All items · Electrical
Computers and data-storage devices
Also covers: pc, desktop computer, laptop, hard disk, macbook, tablet, games console, smart watch
Can you donate computers and data-storage devices to a UK charity shop? It depends.
Why shops may refuse it
Many shops do not have a secure process for checking and wiping personal data, although specialist reuse schemes and some charities do accept these devices.
What to do instead
Factory-reset first. Computer reuse charities wipe drives to standard, and many charities take phones by post for recycling.
Charity by charity
65 mentions-
Can't accept
Ardgowan Hospice category-wide rule
Whole "electrical items" category listed as currently not accepted.
Their wording
“Currently we CANNOT accept: -Toys, large furniture or electrical items.”
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Can't accept
General computer equipment ("monitors; keyboards; scanners; printers") is also listed as refused.
Their wording
“Laptops and tablets”
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Can't accept
Copyright law forbids the resale of computers containing software.
Their wording
“Computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computers”
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Can't accept
Hard drives, SD cards or USB sticks accepted only if brand new and factory sealed; computers, laptops and tablets otherwise not accepted.
Their wording
“Desktops, laptops, or tablets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Personal Computers (PCs), computer hard drives and unusable laptops”
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Can't accept
Cransley Hospice Trust category-wide rule
Listed under 'Unfortunately, we are unable to accept some items' ('Electrical items, Kitchen equipment and utensils, Used baby equipment including car seats and prams/pushchairs, Bikes') with no exceptions stated.
Their wording
“Electrical items”
- Can't accept
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer equipment including printers and hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland category-wide rule
Applies to all electrical items
Their wording
“Electrical and medical items”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Laptops, computers or hard drives.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Mains or bottled gas appliances, microwaves, electric fires, batteries or computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Katharine House Hospice, Banbury category-wide rule
Listed under 'Unfortunately, we're unable to accept' on the shop donations page.
Their wording
“Electrical items or any furniture.”
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Can't accept
Their list names computer hard drives; other computing devices are not addressed.
Their wording
“Computer Hard Drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer equipment, ink cartridges, video tapes or cassette tapes, DVDs and mobile phones.”
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Can't accept
Phyllis Tuckwell category-wide rule
No electrical items are currently accepted, with one exception: old mobile phones and tablets are welcomed.
Their wording
“Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept any electrical items or suitcases.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computers, monitors or printers”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer hard drives (legal reasons). Copyright law forbids the resale of computers containing software.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“all IT equipment”
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Can't accept
Includes tablets, laptops, desktops and mobile devices.
Their wording
“IT equipment containing hard drives including tablets, laptops, desktop computers and mobile devices”
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Can't accept
Donors are redirected to Computer Aid International.
Their wording
“Computers: Consider donating to groups such as Computer Aid International, Donate a PC, or IT specialists within the Reuse Network.”
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Can't accept
Shown when searching 'Computer'.
Their wording
“Thank you for thinking of us. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accept this item because of legal restrictions. Some things need special licences or checks that we’re not able to have in place.”
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Can't accept
Laptop computers without chargers also excluded.
Their wording
“PCs, printers and monitors”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“PCs, laptops, notepad computers, hard drives”
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Can't accept
Hard drives specifically are refused; old mobile phones are explicitly accepted.
Their wording
“Computer hard drives”
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Can't accept
Listed among items the Furniture Centre cannot accept.
Their wording
“PCs and laptops”
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Can't accept
Hard drives listed under items the charity cannot take.
Their wording
“Home recorded DVDs, computer games & software, hard drives”
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Can't accept
St John's Hospice (London) category-wide rule
Applies to all electrical items
Their wording
“Electrical items”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computers and laptops”
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Can't accept
Also separately excludes 'Computer hard drives and external hard drives'.
Their wording
“Desktop and laptop computers Computer hard drives and external hard drives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer hardware, including old printers.”
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Can't accept
St Raphael's Hospice category-wide rule
Stated on the Our Shops page for shop/Donation Centre drop-off. The separate Furniture Collections page still refers to collecting 'large items of furniture or electrical items' via its home-collection service, so this blanket refusal may be specific to walk-in shop donations rather than the large-item collection route.
Their wording
“We are no longer accepting any electrical items or pet toys, sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Software and hardware”
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Can't accept
Also excludes mobile phones and e-readers.
Their wording
“laptops, personal computers, and tablets - we can't ensure they are wiped of personal data”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer equipment, ink cartridges, video and cassette tapes, mobile phones”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Desktop computers / computer towers”
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Can't accept
Includes laptops, personal computers, tablets, mobile phones and e-readers
Their wording
“Laptops, personal computers and tablets”
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Can't accept
Standalone computers not accepted.
Their wording
“Standalone Computers /Monitors”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computers, HDD/SSD drives, portable storage.”
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Can't accept
Listed under "What we can't sell".
Their wording
“Single computers, laptops and tablets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Computers”
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Check first
only accepted new/unused, not used
Their wording
“Used Mobile phones, PCs, laptops or tablets (new items can be sold)”
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Check first
Computers/laptops only if hard drive professionally cleaned or removed; mobile phones only if factory reset
Their wording
“unless the hard drive has been professionally cleaned or removed”
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Check first
Only 'old style' computers are named as refused; newer computers are not addressed.
Their wording
“Old Style Computers”
- Check first
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Check first
Electronic devices with personal data are refused — the wording implies devices wiped of data are acceptable; small electrical items are otherwise welcomed.
Their wording
“Electronic devices with personal data”
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Check first
Only used devices are refused; new ones are not addressed.
Their wording
“Used Drives and SD cards/ USB sticks Used mobile phones, PCs, Laptops, or tablets”
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Check first
Computing equipment accepted only if in working order.
Their wording
“Electrical items in working order - cameras and audio-visual or computing equipment”
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Check first
Single computers, mobile phones and tablets not accepted from individuals; companies donating multiple computer units are welcomed.
Their wording
“Single computers (but we would be happy to hear from your company if you would like to donate multiple units)”
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Check first
Save the Children category-wide rule
Exception: accepted at selected stores — donors are told to check first.
Their wording
“We're unable to accept electrical goods (except in selected stores - please check first)”
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Check first
Used laptops, USBs and hard drives accepted only if new and sealed.
Their wording
“Software and tech: Home-recorded DVDs/CDs, used laptops, USBs, and hard drives (unless new and sealed).”
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Check first
St Mary's Hospice category-wide rule
Listed as a standalone bullet within the 'Electrical Items' section of the main donation guidance page — electrical items without a CE mark are implied to be refused.
Their wording
“Must have CE mark”
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Check first
Only accepted once all software/data has been removed.
Their wording
“Computer equipment that does not have its software removed”
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Check first
Only accepted when new; used storage devices (USB drives, SD cards), and used PCs, laptops and tablets are explicitly refused.
Their wording
“Used mobile phones, PCs, laptops and tablets”
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Check first
Strathcarron Hospice category-wide rule
Donors are asked to check with their local shop before donating electrical items.
Their wording
“Electricals (but please do check with your local shop before you donate these).”
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Check first
Used computers, laptops, hard drives and storage devices are refused; the wording does not address new equipment.
Their wording
“We can't accept any used computers or laptops, hard drives or digital storage devices. You are able to recycle these items through CPR Computer Recycling.”
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Accepted
Explicitly welcomed, unlike most charities' policies on data-holding devices.
Their wording
“Technology Including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and camera”
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Accepted
Their wording
“phones, tablets, PCs and laptops”
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Accepted
Their wording
“pre-loved computers, laptops, desktops, phone and tablets”
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Accepted
Their wording
“Computer hard drives, laptops and notepads”
Not mentioned in 88 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Accord Hospice
- Acorns Children's Hospice
- Age UK
- Ashgate Hospicecare
- Ayrshire Hospice
- Barnsley Hospice
- Bolton Hospice
- Butterwick Hospice
- Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
- Crisis
- Demelza Hospice Care for Children
- Derian House Children's Hospice
- Dogs Trust
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice
- Dr Kershaw's Hospice
- East Lancashire Hospice
- Farleigh Hospice
- Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity
- Great Oaks Hospice
- Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice
- Helen & Douglas House
- Highland Hospice
- Hope House & Ty Gobaith Children's Hospices
- Hospice in the Weald
- Hospice Isle of Man
- Hospice of the Valleys
- Jersey Hospice Care
- Katharine House Hospice (Stafford)
- Keech Hospice Care
- Longfield Community Hospice
- LOROS Hospice
- Marie Curie
- Martin House Children's Hospice
- Mountbatten Isle of Wight
- Moya Cole Hospice
- Nightingale House Hospice
- North London Hospice
- Nottinghamshire Hospice
- Octavia Foundation
- PDSA
- Pendleside Hospice
- Pilgrims Hospices
- Primrose Hospice
- Prospect Hospice
- Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
- Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
- Rotherham Hospice
- Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
- Saint Francis Hospice
- Samaritans
- Scope
- Sense Scotland
- Severn Hospice
- Shelter
- Shooting Star Children's Hospices
- St Catherine's Hospice (Crawley)
- St Catherine's Hospice (Lancashire)
- St Christopher's Hospice
- St Clare Hospice
- St Cuthbert's Hospice
- St David's Hospice Care
- St Giles Hospice
- St Helena Hospice
- St Luke's Cheshire Hospice
- St Luke's Hospice Basildon & Thurrock
- St Luke's Hospice Plymouth
- St Margaret's Hospice Care (Somerset)
- St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)
- St Nicholas Hospice Care
- St Peter's Hospice
- St Richard's Hospice
- St Vincent's Hospice
- The Children's Trust
- The Kirkwood
- The Myton Hospices
- The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
- The Prince of Wales Hospice
- The Shakespeare Hospice
- Traid
- Treetops Hospice Trust
- Tynedale Hospice at Home
- Wakefield Hospice
- Willen Hospice
- Willow Burn Hospice
- Willowbrook Hospice
- Wirral Hospice St John's
- Woodgreen Pets Charity
- YMCA (England & Wales)