Wondering where to recycle electronics hassle-free? My list below includes local drop-off spots as well as free ways to ship your stuff to recycling locales, and how to make a few bucks doing it.
What’s included? Cell phones, other mobile devices, computers, fax machines, lap tops, copiers, televisions, monitors, and more! For almost anything with a cord, I’ve got you covered!!
But first…why bother?
Save The Planet: Our electronics are made from valuable natural resources and materials like metals, plastic and glass. All of these materials require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling used electronics helps protect Nature, conserve our natural resources, and avoid air and water pollution. Says Staples.com:
Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the U.S. The average American household has 24 electronic devices, not to mention all the electronics used by businesses. Hundreds of millions of these devices become obsolete each year.
There is 324 times more gold, 13 times more copper, and 6.5 times more silver in one pound of smartphones than a pound of ore found in typical mining operations. Recycling helps keep hazardous materials like lead, mercury and cadmium out of the environment while creating jobs.
Stop Climate Change: Recycling saves energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*, for every million cell phones we recycle, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. Recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 US homes in a year.* Aluminum can be recycled using less than 5 percent of the energy needed to make the original product. Producing new plastic from recycled material uses only two-thirds of the energy required to manufacture it from raw materials. On the flip side, producing glass from virgin materials requires 30 percent more energy than producing it from crushed, used glass.**
Cut Clutter: If you’ve got a drawer or shelf full of old cell phones, tablets, computers, or monitors, all they’re doing is taking up space, collecting dust, and adding to clutter (and I HATE clutter). Recycling your old electronics makes room for the new stuff and creates some breathing room that is usually pretty healthy for most people.
Want More Tips to Cut Clutter? Here’s How I Do It!
Save Money: Sometimes you can trade-in old electronics and use the trade-in to offset the purchase of a new replacement. Sometimes you can sell your old electronics for cash you can spend on the replacement. And sometimes you save other people cash when they buy your recycled electronics for less than what the item would cost brand new. Somebody somewhere saves some money when you recycle your old gear.
Reduce E-Waste: Throwing old electronics in the trash doesn’t do anyone any favors. The heavy metals in electronic circuit boards can break down and end up getting into our groundwater (which gets into our drinking water), not to mention the folly of throwing away all the materials used to manufacture electronics in the first place. The U.S. produces about 6.3 million tons, or 14% of the world’s electronic waste. Only around 25% of that is recycled currently.***
7 Ways to Recycle Electronics Hassle-Free
It is surprisingly easy to recycle most electronics. Here’s how:
♦Sell on Facebook Marketplace – Post a picture of your device on Facebook Marketplace, along with a description. You can sell for as little as $1 if you just want to get rid of something. Or, either ask for the “going” price. At the very least, you can simply take the best price you’re offered.
♦Give away on Freecycle.org or your local BuyNothing group – BuyNothing groups are amazing for keeping all kinds of items out of the trash and getting them into the hands of people who will keep using them.
♦Donate to a local school or non-profit – Many schools, churches, libraries, community centers and youth groups are in desperate need of electronics. Make a few phone calls to groups in your area to see if they can use what you’ve got.
♦Drop off at Best Buy – Best Buy takes back all manner of electronics, including PCs, laptops, phones, televisions, and more. (NOTE: Staples used to take back electronics, but has suspended this service as a COVID precaution.)
♦Return to HP, Dell, Samsung, Xerox, Sprint, LG, T-Mobile, Apple – Most electronics manufacturers will take back old equipment when you purchase new. Some will send you free mailing labels so you pay no shipping costs. The EPA offers this handy list of contacts for recycling options for all the major electronics manufacturers.
♦Drop off at your local hazardous waste facility – Most local hazardous waste facilities will accept electronics for recycling.
♦Drop off during a local electronics recycling drive – Once a year, I can drop off used electronics at my community’s electronics recycling drive. It’s very convenient!
You can recycle up to three items per household per day, whether you bought those items at Best Buy or not.
You can get a coupon for 15% off a networking device when you recycle a modem, router, or modem/router combo.
Recycle TVs, computers and tablets, cell phones and radios, ink and toner cartridges, video games and gadgets, cameras and camcorders, and more.
REMEMBER:
♠Before you buy new electronics, see if you can upgrade the hardware or software on your current devices. You’ll save money buying new, and help protect the planet, too.
♠Delete all personal information from all your devices.
* Source: EPA Electronics Donation and Recycling
** Source: EPA WasteWise Program
*** Source: Forbes
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