It’s time for spring cleaning and that means getting rid of your old devices. Chances are, you’ve accumulated a lot of e-waste over the years. Whether you’re going through your junk drawer of miscellaneous cables or you’re getting rid of your old computers and printers, you probably have some outdated tech to dispose of.
Just because you don’t need your old phones and appliances doesn’t mean you should condemn them to your in-home gadget graveyard — or worse, the garbage. We all hang onto outdated tech for our own reasons, but there are also multiple ways to repurpose old devices for your smart home, using them as security cameras and more. Depending on the age and condition of your phone, you might even be able to get some cash back for it.
Whatever the tech, when it’s finally time to say goodbye, there’s a right way to dispose of your old gadgets — and there are a lot of wrong ways. We’ll show you which is which.
Before recycling your device, do this first
If you’re going to get rid of an old smartphone, make sure its data has been properly wiped before you sell or donate it. Back up anything you want off the device — photos, videos, songs — and then perform a factory reset.
Where to recycle phones and appliances
Here are the best places to recycle, repurpose or give new life to your old technology. Some locations will take not only small devices such as phones, but also large appliances such as washing machines and exercise bikes.
If you succumbed to the siren song of the newest gadget, even if your current device wasn’t on its last leg, we’re not here to judge.
Best Buy
Best Buy accepts a wide range of tech products and generally takes three items per house per day. Specifics may vary depending on where you live, but you can check with the state-specific recycling information dropdown menu on the site.
Best Buy also offers a haul-away option for larger appliances such as TVs, dishwashers, freezers, microwaves, treadmills and exercise bikes. If you’ve ordered a new product, Best Buy will take away your old one for recycling. There’s also a stand-alone haul-away option that costs $200. You can have two large items hauled away and an unlimited number of smaller items, with some exceptions.
What you can recycle: Best Buy can take TVs, cables and chargers, media players, projectors, laptops, hard drives, webcams, cellphones, calculators, radios, landlines, headsets, vacuums, fans, ink and toner cartridges, alarm clocks, speaker systems, e-readers, video game consoles, memory cards, camcorders, digital cameras and GPS devices.
Staples
Office supply store Staples also offers free recycling options for old technology. Staples accepts up to seven items per customer per day. The company also has haul-away options, driver pickup and pallet pickup, and prepaid address labels available.
What you can recycle: Staples can recycle accessories, adapters, cables, computers, cordless and mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops, routers, tablets, webcams, ink and toner and other office tech items.
If you don’t want to recycle your tablet, there are places to donate technology.
Home Depot
Home Depot has an explainer on its website about how to safely dispose of dead batteries, old paint, electronics and other items, as well as tips for upcycling and repurposing. According to RecycleStuff.org, the services are drop-off only for residential customers.
What you can recycle: According to RecycleStuff.org, Home Depot accepts household alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V), lithium-ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, rechargeable household batteries, cell phones and LED light bulbs.
US Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA doesn’t handle recycling and drop-offs the same way other businesses do but it does have a handy guide that makes it easier to get the information you need. The EPA’s directory breaks down donation and recycling by electronic device, company name, logo and any additional details.
What you can recycle: Again, the EPA’s directory links you out to specific companies and their policies but according to the list you can recycle and donate mobile devices, PCs and TVs, imaging equipment and supplies.
Electronics Take-Back Coalition
Like the EPA, Electronics Take-Back Coalition makes it easy to find manufacturer take-back programs in the US. You can browse more than 25 companies’ take-back program summaries, including Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic and Sony.
The Electronics Take-back Coalition doesn’t handle the recycling but it can direct you to the proper resource for your needs.
What you can recycle: Depending on the company, you can find places to turn in cameras, computers, DVD and VHS players, iPads, iPhones, keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, smartphones and TVs.
Your laptop can be recycled, donated or repurposed. We’ll tell you where to look.
Smartphone Recycling
Smartphone Recycling lets you print a free FedEx shipping label or request a recycling kit. Ship your old smartphone and you might even get paid, depending on the device’s condition and age. Smartphone Recycling accepts devices in bulk, so you have to ship a minimum of 10. Depending on how long you’ve been hoarding phones, you might meet this quota on your own. If not, check with friends and family and make it a group effort.
What you can recycle: Smartphone Recycling accepts Apple Watches, cell phones, iPads, iPhones, iPods, MacBooks, smartphones and tablets, and batteries attached or installed in devices.
EcoATM
EcoATM gives you a price estimate for your old phone that you can lock in on the mobile app using your old device’s IMEI number. EcoATM will ask a few questions about your device (brand, model, memory, carrier and condition) before generating a quote. From there, you can visit one of the organization’s kiosks at Dollar General, Kroger and Walmart.
What you can recycle: EcoATM can help with Google Pixel phones, iPhones, LG phones and tablets, MP3 players, Motorola phones, Samsung smartphones and tablets, and ZTE phones. You can also recycle chargers and cellular accessories like cases, but you won’t be paid for them.
Recycling for Charities
Recycling for Charities accepts technology donations but gives a percentage of the device’s value to the charity of your choosing. Scroll through a directory of charities, select one, enter the required information and click donate. Charities receive anywhere between 25 cents and $100 from your items.
What you can recycle: Digital cameras, iPhones, iPods, Palm Pilots, PDAs, wireless cell phones and corresponding batteries, and wireless pagers.
Call2Recycle
Call2Recycle is a battery-focused recycling program. The organization offers drop-off options at Home Depot, Lowe’s and Staples, and shipment boxes for batteries and cell phones. Drop-offs are free but recycling kits and shipment boxes cost between $45 and $115, depending on the size.
What you can recycle: Rechargeable batteries such as Lithium Ion, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Nickel Zinc and Small Sealed Lead Acid weighing up to 11 pounds. Call2Recycle also accepts single-use batteries such as AA, AAA, 9V, C, D and button cell batteries weighing up to 11 pounds. The organization also accepts cell phones and their corresponding batteries regardless of size, make, model or age.
For more information, check out five things you can recycle (and five things you can’t), the right way to recycle plastic and the dos and don’ts of recycling metal cans.
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