How to Recycle E-Waste This Festive Season
Every December, homes across South Africa fill up with new devices, toys, and gadgets. Smart TVs replace older sets, new phones arrive under the tree, and kitchen appliances get upgraded in time for festive entertaining. The result is a quiet but significant problem: a surge in electronic waste, or e-waste.
If old electronics are put into general rubbish, it can end up in landfills or illegal dumps, where it can leak hazardous substances into soil and water. At the same time, valuable materials that could have been recovered and reused are lost. By choosing responsible e-waste recycling festive season habits, households can protect the environment, support local jobs, and help build a more circular economy.
This guide explains how to recycle old electronics during holidays, and how eWASA and other PROs are helping to make safe electronics disposal more accessible in South Africa.
What Is E-Waste and Why Does It Matter?
E-waste is any electrical or electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. It includes obvious IT items, including laptops, desktops, tablets, old phones, chargers, small household appliances and toys with electronic components.
Common examples of waste electrical and electronic equipment include:
- Smartphones, tablets, and feature phones
- Power cables, chargers, and adaptors
- Laptops, printers, and computer accessories
- Kettles, toasters, microwaves, and other small kitchen appliances
- Battery-operated toys, gaming consoles, and controllers
- Hairdryers, electric shavers, and grooming tools
- Remote controls and small audio devices
- Large household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers
In a landfill, these items do not just take up space. Many contain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants. Over time, these toxins can leach into soil and groundwater, affecting ecosystems and potentially entering food and water systems. The environmental impact of improper e-waste disposal in South Africa, particularly in or near vulnerable communities, can be severe and long lasting.
In South Africa, end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment and lighting may no longer be disposed of to landfill, in line with the Norms and Standards for Disposal of Waste to Landfill and the national policy for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Since 23 August 2021, all WEEE and lighting waste must be diverted to compliant collection, refurbishment and recycling systems instead of municipal dumps. It means households, businesses and producers have a legal as well as environmental responsibility to use authorized e-waste recycling drop-off facilities.
E-waste is rich in valuable resources such as copper, aluminium, plastics, glass, and even small amounts of precious metals. When managed through formal systems, these materials can be recovered and fed back into manufacturing. Recovery reduces the need for virgin mining, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and supports local recycling and refurbishment businesses.
In short, the environmental impact of improper e-waste disposal is twofold: pollution and resource loss. Responsible e-waste disposal choices help address both.
Holiday Tech Upgrades – Don’t Let Old Electronics Pile Up
The festive season tends to amplify e-waste generation for two main reasons:
- Upgrades and Replacements
Many people use year-end bonuses or holiday specials to replace older devices. New smartphones, laptops, TVs, and gaming consoles arrive, while older models quietly migrate into drawers, cupboards, and garages. - Gift Giving and Seasonal Sales
Electronic toys, gadgets, and small appliances are popular gifts. Retail promotions encourage upgrades. Without a plan for the outgoing items, households quickly accumulate clutter and latent e-waste.
Easy Steps to Recycle E-Waste This Festive Season
If you are wondering where to recycle electronics near me festive season or how to recycle old electronics during the holidays in a structured way, the process is simpler than many people think.
1. Do an “Electronics Hunt” at Home
Set aside some time for a focused inventory check:
- Walk through every room, including cupboards and the garage.
- Collect old phones, chargers, cables, remote controls, broken small appliances, and unused gadgets.
- Create three groups:
- Still working and in good condition
- Working but outdated or rarely used
- Broken or clearly end of life
This simple exercise turns a vague intention into a clear list of items that need action.
2. Donate or Sell Still-working Items
For groups 1 and 2:
- Donate old electronics this festive season to schools, NGOs, community centres, or families who could benefit from basic devices. Even older smartphones or laptops can be extremely valuable to learners and job seekers.
- Sell functional items on reputable second-hand platforms or through local community groups. Extending a product’s life is one of the most effective ways to reduce its environmental footprint.
Responsible gifting does not only apply to new purchases. Passing on working electronics in a safe, transparent way keeps them in use and out of landfill.
3. Use Authorised e-Waste Recycling Drop-off Points
For broken or end-of-life items, look for safe e-waste disposal locations that are registered and compliant (see the map at the bottom of our homepage). Options include:
- Retail take-back points for electronics and small appliances
- Collection points at some hardware chains, such as Build it, that partner with formal recyclers
- Municipal or community recycling depots that accept e-waste
- e-waste recycling drop-off locations supported by Producer Responsibility Organisations like eWASA
eWASA’s Municipal eWaste Drop off Points:
- Kouga Local Municipality (three)
- Stellenbosch Local Municipality
- Overstrand Local Municipality
- Saldanha Local Municipality
- City of Johannesburg Metro (eight)
- Mogale City Local Municipality (two)
- Steve Tshwete Local Municipality
- Rustenburg Local Municipality
eWASA lists partners and collection infrastructure that form part of South Africa’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Lighting, Paper and Packaging, Portable Batteries, and Lubricant Oils. You can find more drop-off points by using the map at the bottom of the eWASA homepage.
You may also find e-waste collection events run by local municipalities, retailers, or community groups. These drives make it easier for households to clear out old devices in one go.
4. Prioritise Data Wiping Before Recycling Electronics
Before any phone, laptop, or tablet leaves your home, protect your privacy:
- Back up important files, photos, and contacts.
- Log out of accounts such as email, cloud storage, banking apps, and social media.
- Remove SIM cards and memory cards.
- Perform a full factory reset, following the device manufacturer’s instructions.
Data wiping before recycling electronics is essential, even for items that no longer switch on easily. If in doubt, ask a reputable service provider or e-waste recycler for guidance on secure data destruction.
Responsible Gifting and Purchasing
Recycling is important but so is preventing excessive waste in the first place. Responsible e-waste disposal festive season practices start at the point of purchase.
Choose Longer-lasting, Repairable Devices
When buying new electronics:
- Look for products with strong warranties and available local repair support.
- Favour brands that offer spare parts and battery replacements.
- Consider energy-efficient models that reduce running costs and environmental impact over time.
Some brands and retailers now offer formal take-back schemes for end-of-life products. Choosing electronics with take-back options builds responsibility into the product lifecycle from the start.
Consider Refurbished and Pre-owned Options
Gifting refurbished electronics at Christmas can be both cost effective and environmentally responsible. Quality refurbished devices:
- Have usually been professionally tested and repaired
- Often come with a limited warranty
- Prevent an additional new product from being manufactured while still meeting the recipient’s needs.
This approach supports the growing circular economy for electronics and can be combined with holiday e-waste disposal tips at home, such as trading in an old device when buying a refurbished one.
Gift Experiences and Services Where Possible
Not every festive gift needs to involve gadgets and cables. Experiences, vouchers, workshops, or service-based gifts reduce the future e-waste burden entirely. When electronics are the right choice, pairing them with clear information on recycling options and warranty details helps raise awareness about e-waste recycling holidays among family and friends.
Make E-Waste Responsibility Part of Your Festive Traditions
The festive season is a time of generosity and celebration, but it also brings a surge in unwanted electronics.
By planning an eco-friendly holiday tech declutter, using authorised e-waste recycling festive season drop-off points, and choosing more sustainable gifting options, households can:
- Reduce pollution and protect vulnerable communities
- Conserve valuable materials and support the circular economy
- Strengthen formal recycling systems and create local jobs
With simple holiday e-waste disposal tips and support from eWASA, every household can help raise awareness about e-waste recycling holidays and turn December’s tech upgrades into a win for both people and the planet.
How eWASA Supports Safe Electronics Disposal in South Africa
The EPR Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) is a Producer Responsibility Organisation that works with producers, recyclers, and other stakeholders to build sustainable, compliant waste management systems.
Through its EPR schemes registered with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), eWASA:
- Coordinates compliant collection and recycling of e-waste and other covered streams
- Invests in infrastructure and supports SMMEs in the recycling value chain
- Promotes safe handling, treatment, and processing practices
- Supports job creation and community upliftment linked to formal recycling
- Runs education and awareness initiatives to improve consumer participation
When you use an eWASA-aligned e-waste recycling drop-off site, you are not only managing your household waste. You are also contributing to a system that protects the environment and supports livelihoods.
