The Hidden Treasure Hunt 2025-26

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. 

For Schools 

Leaderboard prizes – awarded Friday 5 June 2026 (12:00 midday): 

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

Termly prize draws – all schools with at least 1 Planet Care Point are entered automatically. 

For Families & Individuals 

• Each registered recycling visit enters you into a termly prize draw for Microsoft or Currys vouchers. 
• Recycling at Currys also gives you a £5 Cash for Trash voucher (spend £25+).
• Eligible items may qualify for trade-in credit. 

Prize Draw Dates 2025–26: 

• Autumn 2025: Fri 12 Dec – 1 school (£1,000) + 5 families (£100 each) 
• Spring 2026: Fri 27 Mar – 1 school (£1,000) + 5 families (£100 each) 
• Summer 2026: Fri 3 Jul – 1 school (£1,000) + 10 families (£100 each) 

Total campaign rewards: £20,000 

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. 
  • Your full name, school or organisation (if applicable), and delivery address. 

3. How orders are placed 

Wastebuster will place the order on your behalf directly through Currys using the allocated Currys gift card. 

If you wish to buy an item that costs more than your prize value, you may top up the difference. In that case, you’ll be asked to provide valid card payment details over the phone. By taking part, you agree that these details will be used solely for completing your order through Currys and you indemnify Wastebuster from any liability related to product choice, payment processing, fulfilment, or delivery, as these are managed directly by Currys. 

4. Fulfilment and confirmation 

Once the order is placed, you will receive an order confirmation directly from Currys. All subsequent stages of the transaction, including delivery, product warranty, and after-sales service, will be managed by Currys. Ownership of the product transfers to you or your school upon delivery. 

5. Important terms 

The gift card used for the order can only be used once and must be spent in full (no change or residual balance available). 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 Schools

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

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

Register for free at www.jointhepod.org.

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

• A campaign guide with step-by-step instructions 
• Posters and signage
• Assembly slides 
• Curriculum-linked classroom resources
• Parent mail templates and promotional materials 
• Take-home bags and flyers for pupils (limited supply for early adopters only) 

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.

All items recycled via Currys are processed in the UK by accredited partners.

• Data is securely destroyed to UK Government standards. 
• Some items are refurbished and donated or resold as affordable tech.
  For more information: Currys recycling services 

Each registered recycling visit = 1 Planet Care Point for your school (max 1 point per person per day).

Schools move up the national leaderboard, and all schools with points are entered into prize draws.

• 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 

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.
  • Your full name, school or organisation (if applicable), and delivery address. 

3. How orders are placed

Wastebuster will place the order on your behalf directly through Currys using the allocated Currys gift card. 

If you wish to buy an item that costs more than your prize value, you may top up the difference. In that case, you’ll be asked to provide valid card payment details over the phone. By taking part, you agree that these details will be used solely for completing your order through Currys and you indemnify Wastebuster from any liability related to product choice, payment processing, fulfilment, or delivery, as these are managed directly by Currys.

4. Fulfilment and confirmation 

Once the order is placed, you will receive an order confirmation directly from Currys. All subsequent stages of the transaction, including delivery, product warranty, and after-sales service, will be managed by Currys. Ownership of the product transfers to you or your school upon delivery.

5. Important terms 

The gift card used for the order can only be used once and must be spent in full (no change or residual balance available). 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 
   

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