How to Dispose of or Recycle Electric Vacuums, Brooms, and Dustpans
Electric vacuums, brooms, and dustpans are made from different materials and should not all be handled the same way. Electric vacuums can contain motors, wiring, circuit boards, rechargeable batteries, plastic, and metal. Brooms and dustpans are usually plastic, wood, metal, or a combination of materials.
Whenever possible, repair, donate, sell, or reuse an item before recycling or disposal.
1. Electric vacuums
Electric vacuums, including upright, canister, stick, handheld, and robot vacuums, should not go in curbside recycling. Their motors, wiring, electronics, and mixed materials require specialized handling.
Reuse or donate working vacuums
If a vacuum still works safely, consider:
Donating it to a thrift store, shelter, charity, school, community organization, or reuse center
Selling or giving it away through a local resale or neighborhood platform
Repairing it if the problem is limited to a hose, belt, filter, brush roll, cord, charger, or battery
Before donating or selling:
Empty and clean the dust bin or bag compartment.
Remove hair, dust, and debris from filters and brush rolls.
Include attachments, chargers, and manuals when available.
Clearly disclose defects, weak suction, missing parts, battery problems, or damage.
Factory-reset robot vacuums or Wi-Fi-connected vacuums and remove them from related apps and Wi-Fi networks.
Do not donate a vacuum with exposed wires, damaged plugs, a burning smell, overheating parts, a swollen battery, or other electrical hazards.
Recycle nonworking vacuums
Take broken electric vacuums to an e-waste recycler, appliance recycler, municipal drop-off site, or retailer that confirms it accepts vacuums.
Best Buy lists stick, robot, upright, canister, and handheld vacuums among items accepted through its in-store recycling program, subject to store rules and quantity limits. Check your local store and the current accepted-items list before visiting.
Some scrap-metal recyclers may accept vacuums because they contain steel, aluminum, copper wiring, and electric motors. Call first. The facility may require removal of batteries, filters, bags, or plastic components.
Handle rechargeable batteries separately
Cordless and robot vacuums often use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Do not put these batteries, or battery-powered vacuums, in household trash or curbside recycling.
If the battery is removable:
Remove it only if the manufacturer provides instructions.
Cover exposed terminals with nonconductive tape.
Take it to a battery-recycling program or household hazardous-waste facility that accepts lithium-ion batteries.
Take the remaining vacuum to an electronics recycler if accepted.
If the battery is built in:
Do not dismantle the vacuum or attempt to remove the battery unless the manufacturer or recycling facility instructs you to do so.
Take the full vacuum to an e-waste recycler or hazardous-waste program that accepts battery-containing devices.
2. Brooms and dustpans
Reuse usable items
Working brooms and dustpans can often be donated, given away, or repurposed.
Donate clean, usable items to thrift stores, shelters, schools, charities, or community organizations.
Reuse old brooms for garage, patio, workshop, or outdoor cleanup.
Use a worn broom handle for garden supports, a tool handle, or a household project.
Use intact dustpans for gardening, pet cleanup, garage organization, or small household tasks.
Plastic brooms and dustpans
Plastic brooms and dustpans are often not accepted in curbside recycling because they are bulky, rigid, mixed-material items. Handles, bristles, rubber edges, metal fasteners, and different plastics can make sorting difficult.
Do not place them in curbside recycling unless your local program specifically accepts rigid plastic household goods.
If they are no longer usable:
Check with a local reuse center, transfer station, or recycling facility.
Ask whether rigid plastic, mixed plastic, or household goods are accepted.
Dispose of them according to local solid-waste rules if no recycling option is available.
Wooden brooms
A broom with an untreated wood handle may be reusable or suitable for a home project. If the handle is plain, unfinished, untreated wood, some communities may accept it in a yard-waste or compost program, but confirm first.
Do not compost wood that is painted, stained, varnished, pressure-treated, or attached to synthetic bristles, metal, or plastic components.
Metal dustpans
Metal dustpans may be accepted by scrap-metal recyclers.
Before taking one to a recycler:
Remove plastic or rubber edges if the facility requires it.
Ask whether the recycler accepts painted or coated metal items.
Do not place metal dustpans in curbside recycling unless your local program specifically allows them.
3. What not to place in curbside recycling
Do not place the following in curbside recycling unless your local program specifically says it accepts them:
Electric vacuums
Robot vacuums
Cordless vacuums with rechargeable batteries
Vacuum batteries or chargers
Plastic brooms
Plastic dustpans
Metal dustpans
Vacuum hoses, cords, filters, bags, or attachments
Quick checklist
Repair, donate, sell, or give away safe, usable items first.
Take electric vacuums to an e-waste, appliance, or retailer recycling program that accepts them.
Never put rechargeable batteries in household trash or curbside recycling.
Remove vacuum batteries only when the manufacturer allows it.
Factory-reset connected robot vacuums before donation or recycling.
Take metal dustpans to a scrap-metal recycler if accepted.
Keep plastic brooms and dustpans out of curbside recycling unless local rules specifically allow them.
Call facilities before visiting to confirm accepted items, fees, and preparation requirements.
⚠️ Safety Disclaimer: Connecting The Dots Project provides this information for general educational purposes. Local disposal rules and recycling requirements vary by location and device type. Follow manufacturer instructions, monitoring-company requirements, and local regulations. Do not dismantle electrical, hardwired, or battery-powered security equipment unless you are qualified and specifically instructed to do so by the manufacturer or receiving facility.