Do keyboards and computer mice go in the recycling bin?

That dead keyboard on the desk looks mostly like plastic. Same with the old computer mouse with the sticky scroll wheel. So the blue bin feels tempting.

Do not let the plastic shell fool you. Keyboards and computer mice are small electronics, not normal curbside recyclables. They have circuit boards, wires, metal contacts, rubber parts, sometimes batteries, and enough mixed material to annoy a recycling facility that was expecting bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.

Direct answer

Most keyboards and computer mice should not go in your curbside recycling bin.

The better order is:

1. Reuse or donate if the item still works.
2. Take it to an electronics recycling drop off if it is broken or unwanted.
3. Remove batteries from wireless models first.
4. Use trash only if your local rules allow it and there is no practical e-waste option.

A wired keyboard or mouse is usually treated as e-waste. A wireless keyboard or mouse is also e-waste, but the battery needs separate attention. If it uses removable AA or AAA batteries, take the batteries out. If it has a built in rechargeable battery, check for an electronics drop off that accepts rechargeable devices.

Simple checklist:

• Is it working? Donate, sell, or give it away before recycling.
• Is it wireless? Remove loose batteries if you can.
• Does it have a built in battery? Treat it as e-waste.
• Is it just a wired keyboard or mouse? Look for electronics recycling.
• Is your blue bin for bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard only? Keep it out.
• Are you unsure? Search your city or hauler rules before tossing it.

For the bigger version of this problem, see Do old electronics go in the recycling bin?.

Why the answer is not obvious

The confusion makes sense. A keyboard is lightweight. A mouse is small. Neither one looks as serious as a laptop, TV, or printer.

But curbside recycling is not a general sorting service for anything that contains recyclable material. It is built around common packaging and paper products. A keyboard may contain plastic, metal, and copper, but those materials are locked together with screws, membranes, circuit boards, rubber pads, and tiny components.

That mixed construction is the problem. The recycling truck does not gently separate your keyboard into clean plastic, clean metal, and usable electronics parts. It gets compacted with bottles and boxes. At the sorting facility, it can become contamination, get pulled out as trash, or create handling issues.

Wireless models add another wrinkle: batteries. Loose and rechargeable batteries do not belong in regular recycling carts. Even if the keyboard itself seems harmless, the battery can change the disposal route.

Common mistakes

The most common mistake is treating anything plastic as recyclable. A plastic bottle and a plastic computer mouse are not the same kind of item. One is packaging. The other is an electronic device with mixed parts inside.

Another mistake is leaving batteries in wireless devices. If your mouse uses removable batteries, pop them out before you do anything else. The batteries may need a separate drop off, depending on the type and your local program.

People also assume a broken keyboard is automatically donation worthy. If it does not type properly, has missing keys, or has a failing connection, most thrift stores do not want it. Donation is great for working gear. It is not a magic disappearance button for junk.

A smaller but weirdly common move is cutting off the cord and tossing the rest. Do not do that. The cord may have copper, but the device is still electronic waste. If you are taking the keyboard to an e-waste collection point, leave it intact unless the program says otherwise.

And no, the office paper recycling bin is not the place for old peripherals. Those bins are often for paper only, even if they sit near a printer and look very official.

If you are clearing out a drawer full of power bricks and cords too, this guide on Can old chargers and cables go in the recycling bin? is the better match.

Local rule caveat

Electronics rules vary a lot by city, county, building, and hauler.

Some places ban electronics from trash. Some offer scheduled e-waste collection days. Some have permanent drop off sites. Some retailers accept small electronics for recycling. Some curbside programs will take small electronics only if they are bagged or scheduled separately, not loose in the recycling cart.

That last part is worth repeating: even if your area has electronics recycling, it usually does not mean toss electronics into the regular blue bin.

Look for wording like:

• e-waste
• small electronics
• computer peripherals
• keyboards and mice
• rechargeable devices
• battery containing devices

If the local page only lists bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard, assume your keyboard or mouse does not belong in that cart.

Practical takeaway

For most households, the right call is simple: old keyboards and computer mice stay out of curbside recycling.

If the item works, pass it along. If it is broken, use an electronics recycling drop off or local e-waste event. If it is wireless, remove removable batteries first and handle those separately. If your area has no e-waste option and local rules allow small electronics in the trash, trash is usually less bad for the recycling stream than wish-cycling it into the blue bin.

The tradeoff is convenience versus sorting reality. The recycling bin is close. The electronics drop off may be annoying. But a keyboard is not a bottle wearing a QWERTY costume.

When in doubt, look it up before you toss it. What Bin Is This can help you check household items quickly: https://www.whatbinisthis.com/?utm_source=mdx