Green Gadget Guide: How & Where to Recycle Electonics & Appliances in Hong Kong

Our modern lives, with their techy trappings of success, are full of countless gadgets and electronics that comes with a rather big dilemma: what to with all of these items when you no longer want them? (Which thanks to Apple Computers, is all the time!) Electronics pose a special challenge for even the most green-minded amongst us, as they cannot safely be discarded in the regular rubbish bin and require specialized recycling and disposal services. Whether are you are moving, renovating, upgrading or simply de-cluttering, Green Queen has pulled together your go-to guide for electronics recycling in Hong Kong.

EcoSage

Recycles: Any electronic product including computers, tablets, mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines.

EcoSage is a recycling service that can accept pretty much anything that uses electricity. With their easy-to-use web form, your recycling is done completely electronically. You start by simply selecting the type of item you would like to recycle, and then the form allows you to submit photos of your items, list out where you live and when you can have them picked up. EcoSage will then provide you with a quote for how much they will offer you for your items, turning trash into treasure. Yes, EcoSage will actually pay you for your old items! Quotes will depend on the quality and demand for each item. If you agree to go forward, they will then come and pick everything up in one of their many vans free of charge as long as you have a lift. They will take almost all electronic items as they are experts at repairing electronics but are also able to dismantle and recover valuable base materials from most items, so you can be sure everything will be properly recycled.

Caritas Computer Workshop

Recycles: Computer equipment including computers, printers, scanners, and moniters. Some locations may take mobile phones. 

Managed by well-known Christian NGO Caritas HK, Caritas Computer Workshop works with the government’s Computer Recycling Programme to provide an environmentally safe place for Hong Kongers to recycle their computer equipment. They provide collection points where you can drop off all of your equipment free of charge. Caritas Computer Workshop will then assesses your items and donates those in good working condition to those in need, or properly recycle items that can no longer function. They offer 18 collection point in Aberdeen, Mid-levels, Kennedy Town, Sai Ying Pun, Stanley, and Shau Kei Wan, Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok, Lam Tin, Tung Tau Estate, Prince Edward, Sham Shui Po, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan, Shatin, Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, and Sai Kung. For a complete list of their collection points and hours, check here. Their site is currently only available in Cantonese but they are working to offer an English language version.

WEEE Go Green

Recycles: Home appliances including televisions, washing machines, microwaves, air conditioners and fans. 

Specializing in restoring used appliances,  WEEE Go Green is run by Hong Kong charity St. James Settlement and helps provide appliances to families in need. Their site is effectively a matching platform between you and those who can’t afford appliances. You simply register with WEEE Go Green and schedule a pick up, which is free of charge. After they collect your appliance, it will be brought to their Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Centre where a technician refurbishes each item (if it is possible to do so) and also tests for safety before they can be donated. Items that cannot be repaired are dismantled to be safely recycled in parts and/or to recover any materials that can be used.

Note: There are currently no facilities for in Hong Kong recycling non-rechargeable batteries (aka standard batteries that cannot be reused). We have verified this with the government and many charities/waste collectors. The government does have a program for collecting rechargeable batteries.

Photo Credit: WEEE Go Green.