What to do with metal keys?
Everyone probably has a few keys knocking about at home that they no longer need.
Maybe you’ve moved to a new house or changed the locks and found the old spares hiding in a drawer. As keys are made from metal, they are an easy to recycle item - this includes allen keys.
Although technically not a ‘key’ it’s easy to amass a large collection of these over the years and they can be recycled in the same way as actual keys.
Just remember to keep one or two in case you need to disassemble the flat pack.
Household recycling collections
Metal keys are not accepted as part of household recycling collections.
Household waste recycling centre (HWRC)
Yes, like other metals, keys can be recycled at most local recycling centres. Remember to remove any keyrings or plastic covers first.
Keys and other similar metal waste go in the Scrap Metal container.
Other recycling collections
If you've got a large number of keys to dispose of, try contacting a local scrap metal merchant.
Recycling is constantly evolving and changing so check back for updates or try our recycling locator to find out what you can recycle at home and where you can recycle or pass on unwanted items in your local area.