Donating and recycling used disability equipment

When you have disability equipment that is no longer needed, you may be able to give it to someone else.

Return your equipment

If the NHS, social services or another support service supplied your equipment, find out if they will take it back. They may be able to offer it to another person. Contact the department that supplied your equipment to find out if you can return it. Ask if they will collect the equipment or if you have to return it yourself.

Contact your local occupational therapist to ask about local schemes to reuse equipment.

If it is a specialist piece of equipment, you could also ask the manufacturer if they will collect or accept a return of the item.

Donate to charities that recycle equipment

There are several charities that accept donations of used disability equipment.

Please contact them in advance to check that they can use the items you have to offer.

In most cases, you will need to arrange delivery of the equipment, so try the nearest to you:

Disabled Equipment Sent Overseas in Ashford, Kent

Jacob's Well Appeal in Beverley

Limbcare in Surrey

Mid-Devon Mobility

Mobility Equipment Recycling Scheme in Warrington

PhysioNet in North Yorkshire 

Wheels to Heal in Scotland (UK collections)

Donate a prosthetic leg

Legs 4 Africa

Donate a wheelchair

British Red Cross Mobility Aids Service may be able to accept your wheelchair donations. Please contact 0300 456 1914 or email mobilityaids@redcross.org.uk to find out more.

You could also try:

Freedom Power Chairs collect items in London and the South East or you may deliver to them.

Offer your item for free

You can list items that you want to give away on these websites:

• Freegle
• Freecycle
• FreelyWheely

You could offer your item through Facebook groups or a local disability organisation. They may feature your item in their newsletter.

Sell your item

You could ask buyers to make a donation in return for the item. Or you could donate the proceeds through eBay.

Sell for charity (eBay)

Selling used disability equipment

Recycling disability equipment

If the equipment is not in a good enough condition to reuse, there are some options for recycling. You may be able to recycle some items through your local authority’s waste service, such as:

• electrical goods
• household appliances
• batteries
• mobile phones

For large items such as mobility aids, beds and wheelchairs, check your local authority’s website to find out what they can recycle.

Find your local authority (GOV.UK)

In most cases, you will need to arrange delivery to your local Household Recycling Centre.

Some local authorities will charge for recycling or disposal of large items. This can vary widely.