UK households and businesses produce 1.45 million tonnes of electrical waste each year, research shows.
The e-waste research organisation Material Focus calculates that at least 500,000 tonnes of the waste were thrown away, stolen or hoarded.
Its latest study suggests un-recycled household electricals cost the UK over £370m a year in lost materials like gold, copper, aluminium and steel.
This is important because mining the metals leads to pollution.
It also harms wildlife and fuels climate change.
Material Focus has a postcode locator for people to find their nearest e-waste recycling point for items such as toasters and old cables.
Can we fix our way out of the e-waste problem?
What about my photos?
The report says many people hang on to old laptops and phones because they hold photos or sensitive data.
It suggests one answer is to ask mobile phone shops to transfer data and return old phones to factory settings in front of you.
Reputable repair shops could also wipe data for you – at a price. Some charity shops will also take e-waste such as phones.
There will be another option from January, when a new rule means you’ll be able to hand back to any major shop an aged kettle, say, or toaster when you buy a new one. Some stores offer this already.
The increase in electrical waste has been relentless as the population has grown and new consumer electronics reach the market.
Many of the new purchases are not replacements for existing kit, but innovative consumer goods that weren’t available previously, such as smart speakers.