect household waste streams that should not be placed in ordinary household bins, including electrical and electronic equipment. Each person can bring up to 50 kg of waste at a time.
There are Green Points across Cyprus, although the accepted materials, quantities and operating arrangements can vary, so check the relevant Green Point before making the trip. The list of green points I found here.
3. When you buy a new appliance: use the take-back system
There is another option that is particularly useful for large appliances.
If you buy a new electrical or electronic appliance, many shops provide for the free return of an equivalent old appliance on a one-for-one basis.
For example:
New washing machine → old washing machine can be returned.
New refrigerator → old refrigerator can be returned.
The old equipment must be of an equivalent type and perform the same function as the new equipment.
So if you’re replacing a large appliance, ask the retailer about taking the old one back rather than arranging separate disposal.
What about phones and tablets?
For phones and some smaller electronic devices, there are additional convenient options.
For example, Cyta has dedicated recycling bins in all of its shops for mobile phones, fixed and cordless phones, answering machines, tablets and accessories such as chargers, wearables and power banks.
According to Cyta, collected equipment is handled by an authorised company and is separated for repair and reuse or recycling, depending on its condition.
You don’t need to be a Cyta customer to use this service.
What happens after you hand over your electronics?
Your old device doesn’t simply disappear.
WEEE Cyprus describes a system in which electrical and electronic waste is collected and managed separately. Equipment can be assessed for reuse, while items that cannot be reused are sent for appropriate recycling and treatment.
This matters because electronics contain both valuable materials and potentially harmful substances.
A phone, for example, contains plastics, glass and metals. Larger appliances contain significant quantities of steel, aluminium, copper and other materials.
At the same time, some electronic equipment can contain substances that require controlled treatment.
The objective of separate collection is therefore not simply to “get rid of” an unwanted device. It is to recover materials where possible and ensure potentially harmful components are handled appropriately.
What should you do before recycling a phone or computer?
This is one of the most important practical steps.
Protect your personal data.
Before handing over a phone, tablet or computer:
- Back up anything you want to keep.
- Sign out of your accounts.
- Remove your SIM card.
- Remove any memory card.
- Perform a factory reset or securely erase the device.
- If possible, remove the device from your Apple, Google or Microsoft account.
What about a broken appliance that still works?
If the appliance can be repaired, repairing it is generally preferable to recycling it.
And if you no longer need a working phone, laptop, television or appliance, consider giving it to someone else, donating it or selling it.
Recycling is important but keeping a product in use for longer is always better.
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