FAQs

If you are a teacher, you should log in with the email address you used to register on the site.

If you have forgotten your password, click here and enter your email address to be sent a reminder.

If you're still experiencing issues with your account, please contact us.

If you have forgotten your username or password, please speak to your teacher who will be able to help you.

Yes: if you are a teacher, teaching assistant or community group leader you can edit your details in your My Account page by clicking on 'Edit account information'. Please note that you can't change your email address, as this is your username for your account. To manually change your email address, ease contact us. 

If you would like to change your school or group’s address please contact us. 

Recycle to Read is a campaign designed to give schools and communities an opportunity to recycle to get new books to support children’s literacy.

The programme is collecting items not typically collected from households for recycling, such as toys, textiles, and batteries, through school and retail collections. Participating schools are rewarded with vouchers to buy a fantastic discounted range of fiction and non-fiction books suitable for early years through to 11-year-olds, from the Harper Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue.

Battery collections: Schools in mainland England (including the Isle of Wight) Wales and Scotland registered with the Pod can take part.

Textile only collections: Schools in mainland England (including the Isle of Wight) Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland registered with the Pod can take part. Currently, schools in Northern Ireland can participate in textiles collections only.

All schools registered with the Pod can access the Recycle to Read education resources.

No. It is free for schools to take part in Recycle to Read.

Register for a free account for your school with the Pod (if your school is not already registered). Login and sign up to the Recycle to Read campaign of your choice.
Currently you can choose from:

1. Recycle to Read Textiles to hold a collection day for unwanted textiles to earn £200 per tonne (20p per kilo) in book rewards.
2. Recycle to Read Batteries to receive a battery box and campaign pack to earn £30 per full box of batteries emptied (if your school is one of the first 100 schools to book a collection*). Schools signed up for the battery collections are also entered into a prize draw to win a £100 book voucher code. 

*Terms and conditions apply

After signing up to any campaign, you will receive an email containing everything you need to take part including a range of resources to ensure you have everything you need to hold a successful collection. These can also be accessed via the Recycle to Read campaign pages when you are logged in. You may also be sent a printed pack depending on the type of collection you have registered for. See the Campaign Guides for details.

• The Recycle to Read Batteries Campaign Guide
• The Recycle to Read Textiles Campaign Guide

See the following campaign guides for details

• The Recycle to Read Batteries Campaign Guide
• The Recycle to Read Textiles Campaign Guide

You will be provided with a campaign guide, assembly presentation, and parent mail plus a range of other helpful resources, depending on the type of collection you have opted for, to help ensure your collections are a success.

A wide range of additional topic-based education resources to support whole school, class or eco-team engagement are also available for download from our resource library. You may also be sent a printed pack depending on the type of collection you have registered for. See the campaign guides for details.

Yes. All books in the Harper Collins Recycle to Read catalogue offer exclusive discounts for schools registered to Recycle to Read who have vouchers.

The Recycle to Read catalogue contains a wide range of fiction and non-fiction book titles suitable for early years up to 11 years (catering for nursery, primary and junior schools).

Schools eligible to participate in Recycle to Read collections the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25 can get book voucher codes. Book voucher codes can be used as discount vouchers or credit vouchers to purchase discounted books from the Recycle to Read book catalogue managed by Harper Collins.

The amount schools can earn for recycling 2024-25:

• Textile recycling: £200 worth of book vouchers per tonne (20p per kilo)
• Battery recycling: £30 worth of book vouchers (for the first 100 schools returning a full battery box in the academic year 2023-24). Schools signed up for the battery collections are also entered into a free prize draw to win a £100 book voucher code.

See the campaign guides for details.

If your school has had a Recycle to Read collection, you will receive an email containing your collection results and book voucher codes earned (if any) within 25 working days of the collection.

Schools eligible to participate in Recycle to Read collections this academic year 2023-24 can get book voucher codes. Book voucher codes can be used as discount vouchers or credit vouchers to purchase discounted books from the Recycle to Read catalogue managed by Harper Collins. The Recycle to Read catalogue contains a wide range of fiction and non-fiction book titles suitable for early years up to 11 years (catering for nursery, primary and junior schools).

Voucher codes are issued in increments of £5 (£5,10,15,20,25 etc.) up to £100 after which codes are issued in multiples of £100 (£100,200,300 etc.). The minimum voucher value is £5. An additional £2.95 is deducted per voucher issued to cover P&P for each order placed using a book voucher. For example, if a school has earned 12,500 Recycling Reward Points (£125) a minimum of 2 vouchers would be issued and 2x £2.95 removed (£5.90) leaving a total of £119.10. This will be rounded down to the nearest £5 (£115), Therefore, a £100 voucher and a £15 voucher will be issued. 

Only one book voucher code can be used in each book order transaction. 

If the cost of the book(s) in your basket is greater than the value of the book voucher code, it is possible to use other payment methods to cover the remaining cost. Discounts are applied to the total order value of discounted books. It is only possible to redeem book voucher codes once.

It is worthwhile using the entire value of your book voucher as no change/ or equivalent can be given for any unspent book voucher code value. If the book voucher code value is higher than the cost of the item(s) in the transaction, the remaining book voucher code value will be lost.

Book voucher codes issued by Recycle to Read during the school year 2024/25, expire July 2026 unless a different date is provided at the time of issue or through notification (with a minimum of 30-day's notice).

Go to the book ranges on www.Collins.co.uk/recycletoread and select the items you would like to buy and follow the onscreen instructions to complete your purchase. You will be given an opportunity to enter your book voucher code as a discount code.

Unfortunately we cannot provide new voucher codes for those that have been lost or be held responsible for refunding the value of book voucher codes that have been redeemed without school consent. Please see our terms and conditions.

If you have registered for Recycle to Read Textiles you can request a textiles collection by emailing collections@wastebuster.co.uk your school’s name, address, contact name, contact email and telephone number and use the words ‘Textiles Collection’ in the subject area.

All items should be clean and wearable (or reusable) and in general good condition.

Recycle to Read textiles collections CAN accept:

Wearable Clothing
Paired Shoes
Handbags
Belts
Duvet Covers
Pillowcases

Recycle to Read textiles collections CANNOT accept:

Workwear
Uniforms (including school uniforms)
Wet/Soiled Items
Duvets
Pillows
Blankets
Table Cloths
Linens
Cushions
Carpets

When your school signs up for Recycle to Read Batteries your details will automatically be forwarded to our battery collections partner to get your battery collection box delivered.

When your box is full, please follow the instructions printed on the box and book via our battery collector by calling 0161 989 9636 or by emailing valpak@pbrl.co.uk with your school details stating you are collecting for Recycle to Read. Once booked you will receive a collection within 10 working days.

Collections are made from the main school reception during school opening hours without advanced notice* – so please make your box available for collection once booked. On your collection day, you will receive a collection receipt, and your box will be emptied ready to receive more batteries – please do not tape/ seal your box.

If you have any collection queries, please call ‘Portable Battery Recycling’ on 0161 989 9636 or email valpak@pbrl.co.uk, who are collecting on the behalf of our battery collection partner Valpak (https://www.valpak.co.uk/).

*Having no advanced notice allows our collector (Portable Battery Recycling) to reduce environmental impact by coordinating collections daily, lowering transport miles.

 Recycle to Read battery collections CAN accept:

AAA, AA, C, D, 9V and 6V Batteries
Mobile Phone Batteries
Laptop Batteries
Power Tool Batteries

All lithium (Li) and button batteries should have sticky or masking tape covering their connectors. Button batteries can be placed in a line between two sections of sticky tape.

Recycle to Read battery collections CANNOT accept:

Damaged or leaking batteries
Car Batteries
Industrial Batteries
Batteries with connecting wires (unless taped to the side of the battery)

We recommend undertaking a risk assessment before undertaking any collections activity to ensure it is compliant with your schools H&S protocol. Although risks associated with hosting household battery collection points are considered to be low, it is advised that all battery collection points inform their insurers of the collection system, providing risk assessments. Further guidance on safe collection and storage can be found here: Valpak Battery Collections Guide. Guidance on child health and safety considerations can be found here: Valpak Child Health and Safety Guide.

Batteries collected through Recycle to Read with our partner Valpak (https://www.valpak.co.uk/), are taken to a sorting facility that separates the different types/chemistries of batteries, ready to be sent to specialist refineries in the UK or Europe (there is limited battery refinery capacity in the UK).

Refineries then break down, sort and smelt/refine the different battery components, so that the valuable and rare resources in batteries can be recovered and reused to make new batteries and electronics, and ensure any hazardous waste is disposed of safely.

The battery recycling process video can be viewed here: https://jointhepod.org/teachers/films/r2r-battery-process.  

Batteries can cause serious injury or death if swallowed, please keep batteries out of the reach of small children and pets.

Batteries incorrectly disposed of can lead to the release of damaging chemicals to land, water and air. They can corrode in the environment - leaching dangerous metals and chemicals, and when burnt in energy from waste plants release toxic gasses and ash. Some batteries such as lithium-ion (Li) batteries may even cause fires or explode when damaged.

Further guidance on safe collection and storage can be found here: Valpak Battery Collections Guide. Guidance on child health and safety considerations can be found here: Valpak Child Health and Safety Guide.

Textiles are sorted in the UK by our partners, to ensure that only suitable items are sent for reuse in the UK and around the world to get the best use and value from them and preventing wastage.

Textiles that are not suitable for reused are sent for recycling in the UK, either to be cut up to make industrial wiping cloths or sent for ‘flocking’ where they are broken down and their fibres used as stuffing or even reweaved into new materials.

A small percentage (~3% on average) are currently unrecyclable and are sent for waste to energy treatment.

Recycle to Read work with Nathans Waste Savers to process any textiles collected through the programme for reuse and recycling. Further information on both companies can be found here:

• Textiles (mainland UK (excluding schools based within the London low emission zone and including Isle of Wight), Scotland and NIR): Nathans Wastesavers (https://www.nathanswastesavers.co.uk/)

Only Pod schools, can sign up to take part in Recycle to Read Toys. If you’re not already a Pod school, you can register here. 

This depends on the toy you have. It is worth searching online for fixes for specific problems. Some communities also have doll hospitals and local shops that can help with a range of different fixes. Try your local Repair Café – the Repair Café website might help you find your nearest repair café. There are lots of guides on the internet on how to fix different types of toys, such as the Fixit Club.

Battery collections: Schools in mainland England (including the Isle of Wight) Wales and Scotland registered with the Pod can take part.

Textile only collections: Schools in mainland England (including the Isle of Wight) Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland registered with the Pod can take part. Currently, schools in Northern Ireland can participate in textiles collections only.

All schools registered with the Pod can access the Recycle to Read education resources.

Recycle to Read is a campaign designed to give schools and communities an opportunity to recycle to get new books to support children’s literacy.

The programme is collecting items not typically collected from households for recycling, such as toys, textiles, and batteries, through school and retail collections. Participating schools are rewarded with vouchers to buy a fantastic discounted range of fiction and non-fiction books suitable for early years through to 11-year-olds, from the Harper Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue.

No. It is free for schools to take part in Recycle to Read.

Register for a free account for your school with the Pod (if your school is not already registered). Login and sign up to the Recycle to Read campaign of your choice.
Currently you can choose from:

1. Recycle to Read Textiles to hold a collection day for unwanted textiles to earn £200 per tonne (20p per kilo) in book rewards.
2. Recycle to Read Batteries to receive a battery box and campaign pack to earn £30 per full box of batteries emptied (if your school is one of the first 100 schools to book a collection*). Schools signed up for the battery collections are also entered into a prize draw to win a £100 book voucher code. 

*Terms and conditions apply

After signing up to any campaign, you will receive an email containing everything you need to take part including a range of resources to ensure you have everything you need to hold a successful collection. These can also be accessed via the Recycle to Read campaign pages when you are logged in. You may also be sent a printed pack depending on the type of collection you have registered for. See the Campaign Guides for details.

• The Recycle to Read Batteries Campaign Guide
• The Recycle to Read Textiles Campaign Guide

See the following campaign guides for details

• The Recycle to Read Batteries Campaign Guide
• The Recycle to Read Textiles Campaign Guide

You will be provided with a campaign guide, assembly presentation, and parent mail plus a range of other helpful resources, depending on the type of collection you have opted for, to help ensure your collections are a success.

A wide range of additional topic-based education resources to support whole school, class or eco-team engagement are also available for download from our resource library. You may also be sent a printed pack depending on the type of collection you have registered for. See the campaign guides for details.

Yes. All books in the Harper Collins Recycle to Read catalogue offer exclusive discounts for schools registered to Recycle to Read who have vouchers.

The Recycle to Read catalogue contains a wide range of fiction and non-fiction book titles suitable for early years up to 11 years (catering for nursery, primary and junior schools).

Schools eligible to participate in Recycle to Read collections the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25 can get book voucher codes. Book voucher codes can be used as discount vouchers or credit vouchers to purchase discounted books from the Recycle to Read book catalogue managed by Harper Collins.

The amount schools can earn for recycling 2024-25:

• Textile recycling: £200 worth of book vouchers per tonne (20p per kilo)
• Battery recycling: £30 worth of book vouchers (for the first 100 schools returning a full battery box in the academic year 2023-24). Schools signed up for the battery collections are also entered into a free prize draw to win a £100 book voucher code.

See the campaign guides for details.

If your school has had a Recycle to Read collection, you will receive an email containing your collection results and book voucher codes earned (if any) within 25 working days of the collection.

Schools eligible to participate in Recycle to Read collections this academic year 2023-24 can get book voucher codes. Book voucher codes can be used as discount vouchers or credit vouchers to purchase discounted books from the Recycle to Read catalogue managed by Harper Collins. The Recycle to Read catalogue contains a wide range of fiction and non-fiction book titles suitable for early years up to 11 years (catering for nursery, primary and junior schools).

Voucher codes are issued in increments of £5 (£5,10,15,20,25 etc.) up to £100 after which codes are issued in multiples of £100 (£100,200,300 etc.). The minimum voucher value is £5. An additional £2.95 is deducted per voucher issued to cover P&P for each order placed using a book voucher. For example, if a school has earned 12,500 Recycling Reward Points (£125) a minimum of 2 vouchers would be issued and 2x £2.95 removed (£5.90) leaving a total of £119.10. This will be rounded down to the nearest £5 (£115), Therefore, a £100 voucher and a £15 voucher will be issued. 

Only one book voucher code can be used in each book order transaction. 

If the cost of the book(s) in your basket is greater than the value of the book voucher code, it is possible to use other payment methods to cover the remaining cost. Discounts are applied to the total order value of discounted books. It is only possible to redeem book voucher codes once.

It is worthwhile using the entire value of your book voucher as no change/ or equivalent can be given for any unspent book voucher code value. If the book voucher code value is higher than the cost of the item(s) in the transaction, the remaining book voucher code value will be lost.

Unfortunately we cannot provide new voucher codes for those that have been lost or be held responsible for refunding the value of book voucher codes that have been redeemed without school consent. Please see our terms and conditions.

When your school signs up for Recycle to Read Batteries your details will automatically be forwarded to our battery collections partner to get your battery collection box delivered.

When your box is full, please follow the instructions printed on the box and book via our battery collector by calling 0161 989 9636 or by emailing valpak@pbrl.co.uk with your school details stating you are collecting for Recycle to Read. Once booked you will receive a collection within 10 working days.

Collections are made from the main school reception during school opening hours without advanced notice* – so please make your box available for collection once booked. On your collection day, you will receive a collection receipt, and your box will be emptied ready to receive more batteries – please do not tape/ seal your box.

If you have any collection queries, please call ‘Portable Battery Recycling’ on 0161 989 9636 or email valpak@pbrl.co.uk, who are collecting on the behalf of our battery collection partner Valpak (https://www.valpak.co.uk/).

*Having no advanced notice allows our collector (Portable Battery Recycling) to reduce environmental impact by coordinating collections daily, lowering transport miles.

 Recycle to Read battery collections CAN accept:

AAA, AA, C, D, 9V and 6V Batteries
Mobile Phone Batteries
Laptop Batteries
Power Tool Batteries

All lithium (Li) and button batteries should have sticky or masking tape covering their connectors. Button batteries can be placed in a line between two sections of sticky tape.

Recycle to Read battery collections CANNOT accept:

Damaged or leaking batteries
Car Batteries
Industrial Batteries
Batteries with connecting wires (unless taped to the side of the battery)

We recommend undertaking a risk assessment before undertaking any collections activity to ensure it is compliant with your schools H&S protocol. Although risks associated with hosting household battery collection points are considered to be low, it is advised that all battery collection points inform their insurers of the collection system, providing risk assessments. Further guidance on safe collection and storage can be found here: Valpak Battery Collections Guide. Guidance on child health and safety considerations can be found here: Valpak Child Health and Safety Guide.

Batteries collected through Recycle to Read with our partner Valpak (https://www.valpak.co.uk/), are taken to a sorting facility that separates the different types/chemistries of batteries, ready to be sent to specialist refineries in the UK or Europe (there is limited battery refinery capacity in the UK).

Refineries then break down, sort and smelt/refine the different battery components, so that the valuable and rare resources in batteries can be recovered and reused to make new batteries and electronics, and ensure any hazardous waste is disposed of safely.

The battery recycling process video can be viewed here: https://jointhepod.org/teachers/films/r2r-battery-process.  

Batteries can cause serious injury or death if swallowed, please keep batteries out of the reach of small children and pets.

Batteries incorrectly disposed of can lead to the release of damaging chemicals to land, water and air. They can corrode in the environment - leaching dangerous metals and chemicals, and when burnt in energy from waste plants release toxic gasses and ash. Some batteries such as lithium-ion (Li) batteries may even cause fires or explode when damaged.

Further guidance on safe collection and storage can be found here: Valpak Battery Collections Guide. Guidance on child health and safety considerations can be found here: Valpak Child Health and Safety Guide.

Only Pod schools, can sign up to take part in Recycle to Read Toys. If you’re not already a Pod school, you can register here. 

1. Login
2. Go to the My Account page and click on the 'Add a blog' button.
3. Fill in the form as instructed. You can add text blogs, image blogs and add an attachment such as a Word document.
4. Don't forget to select which activity and/or campaign you are blogging about!

Firstly, students need to register. You can invite them to do so through the My Account page. 

Students should then go to the My Account page, click 'Add a blog'. Students will then be able to enter details of their blog, and should make sure they choose the correct activity and/or campaign from the filter box. 

You will then need to moderate your students' blogs before they appear on the site. You can do this from your My Account page.

Go to your My Account page - any pending blog posts from your students will be in the Notifications and reminders' box. You can also moderate pending blogs from students within your school or group who have blogged using another teacher's blog code just remember to let that teacher know that's what you're doing.

If you are looking for blogs from a specific school or group you can go to the school or group’s homepage and view their blogs from there. You can search for a school or group under the map on your schools page, which you can access through My Account, or if you are looking for your school or group’s blogs, you can log in and then press the ‘My school/group’ button at the top of the page.

You need to be a registered teacher, teaching assistant or community group leader, and be logged in to sign up to a campaign.

Go to the Campaigns section, select which campaign you are interested in and click on 'Take part'. Schools and groups can only sign up to a campaign once, so if someone else in your school or group has signed up to the current campaign you will not be able to sign up again. There is a maximum of one campaign pack per school/group. 

Home educators and Pod Sponsor employees are unable to sign up to campaigns, but can still participate by downloading the free resources on the Pod.

A campaign survey allows you to measure the impact of your Switch Off Fortnight or Waste Week campaign. To complete a survey:

• Log in
• Go to your school or group's homepage and scroll down to the Switch Off Fortnight or Waste Week survey box
• Collect the data for your pre-campaign survey
• Enter the details about light/appliances left on or the amount of waste you're sending to landfill.
• Run your campaign
• Collect the data for your post campaign survey
• Log in and go back to the Switch Off Fortnight or Waste Week Survey box on your school/group's homepage
• See how much you have saved!

Please note that you can only complete a survey once for each campaign.

Fill out the survey by entering the number of appliances on, off and on standby on your first (undercover) audit. Then, after you have run an energy awareness campaign in school, run another survey and enter the results. We'll calculate the amount of energy you would save in a 24-hour period, and if you kept it up, over a year. Figures are based on typical energy consumption values for the appliances, assuming that anything left on or on standby is left like that for 1.5 hours and 195 school days in the year.

Teachers or community group leaders who sign their school up to an eligible campaign* will automatically go on the list to receive a free engagement pack. However, you need to be quick – there are a limited number available for each campaign. So sign up fast!

Please note, packs can often get lost in the school office – be sure to tell staff who cover that area that you're expecting one.

* not all campaigns will include a campaign pack. Packs are limited to one per school and are sent on a first come, first served basis.

Our campaigns are scheduled throughout the year and provide engaging resources to help get your whole school involved. The campaign resources can also be found at in the Teachers section, so you can access them at any time. You can take part in the campaigns when they are open and blog your progress through your account, or you can use the resources independently to run a campaign within your own school. To find out when our campaigns run, please see the calendar on the Campaigns page.

Recycle to Read Toys is a UK-wide campaign that encourages families to recycle broken hard plastic toys at participating Tesco stores in exchange for Planet Care Points for schools. The campaign is run by Wastebuster, in association with Tesco, Collins, and Products of Change, with the aim of promoting sustainability and reading for pleasure.

1. Register for free on The Pod if your school doesn’t already have an account.
2. Log in and visit the Recycle to Read Toys campaign page.
3. Sign up to the campaign to access your full campaign pack with all the resources you need

Who can take part?

Any individual can recycle toys and collect points for a participating primary or infant school. However, businesses or other organisations are not eligible to use the bins or claim points.

Not currently. The campaign is for schools with pupils aged 2–11.

Schools can register for free on The Pod website and join the campaign via the Recycle to Read section.

What toys can I recycle and how?

We accept small broken hard plastic toys (e.g. cracked buckets, plastic cars) that fit inside a shoebox. Toys can include small amounts of other materials like screws or hair but must be clean, dry, and unbagged.

Recycle your toys at a participating Tesco store, then scan the QR code on the bin or visit the Recycle to Read website to register your visit and nominate a school. You can only register one visit per day.

We cannot accept:

- Toys with batteries or electronics
- Plush/soft or fabric toys
- Wooden toys
- Board games (unless you're recycling small plastic parts)
- Slime, inflatables, or packaging
- Sit-on toys or items too large for the bin

For toys with batteries, please visit www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk. 

Yes, you can recycle as many toys as will fit in the bin, but you still only earn one Planet Care Point per day.

No, but hard plastic components may be accepted. Please consider donating full games to charity.

Bins are in selected Tesco stores, usually behind the tills near battery recycling points. Find your nearest store on the Recycle to Read website.

Please do not leave toys beside the bin. Return another day or visit another participating store. Contact us at info@recycletoread.org if there’s an issue.

Toys are:

1. Sorted to remove contamination and non-target items.
2. Shredded, and any metal components (e.g. screws or axles) are separated.
3. Plastics are sorted by type using water-based density separation technologies.
4. The clean, sorted plastic is then turned into recycled plastic pellets, which are used to manufacture new products.

This process supports the circular economy and is carried out entirely within the UK. For more detail, see the Technical FAQs on our website.

Yes, all toy recycling takes place in the UK.

How do the points work?

Planet Care Points are earned for schools when you drop off broken plastic toys at a Recycle to Read collection bin in a participating Tesco store and register your toy recycling visit by scanning the QR code on the bin and completing this short form. Each completed visit earns one Planet Care Point for the school you nominate. These points count towards their total on the Recycle to Read School Leaderboard. Schools receive book vouchers based on their ranking on the Leaderboard at midday (UK time) on official Book Reward Days. The next one is World Environment Day: 5th June 2026. By collecting a Planet Care Point for a school, you’ll also be entered into our monthly prize draw. Terms and conditions apply.

1. Drop off your broken plastic toys in a Recycle to Read collection bin at a participating Tesco store.
2. Scan the QR code on the front of the bin.
3. Complete the online form and nominate a school to receive your Planet Care Point.

If your school isn’t listed in the dropdown, it means they haven’t registered yet. You can invite your school to sign up here.

Yes. Anyone can nominate and support a participating school, provided they’re a private individual recycling their own toys.

No. Every visit counts equally, regardless of the number of toys recycled. You can return on another day to earn another point.

You can register your visit manually via the "Get Points" page on the Recycle to Read website.

Ask friends and family to recycle and nominate your school when they register their visit.

No. Only registered schools appear in the dropdown. Let us know if your school isn’t listed and we’ll invite them to join.

Yes, but only one point per day. You can alternate the school you nominate across different days.

Yes. Schools can earn 50 bonus points per academic year for hosting a Toy Swap or Sale. Submit a photo of the event to info@recycletoread.org.

Use our Toy Swap Event Guide and the British Toy and Hobbycraft Association’s tips to help plan your event. Schools can earn a maximum of 50 bonus points per academic year.

Yes, if possible. Check out resources like the FixIt Club or Repair Cafés to try to repair toys before recycling.

What book rewards are available?

The Recycle to Read campaign offers book rewards to both individuals and schools in the following ways:

Monthly Prize Draws (Individuals and Schools)

Every month from September 2025 to June 2026:

• One individual who has registered a toy recycling visit and earned a Planet Care Point during the month is selected to win either a book prize (a featured book or book bundle), or a Captain Busta puppet toy and book
• One participating school that has received at least one Planet Care Point during the month is selected to win either a book prize (a featured book or book bundle), or a Captain Busta puppet toy and book.

All winners are notified at the start of each month for the previous month's draw.

Note: Each individual and each school can only win once per academic year to give more participants a chance to win.

See full Terms and Conditions for full details.

School Leaderboard Rewards

Schools earn Planet Care Points from registered recycling visits. These count towards their place on the national leaderboard.

The top 200 schools each year (as ranked on World Environment Day – 5 June) receive book voucher prizes:

• Rank 1 – £500
• Ranks 2-3 – £300
• Ranks 4-10 – £200
• Ranks 11-25 – £100
• Ranks 26–50 – £75
• Ranks 51–100 – £50
• Ranks 101–200 – £30

This annual award supports long-term participation and celebrates leading schools across the country.

See full Terms and Conditions for full details.

Discount Codes for All Participants

All schools and individuals who register for the Recycle to Read campaign will receive a single-use discount code to access special prices in the Collins Recycle to Read book catalogue.

• These codes unlock discounted prices already shown (not an extra discount).
• Each code is valid for one transaction (no book quantity limit).
• Schools that sign up before 25 July 2025 will receive their codes during the week of 8 September 2025.
• Later registrants will receive their codes shortly after signing up.

Full usage instructions are available on the Collins website.

Help and Contact

Email us at info@recycletoread.org.

Please contact us directly at info@recycletoread.org. Tesco staff cannot assist with bins.

Visit the corporate section of the Recycle to Read website or contact info@wastebuster.co.uk for donation and sponsorship opportunities.

We’d love to hear from you. Email the team at info@recycletoread.org.

The Hidden Treasure Hunt is a UK-wide schools’ e-waste recycling campaign that makes it easy and rewarding for families to arrange for old or unwanted electricals and tech to be reused and recycled. 

By taking them to Currys stores, and other official drop-off points, you can earn Planet Care Points for your chosen school and enter you and your school into prize draws. 

Anyone can take part and register their recycling — you don’t need to be a parent or carer.

All UK schools with children aged 4–11 can take part. Nurseries may also participate, but the education materials are best suited to Key Stages 1–2.

Families can choose any registered school to support.

Schools register for free to take part in the Hidden Treasure Hunt at www.jointhepod.org/campaigns. Once registered, your school will appear in the Hidden Treasure Hunt website dropdown list when families register their recycling visits. Schools will need to register for a free Pod school account (if they don’t already have one) to register for the campaign.

It’s simple! Here’s how to take part: 

1. Recycle your items 

Take any unwanted electricals or tech (anything with a plug, battery, or cable) to: 

• Your nearest Currys store (hand items in at the customer service desk) 
• Any of the 30,000+ official drop off points listed on RecycleYourElectricals.org (Please click on drop of points listing ‘Check Details’ button for any restrictions - you can take any small electricals and tech items to Curry stores). Please note that you will not benefit from receiving the £5 Currys Cash for Trash discount voucher or trade in value for eligible items if you don’t take your items to Currys for recycling. You will also need to upload an image of your tech/ electricals recycling at the collection point you choose to be entered into the termly prize draw. 

2. Get more from reuse and recycling 

If you recycle at Currys, you’ll receive a £5 “Cash for Trash” voucher for use when spending £25 or more at Currys. Some reusable tech items may also qualify for trade-in credit, find out more at Currys - Trade In.

3. Register your recycling online 

• Scan the QR code on Hidden Treasure Hunt posters, bags or flyers, or go directly to www.hiddentreasurehunt.org/register. 
• Complete the short online form: 
  • Select the Currys store or other drop of point you used 
  • Tick the types of items recycled 
  • Nominate your chosen school from the dropdown list 
  • Enter your details (only adults 18+ can submit an email address – parents register on behalf of children)

4. Earn and track your rewards 

• Each valid registration earns 1 Planet Care Point for your chosen school (maximum 1 point per person per day) 
• Your registration also enters you into the termly prize draw for Microsoft vouchers 
• You can track your school’s progress on the national leaderboard at www.hiddentreasurehunt.org 

• Each registered electricals and tech drop off visit = 1 Planet Care Point for your nominated school (maximum 1 point per person per day) 
• Schools move up the national leaderboard based on their total points
• Schools with at least one point are automatically entered into all termly prize draws 
• Families can drop off and register as often as they like — every visit helps a school climb higher! 

You can recycle almost anything with a plug, battery or cable, including but not limited to: 

• Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles  
• Smart speakers, headphones, chargers, cables 
• Toys and gadgets powered by batteries or mains 
• Small household appliances (toasters, hairdryers, toothbrushes) 
• Any cables/wires and accessories for electrical and tech items, with or without the main item 

Please note - many electrical drop off points do not accept large appliances such as fridges and washing machines. Most council recycling centres accept large appliances, check the Recycle Your Electricals Locator for your specific appliance type find your nearest eligible drop off point 

• Currys stores – Hand items in at customer services and receive a £5 “Cash for Trash” voucher when you spend £25+ and options for trade in credit on eligible tech items. They can also advise you if any or your tech has additional trade in value, see Currys - Trade In 
• Other electricals drop-off points – Find nearby locations via www.recycleyourelectricals.org 

Yes. Cables, chargers, and leads contain valuable materials like copper and even gold. Recycling them saves resources and reduces waste.

We cannot accept: 

• Hazardous or leaking items (e.g. loose batteries, broken fluorescent lamps) 
• General household waste or packaging 

Large appliances such as fridges and washing machines are not eligible for the Hidden Treasure Hunt competition, as these are best recycled to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre rather at Currys stores. 

Items taken to Currys are processed in the UK by accredited reuse and recycling partners. 

• Working items may be refurbished and donated or resold as affordable refurbished tech. 
• Non-working items are dismantled so metals, plastics, and glass can be recovered. 
• Data on tech items is wiped or destroyed to UK Government standards. 

Leaderboard prizes

Leaderboard prizes will be awarded to the top three schools at 12:00 midday GMT on 5 June 2026.

• 1st place — £10,000 Microsoft tech vouchers
• 2nd place — £3,000 Microsoft tech vouchers
• 3rd place — £2,000 Microsoft tech vouchers

Termly prize draws

Schools with at least one Planet Care Point are automatically entered. Families who log recycling are entered too.

• Spring 2026: 2 schools win £1,000 + 10 families win £100
• Summer 2026: 1 school wins £1,000 + 10 families win £100

Eligible Products

Microsoft prize vouchers awarded under the Hidden Treasure Hunt competition may be redeemed only against eligible Microsoft products sold by Currys, within the categories listed below. Product availability, pricing and ranges are determined solely by Currys at the time of redemption and may be subject to change.

Available Product Ranges

For £100 prize vouchers:

Microsoft 365
Surface accessories - Cheap Surface accessories Deals | Currys 

For prize vouchers above £100:

Microsoft Surface devices 

The full and current eligible product ranges can be viewed via the Currys online links provided in the campaign FAQs. All redemptions are subject to stock availability and any applicable Currys terms and conditions at the time of ordering.

Yes. Currys reuse and recycling partners ensure data is destroyed to UK standards, hand your data bearing items over to staff at customer services. Families should back up and delete any personal data before recycling devices at Currys or other drop off points.

If you win Microsoft prize vouchers through the Hidden Treasure Hunt competition, congratulations. Here’s how to redeem your prize: 

1. Prize value and eligible products 

Each prize voucher can be redeemed only against eligible Microsoft products sold at Currys. 

The available product ranges are: 

• For £100 prizes: 
  • Microsoft 365  
  • Surface accessories - Cheap Surface accessories Deals | Currys 
• For prizes above £100: 
  • Microsoft Surface devices 

2. Selecting your prize 

Within 28 days of receiving your winner notification email, you must: 

• Review the eligible product links above. 
• Reply to the winner notification email stating: 
  • Your chosen item(s) from the eligible list (ensuring the total is within your prize value for a single transaction). 
  • Your full name, school or organisation (if applicable), and delivery address. 

You’ll then be contacted by Wastebuster to arrange a short Microsoft Teams call to complete your prize redemption.

3. How orders are placed 

All prize orders will be placed by Wastebuster on your behalf during a Microsoft Teams call using the allocated Currys gift card. 

• The call will be recorded as evidence of the transaction. 
• Recordings will be securely stored in encrypted data storage for up to three (3) years, after which they will be permanently deleted. 
• Recordings are used only to verify the redemption and prevent fraud. 

If your chosen item costs more than your prize value, you may top up the difference during the call by providing valid card payment details. These details will be used solely for completing your order through Currys. By taking part, you agree that Wastebuster is not responsible for product choice, payment processing, fulfilment, or delivery, as these are managed directly by Currys. 

Please note: For this promotion, the Currys gift card can be used once only. Any unspent balance after that single transaction will be forfeited, so please choose your product(s) carefully.  

4. Fulfilment and confirmation 

Once your order has been placed during the Microsoft Teams call: 

• You will receive a confirmation of purchase from Wastebuster, and an order confirmation directly from Currys once the order is processed. 
• Ownership of the product transfers to you (the winner) at the point the order is placed and paid for using the allocated Currys gift card (and any top-up payment, if applicable). 
• Delivery, product warranty, and after-sales service are managed directly by Currys. 

If your prize is awarded to a school, the product will be registered to and owned by that school. If awarded to an individual winner, ownership transfers to that individual. 

5. Important terms 

The Currys gift card used for the order is different to standard Currys gift cards. It can only be used once and must be spent in full (no change or residual balance available) on a selected range of Microsoft products in Currys. It is non-exchangeable and non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash or alternative prizes. If a winner fails to respond within 28 days, provides incorrect information, or does not supply complete payment or delivery details, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to another eligible winner in the next draw or leaderboard round. For verification, all prize communication and information should be confirmed by email as well as over the phone. Wastebuster is not responsible for delays, errors, or issues arising from inaccurate or incomplete information provided by winners. 

Myth-Busting

No — Electricals recycled through Currys and other official collection points aren’t dumped abroad. They’re reuse or recycled in the UK under strict environmental regulations.

Some old electricals that are sent abroad for reuse through unofficial routes can end up being dumped if they don’t actually work. That’s why it’s always best to recycle through trusted services — so everything is checked, handled safely, and recycled the right way.

No — if it has a plug, battery, or cable, simply drop it at Currys or another official point.

Yes! The unused cables in UK homes could circle the Earth five times, they all contain a little bit of treasure in the form of useful metals like copper and even gold.

Yes — recycling all the UK’s unused electricals would cut CO₂ emissions equivalent to removing approximately 1.3 million cars from the road.

• Nearest recycling point: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk 
• Questions or feedback: info@hiddentreasurehunt.org

For Local Authorities

A UK-wide e-waste recycling campaign engaging schools, families, and communities to recycle unwanted electricals responsibly. Engaging and supporting schools as community hubs and leaders/activists that can play an important role in increasing awareness of and changing behavers around e-waste.   

Collaborating cross-section with local authorities, industry and responsible brands, the campaign helps return valuable materials to the circular economy, support environmental education and curriculum teaching and provides funding for new tech for schools - while also helping and reduce linked operational risks such the increasing occurrence of waste fires impacting on local authorities and the wider waste industry, linked to improperly disposed of waste electricals containing batteries. 

1. Families recycle unwanted electricals at Currys, or official collection points listed on RecycleYourElectricals.org.uk. 

2. Adults (18+) register the recycling visit to Currys or an official UK drop off point listed on the Recycle Your Electrical locator (recycleyourelectricals.org.uk) – registrations can be made at www.hiddentreasurehunt.org/register. Those taking items to Currys will benefit from a min £5 Cash for Trash voucher and trade in value for eligible items (terms and conditions apply). Registering any visits will give the nominated school 1 Planet Care Point (max one per person per day). If registering items taken to Currys the registrant will be entered into the termly prize draw, if registering items taken to another collection point the registrant must upload a photograph of their tech/ electricals recycling at that collection point to verify their visit and be entered into the termly prize draw. 

3. Schools climb the national leaderboard as their community collects Plant Care Points, competing for tech rewards. 

• Promote the campaign via newsletters, websites, and social media
• Share materials with schools, libraries, and community hubs 
• Support local communications and recycling coordination 
• Look out for and share data/feedback on any impacts you feel may be related to the campaign in your community – we will be publishing data on levels of school and school support participation by local authority area annually, that may help you identify local impact on waste streams and services. 

• Increased public awareness and participation in e-waste recycling
• Help reduce risk of waste fires from incorrectly disposed of e-waste  
• Evidence of community engagement and educational outcomes 
• Alignment with WEEE regulations and local climate strategies

• General/public enquiries: info@hiddentreasurehunt.org 
• Local Authority enquiries: info@hiddentreasurehunt.org 
• Industry partnerships: info@wastebuster.co.uk 

A national recycling campaign combining e-waste education with real-world impact. Schools earn new tech rewards while helping families recycle old electricals responsibly.

Leaderboard prizes

Leaderboard prizes will be awarded to the top three schools at 12:00 midday GMT on 5 June 2026.

• 1st place — £10,000 Microsoft tech vouchers
• 2nd place — £3,000 Microsoft tech vouchers
• 3rd place — £2,000 Microsoft tech vouchers

Termly prize draws

Schools with at least one Planet Care Point are automatically entered. Families who log recycling are entered too.

• Spring 2026: 2 schools win £1,000 + 10 families win £100
• Summer 2026: 1 school wins £1,000 + 10 families win £100

Eligible Products

Microsoft prize vouchers awarded under the Hidden Treasure Hunt competition may be redeemed only against eligible Microsoft products sold by Currys, within the categories listed below. Product availability, pricing and ranges are determined solely by Currys at the time of redemption and may be subject to change.

Available Product Ranges

For £100 prize vouchers:

Microsoft 365
Surface accessories - Cheap Surface accessories Deals | Currys 

For prize vouchers above £100:

Microsoft Surface devices 

The full and current eligible product ranges can be viewed via the Currys online links provided in the campaign FAQs. All redemptions are subject to stock availability and any applicable Currys terms and conditions at the time of ordering.

All UK schools with pupils aged 4–11 can participate. Once registered, anyone recycling tech can nominate your school.

Register for free at https://www.jointhepod.org/hidden-treasure. 

Your school will then appear in the dropdown list for nomination when families register recycling.

• School’s Quick Guide — simple overview of how the campaign works
• Curriculum-linked classroom activities on e-waste, recycling, repair, reuse, and data safety
• Launch assembly presentation featuring HypnoCat and the Hidden Treasure Hunt story
• Promotional posters and leaderboard tracking poster
• Parent communication templates ready for newsletters, ParentMail and social media
• Take-home collection bags & flyers for families to gather their unwanted electricals (limited supply for the first 250 schools that sign up)
• Campaign videos and animations including:
  • HypnoCat Mythbuster videos
  • Captain Busta & HypnoCat visit to Currys’ recycling process
• Infographics & fact sheets explaining how e-waste is recycled
• Fascinating e-waste facts posters for display in classrooms and corridors

Plus: The first 250 schools to sign up will also receive a printed pack and take-home collection materials

Anything with a plug, battery, or cable — phones, laptops, consoles, small kitchen appliances, tools, and toys. 

Please note: Large household appliances (e.g. fridges, ovens) are not eligible for the Hidden Treasure Hunt registrations. These are best taken to local Household Waste Recycling Centres or collected for recycling when a replacement is delivered, e.g. see Currys Recycling.

Electrical items dropped off at Currys or at any of the 30,000+ electricals and electronics recycling drop-off points listed on the Recycle Your Electricals locator are collected and processed through the UK’s regulatory WEEE system.

The Recycle Your Electricals locator signposts to existing, legitimate collection points (such as retailers, local authority sites, community collection points, and approved reuse organisations) that are part of the UK’s regulated electricals recycling infrastructure.

Because these sites operate within the UK WEEE system, items collected through them are handled according to regulated standards for treatment, recovery, and recycling.

What happens to the items?

Once collected:

• Items are transported to UK-approved treatment facilities
• Data-bearing devices have their data securely wiped or destroyed to UK-recognised data-security standards
• Items are inspected for potential reuse or part-harvesting
• Components are dismantled by hand and machine
• Materials such as metals, plastics, and glass are separated using techniques like magnets, eddy currents, shredding, and optical sorting
• These recovered materials re-enter manufacturing supply chains to make new products, reducing the need for virgin resources

This process helps recover valuable metals, prevent pollution, reduce carbon impacts, and keep hazardous components out of landfill.

Learn more

• For a full explanation of how electricals recycling works, visit: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk 
• To understand how Currys manages unwanted tech as the UK’s largest household electricals retailer and recycler, visit: Currys Recycling Services
• For schools and families, The Pod resource library includes a wide range of curriculum linked education content for all ages explaining the e-waste recycling process—from how materials are recovered, to why recycling electronics matters.

When someone recycles an unwanted electrical item at an approved collection point, they can earn one Planet Care Point for a school, as long as they log the recycling visit.

Each recorded visit equals one Planet Care Point, with a limit of one per person per day.

Recycling at Currys stores

If the recycling is done at a Currys store:

• They scan the Currys QR code and complete the short online form.
• Their nominated school receives one Planet Care Point.
• They are automatically entered into the individual termly prize draw to win £100 in Microsoft tech.
• No photo upload is required.

Recycling at other approved collection points

If the recycling takes place at a different collection point listed on the Recycle Your Electricals locator:

• They use the registration form on the Hidden Treasure Hunt homepage.
• Their nominated school still receives one Planet Care Point.
• To qualify for the individual termly £100 Microsoft tech prize draw, they must upload a photo of the items they are recycling at that location.
• Once the form and photo are submitted, they are entered into the individual prize draw.

School prizes

• Every school with at least one Planet Care Point is automatically entered into the termly £1,000 Microsoft tech prize draws*.
• Leaderboard prizes are awarded to the top three schools at 12:00 midday GMT on 5 June 2026.
• Full prize details are available in the separate FAQ - What prizes and rewards are available for schools?

*Terms and conditions apply in this competition

• Hold an assembly using the provided slides 
• Promote the campaign via newsletters/parent mail, websites, and social media 
• Distribute take-home flyers or bags encouraging families to recycle at Currys or local collection points (supplies limited and provided early adopter schools) 
• Track your progress on the national leaderboard at www.hiddentreasurehunt.org 

The campaign supports science, geography, and citizenship learning. 
 
Themes include:

• The circular economy 
• Sustainable technology
• Responsible consumption and recycling 
• The environmental impact of e-waste and consumption 

See the individual lesson plans and activities for detailed curriculum links for the English, Scottish, Welsh and NI curriculums. 

If your school or household wins Microsoft prize vouchers through the Hidden Treasure Hunt competition, congratulations. Here’s how to redeem your prize: 

1. Prize value and eligible products 

Microsoft prize vouchers awarded under the Hidden Treasure Hunt competition may be redeemed only against eligible Microsoft products sold by Currys, within the categories listed below. Product availability, pricing and ranges are determined solely by Currys at the time of redemption and may be subject to change.

Available Product Ranges

For £100 prize vouchers:

Microsoft 365
Surface accessories - Cheap Surface accessories Deals | Currys 

For prize vouchers above £100:

Microsoft Surface devices 

The full and current eligible product ranges can be viewed via the Currys online links provided in the campaign FAQs. All redemptions are subject to stock availability and any applicable Currys terms and conditions at the time of ordering.

2. Selecting your prize

Within 28 days of receiving your winner notification email, you must: 

• Review the eligible product links above.
• Reply to the winner notification email stating: 
  • Your chosen item(s) from the eligible list.
  • Your full name, school or organisation (if applicable), and delivery address. 

You’ll then be contacted by Wastebuster to arrange a short Microsoft Teams call to complete your prize redemption.

3. How orders are placed

All prize orders will be placed by Wastebuster on your behalf during a Microsoft Teams call using the allocated Currys gift card. 

• The call will be recorded as evidence of the transaction. 
• Recordings will be securely stored in encrypted data storage for up to three (3) years, after which they will be permanently deleted. 
• Recordings are used only to verify the redemption and prevent fraud. 

If your chosen item costs more than your prize value, you may top up the difference during the call by providing valid card payment details. These details will be used solely for completing your order through Currys. By taking part, you agree that Wastebuster is not responsible for product choice, payment processing, fulfilment, or delivery, as these are managed directly by Currys. 

Please note: For this promotion, the Currys gift card can be used once only. Any unspent balance after that single transaction will be forfeited, so please choose your product(s) carefully.

4. Fulfilment and confirmation 

Once your order has been placed during the Microsoft Teams call: 

• You will receive a confirmation of purchase from Wastebuster, and an order confirmation directly from Currys once the order is processed. 
• Ownership of the product transfers to you (the winner) at the point the order is placed and paid for using the allocated Currys gift card (and any top-up payment, if applicable). 
• Delivery, product warranty, and after-sales service are managed directly by Currys. 

If your prize is awarded to a school, the product will be registered to and owned by that school. If awarded to an individual winner, ownership transfers to that individual. 

5. Important terms 

The Currys gift card used for the order is different to standard Currys gift cards. It can only be used once and must be spent in full (no change or residual balance available) on a selected range of Microsoft products in Currys. It is non-exchangeable and non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash or alternative prizes. If a winner fails to respond within 28 days, provides incorrect information, or does not supply complete payment or delivery details, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to another eligible winner in the next draw or leaderboard round. For verification, all prize communication and information should be confirmed by email as well as over the phone. Wastebuster is not responsible for delays, errors, or issues arising from inaccurate or incomplete information provided by winners.

• Campaign questions: info@hiddentreasurehunt.org 
• Resources: available on the Hidden Treasure Hunt website