Hearing Aid Recycling
Recycling hearing aids ensures they’re reused, repurposed, and the materials recovered. It prevents these small electronic items and their batteries from going to landfill and saves on the resources required to make new ones from scratch.
Around two million people in the UK use hearing aids. When it comes to upgrading or changing them (or the user passes away) these hearing aids become waste. The likes of care homes, healthcare centres, and audiologists can then end up with lots of them and should make every effort to recycle the hearing aids.
At Business Waste, we can help when it comes to recycling hearing aids and their batteries from companies and organisations across the UK. Learn all about hearing aid recycling or speak to one of our experts for a free quote and to discuss your needs today – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.
Can you recycle hearing aids?
You can recycle hearing aids whether they still work or not. Any hearing aids in working condition should be recycled so they’re refurbished for reuse by other people who are hard of hearing. Repurposing them for a new user saves on the resources, energy, and costs of making a new set.
It’s possible to recycle hearing aids that don’t work too. Like recycling any waste electrical items, these can be broken down into their individual components and materials, such as metal, plastic, and batteries. These are then recycled separately with their relevant waste streams.
How to recycle hearing aids
from a business
Any old hearing aids you want to get rid of from a business, care home, or healthcare centre class as commercial waste. Therefore, to recycle hearing aids from a business or organisation you must arrange commercial waste collection by licensed waste carriers. This ensures they’re transported and recycled safely and legally.
It’s important to store old hearing aids separately from other waste types before they’re removed to reduce the risk of contamination with other waste streams. Ensure you work with a waste management company that then recycles old hearing aids rather than sends them to landfill or for incineration with medical waste.
How to dispose of
hearing aid batteries
You can dispose of hearing aids and their batteries together. If the batteries still work then they’ll be used in the refurbished hearing aids. Any that no longer work will be removed, replaced, and recycled separately – the actual hearing aids may still work and be repurposed for a new user.
If you only have hearing aid batteries to recycle (whether they work or are dead) then you can dispose of them with other battery recycling. As a business, you should dispose of them in a dedicated battery recycling bin alongside any other old batteries (such as AA batteries and other small ones).
Arrange removal of the battery bin at a convenient date and time. Then your old hearing aid batteries will be recycled responsibly. It avoids them going to landfill where batteries can leak dangerous chemicals, cause fires, and contamination that adds to pollution levels.
How are hearing aids recycled?
There are two main types of hearing aids, which affect their recycling method – in-ear (custom mould) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. Custom hearing aids can’t be reused as they’re designed for the specific user, so are recycled like other types of WEEE. On the other ear, BTE ones can be repurposed.
There are a few ways old hearing aids are recycled:
- Refurbishing – BTE hearing aids can be cleaned, reprogrammed, any parts replaced, and fully serviced to refurbish for a new user. They’ll be assessed and refurbishing is a great way to prolong their life.
- Reuse – various charities offer services that repair and send hearing aids to developing countries for reuse. This often follows a similar process to refurbishing, so is only appropriate for BTE hearing aids.
- Recycling – in-ear and broken or damaged hearing aids will be recycled. The battery is removed and sent for separate recycling. Other materials like the plastic casing and metal components are removed, recycled, and used in new plastic and metal products.
Who needs to recycle hearing aids?
Any business or organisation with old hearing aids should recycle them where possible. Common places that may need hearing aid collection and recycling services are:
- Hospitals – old hearing aids from patients who have passed away.
- Audiologists – returned, upgraded, and broken hearing aids from clients.
- Pharmacies – any hearing aid batteries returned by customers.
- Care homes – dead hearing aid batteries and old ones from residents.
- Charity shops – donated hearing aids that can’t be sold.
Arrange hearing aid collections
Get in touch with our friendly and expert team today to arrange collections and recycling for any waste hearing aids. We can provide a free quote and advise on the best solution to dispose of any hearing aids and their batteries. This could involve separate bins and collections or incorporate it into WEEE and battery collections.
Licensed waste carriers will remove such waste, and you’ll receive a free duty of care certificate for peace of mind. Collections are available anywhere across the UK for any size and type of business. Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online to discuss your needs today.
Recycling hearing aids FAQs
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Where can I donate old hearing aids?
You can donate old hearing aids to a few charities in the UK. They accept donations and will refurbish and repurpose them so other people can use them in the UK and across other countries. Some of the main charities where you can donate hearing aids are:
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What can I do with old NHS hearing aids?
The NHS should take back any unused hearing aids that they originally provided to patients. They may also accept used hearing aids. These are refurbished for use by other patients.
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Can old hearing aids be repurposed?
Many old hearing aids can be repurposed, but it depends on their type and condition. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids can be refurbished for use by other patients but custom mould (in-ear) aids can’t. This is because custom mould hearing aids are designed for specific people and might be uncomfortable for anyone else.
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How do I dispose of hearing aid batteries in the UK?
You can dispose of hearing aid batteries in the UK in battery recycling bins. These are found in many supermarkets and retailers, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Aldi, as well as Boots, Superdrug, and Specsavers. Simply drop off any old hearing aid batteries to recycle them.
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