Millions of school kids lead nationwide hunt to tackle the UK’s e-waste crisis

• Almost six million children from the UK’s more than 20,000 primary schools called to join the Hidden Treasure Hunt – which aims to recycle electrical waste hidden around homes.
• £20,000 in tech prizes available for the schools that collect the most e-waste for recycling. 

The nation’s schoolchildren are being encouraged to participate in a new campaign to tackle the UK’s growing electrical waste crisis – and win prizes for their school in the process.

The Hidden Treasure Hunt is a new nationwide schools-and-families initiative, open to millions of pupils from the UK’s more than 20,000 primary schools.

It aims to increase recycling levels of the old electrical items hidden away in drawers at home.

Recent research by Recycle Your Electricals found that more than 100,000 tonnes of electricals are thrown away every year, with an average of 30 items stashed away in every UK home – or more than 880 million electrical items in total.

These items contain precious materials such as copper, lithium and gold which when thrown away are lost forever, and could instead be re-used in other products.

Many electrical products also contain batteries which are fuelling the rise in battery fires in bin lorries and waste centres across the UK.

Participating pupils can drop off their unwanted tech at any Currys store, where they are guaranteed at least a £5 Currys voucher, or at almost 30,000 drop off points across the country to receive points towards their school’s tally. Drop off points can be found on the Recycle Your Electricals postcode locator.

Schools will be ranked on a national leaderboard, with those ranked highest at the end of the 2025/26 academic year receiving a share of £20,000 of tech vouchers, which can be put towards vital learning aids like laptops, tablets and other education-friendly tech.

Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled as part of the scheme – which is being supported by Circular Economy Minister, Mary Creagh MP.

Circular Economy Minister, Mary Creagh said: “We all know the importance of recycling, but electrical items, like old smartphones and electric toothbrushes, tend to be forgotten and thrown away instead.

With an average of 30 unused electrical items in each household, this government is determined to end the nation’s throwaway culture and reduce waste to landfill and incineration.

By finding the ‘hidden treasure’ in old electricals, primary school kids can ensure their devices have a second life, rather than costing the earth. I encourage everyone to get involved in this exciting campaign.”

Participating schools will receive a campaign pack including assembly and curriculum-linked resources to support learning around climate change, sustainability and community engagement.

The Hidden Treasure Hunt is a Wastebuster and Currys-led campaign, partnering with Material Focus, Microsoft, DHL and Ecogenesys that forms part of the wider Recycle your Electricals campaign.

It builds on a successful 2023 pilot, led by Wastebuster and delivered in collaboration with Recycle Your Electricals, Currys and Microsoft, in which school communities collected more than 200 tonnes of e-waste for reuse and recycling in just six weeks.

Pupils can also track their school’s progress on the national leaderboard and see the environmental difference their actions make – individually and collectively. This blend of online and real-world action will make sustainability education tangible, innovative and impactful.  

Paula Coughlan, Chief People, Communications and Sustainability Officer, Currys, said: “There’s hidden treasure in every piece of tech lying around homes up and down the country – and we are hoping to inspire the next generation to help uncover it! Through education and action, we’re demonstrating how tech can be given a longer life, something we are passionate about at Currys. I love this campaign: it sparks curiosity, helps build more positive habits and brings families, schools and individuals together to do their bit to tackle the UK’s e-waste crisis.”

Katy Newnham, Founder, Wastebuster, said: “With e-waste now the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, it’s vital that children understand both its impact – and its value. The Hidden Treasure Hunt invites young people to be part of an exciting, collective movement, working together to uncover the hidden treasure inside the technology we no longer use. By revealing the precious materials – such as gold, silver, copper and rare earth elements – locked inside everyday electricals, the campaign helps children see e-waste not as rubbish, but as a valuable resource. Just as importantly, it shows them that their actions matter. By taking part, pupils can see the real-world difference they are making, understand how the circular economy works, and lead their families and communities towards better choices that conserve resources and create lasting environmental benefits.”

Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus, leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign. said: “Every year, over 100,000 tonnes of electricals are thrown away, and 880 million items lie in UK homes, many of which contain some of the most precious materials on the planet. This campaign inspires children and their families to lead the charge for change and go urban mining for these precious materials. This campaign is a win-win for the planet, we can reduce our environmental impact by preventing these materials from being lost forever and make sure that they are recycled into new items such as tech, life-saving equipment, and our green future such as electric vehicles and wind turbines.”

Graeme Milne, Chief Executive, Ecogenesys, said: “On behalf of our Electrical Producer Members, Ecogenesys is delighted to be supporting the Hidden Treasure Hunt. Bringing together electrical producers, retailers and the wider sector, this campaign hopes to increase awareness of the potential within unwanted electricals and highlight the many recycling points that people may not be aware of. Harnessing the power of schools, and especially engaged children who want to make a real difference to the world we live in, we want recycling electricals to become second nature, much like recycling plastic bottles and cans.”

Paul Stone, Managing Director, DHL Supply Chain UK & Ireland, said: “The Hidden Treasure Hunt is a brilliant example of how education, sustainability and community action can come together to drive real change. For these materials to be recovered and given a second life, they must first move through a safe, efficient and traceable supply chain – and that’s where logistics plays a critical role. We’re proud to support a campaign that not only helps tackle the UK’s growing e‑waste challenge, but also inspires children and families to think differently about the value of the technology sitting unused at home. By connecting schools with responsible recycling pathways at scale, we’re helping to build a more circular economy and a greener future for the next generation.”