Each new gadget you purchase comes at a price to your pockets, however there’s a hefty environmental worth to pay as properly. Each telephone and laptop computer out there’s a non-compostable mass of metallic and plastic, and each new era of them means extra uncommon earth metals pulled out of the bottom. Then there’s the human labor required to place them collectively, and the water and gas utilized in manufacturing and delivery. All of it provides up, however you’ll be able to assist convey that value down a bit by recycling your previous gadgets.
Luckily, corporations and governments alike have made it doable to get rid of your previous gadgets responsibly. You’ll be able to take your gadgets to a recycling middle, drop them off at a retailer, and even mail them in. Right here’s the right way to discover locations that may take your previous devices.
Nationwide chains
There isn’t a nationwide electronics recycling regulation right now, so you will not discover any federal packages to help you with eliminating previous gadgets. The USPS does run a program for federal agencies and their employees, but it surely’s not accessible to most of the people. As a substitute, the remainder of us must depend on nationwide retailers to toss out our previous stuff.
Finest Purchase
With greater than 1,000 areas in the USA, there could also be a Best Buy near you, by which case, you’ll be able to go to a location to drop off gadgets to be recycled. You simply must take it to the customer support counter. They will concern you a receipt, however take into account that you’ll be able to’t declare the drop-off as a deduction in your taxes as a result of Finest Purchase is not a charity.
As of 2025, Finest Purchase additionally has a mail-in option. You should buy a small- ($23, as much as 6 kilos) or medium-sized ($30, as much as 15 kilos) field from the retailer, fill it up with as many authorised devices as you’ll be able to (whereas staying beneath the load restrict) and ship it again to Finest Purchase to be recycled. You’ll be able to both drop off your packing containers at a UPS drop-off level or schedule a UPS pickup (don’t drop the packing containers off at a Finest Purchase retailer).
You’ll be able to even recycle televisions and screens, although in most locations you will be charged a charge of $30 per merchandise to cowl the upper prices of transporting and disassembling them. Finest Purchase’s in-house TV manufacturers, Insignia and Dynex, will at all times be accepted at no cost, although, so long as they’re smaller than 50 inches. (Shoppers in California will not be charged the $30 charge, whereas areas in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan cost the charge however supply a $30 present card as reimbursement. Connecticut areas will solely settle for Insignia and Dynex units for recycling.) In case you’re delivering any desktops, laptops or PC gaming equipment, you’ll get a voucher for 20 p.c off towards the acquisition of a brand new Logitech mouse, keyboard, webcam or headset. Simply bear in mind that Finest Purchase limits you to 3 gadgets per family per day, together with as much as two televisions or screens.
Staples
Recycling your stuff at Staples is much like Finest Purchase — simply convey your merchandise to the checkout counter and an affiliate will allow you to out. However you’ll be able to solely usher in seven gadgets a day, and the shop gained’t settle for televisions in any respect (screens are allowed). Staples Simple Rewards members additionally obtain factors for bringing in items to be recycled or shredded; the factors will be redeemed at checkout for reductions on purchases (200 factors = $1 off).
In case you can’t make it to a retailer, Staples additionally provides a mail-in program. You’ll must buy a recycling field first, which begins at $14 for a small field and goes as much as a number of hundred for a full pallet (solely accessible for industrial areas). You’ll be able to put as a lot as you need right into a field so long as it matches inside and doesn’t exceed the load restrict (a big field can settle for as much as 70 kilos). A “serialized” possibility can also be accessible for an extra cost, which incorporates a list record for all the pieces you ship again. The packing containers are shipped to you after which again to Staples at no additional value; simply drop off the sealed packages at your native UPS drop-off level or name for a pickup.
Workplace Depot / OfficeMax
Workplace Depot and OfficeMax have nearly 1,000 areas round the USA however, not like Staples and Finest Purchase, the corporate will not recycle your previous devices at no cost. In case you’re solely getting rid of some telephones, batteries or ink and toner cartridges, these will be turned in at any Workplace Depot or OfficeMax retailer for no cost.
For all the pieces else, you have to buy a Tech Recycling Field ($8.39 for small, $18.29 for medium, and $28 for large) even in case you’re already on the retailer. After you have the field, you’ll be able to fill it with as many gadgets as you’ll be able to match inside, together with smaller televisions, so long as it doesn’t exceed the load restrict. So it is an awesome deal when you’ve got plenty of stuff you need to get rid of. These should be turned in at an Workplace Depot or OfficeMax retailer; an affiliate will examine to verify all of the gadgets are acceptable and put together the field for delivery (you’ll be requested to fill out a type).
You can also return used ink and toner cartridges and get $2 every, as much as 10 a month, in case you’re a rewards member and spend a minimum of $10 in-store on merchandise inside the identical month.
House Depot and Lowes
You’ll be able to get rid of previous rechargeable batteries, previous telephones and CFL bulbs within the dropoff packing containers at any of two,300 House Depot or 1,700 Lowe’s areas. The bins are normally located in the front of the store, and House Depot has an 11-pound restrict on particular person gadgets, whereas batteries should be beneath 300Wh.
Goal
Target areas have drop-off bins for recyclables situated close to the doorway; along with bins for paper and plastics, there’s a specially-designated bin for e-waste like cellphones and used ink cartridges.
Producers
If you cannot make it to a retail location, particularly when it’s worthwhile to eliminate just one or two gadgets, many corporations supply recycling packages for their very own merchandise. They will even pay for delivery. Some run their very own packages whereas others use outdoors organizations. We have outlined insurance policies from a handful of producers under.
Amazon
Amazon would love so that you can use its trade-in program and, in case you’re trying to recycle Amazon-branded merchandise like Kindles, Hearth TVs and even Ring doorbells, you completely ought to. Amazon will ship you a present card in addition to promotional low cost to make use of on a future Amazon gadget buy, even when the returned product is non-functional.
For merchandise from different producers that may’t be resold, Amazon offers mail-in recycling through its partner Re-Teck. You’ll be able to ship in your busted telephones and tablets, in addition to choose peripherals like keyboards and mice. You may simply must fill out some kinds on-line and generate a delivery label, which you’ll be able to slap on any field. Drop it off at a UPS location, and also you’re good to go; Amazon will cowl all the prices.
Apple
In case your iPhone or MacBook remains to be in fine condition, it’s best to think about selling it, but when it is too previous or beat up you’ll be able to nonetheless rating a present card through the use of Apple’s trade-in program. For iPhones (in addition to choose handsets from Samsung and Google) and iPads, you will be requested to fill out a type testifying to the product’s situation and given a trade-in quote (on the time of penning this, a working iPhone 8 snags you a $40 present card and an iPhone 12 scores you $170). For Macs and Apple Watches, you will be requested to supply a serial quantity as properly. Although Apple will not offer you money for something it deems too previous, damaged or in any other case unacceptable, you’ll be able to nonetheless mail it in or convey it to any Apple Retailer so it may be responsibly disposed of.
Dell
Dell provides drop-off recycling by way of a partnership with Goodwill. Not each location participates, however there are greater than 2,000 that do. And, as a result of it is a charity, chances are you’ll even be capable to deduct it as a donation in your taxes. Dell additionally has a mail-back program on its web site the place you’ll be able to generate and print out a delivery label and drop the bundle off at a FedEx location as an alternative.
Epson
You’ll be able to ship previous merchandise again to Epson by merely making a delivery label on its web site and dropping it off at a FedEx location. In case you’re situated in New York, you’ll be able to even get free packaging despatched to you by calling 866-922-8252. Epson additionally recommends getting in contact with an area charity by way of Digitunity, the place your previous tools could also be refurbished to be used by folks in want.
HP
In case you can, HP recommends taking its merchandise to the closest Finest Purchase. HP does have a trade-in program, but it surely’s geared towards enterprise clients trying to improve tools that also has market worth and particular person shoppers will likely be redirected to different recycling strategies.
Ink and toner cartridges will be returned by mail; the corporate will mail you an envelope that may maintain between three and eight ink cartridges and will be dropped off in a mailbox or on the submit workplace. For toner and huge portions of ink cartridges, you’ll be able to print out a label and use your personal field, or request a field be despatched on to you, which you’ll fill with gadgets and drop off at a UPS location.
Different producers
Many different corporations use outdoors recyclers to get rid of their merchandise, and you may usually see the identical names popping up time and again throughout completely different producers. This could simplify issues in some circumstances — it’s best to be capable to ship in merchandise from a number of sources in a single bundle. You simply must fill within the make and mannequin to generate a pay as you go delivery label. Nonetheless, completely different states have completely different guidelines on what you’ll be able to return, so the drop-downs for choosing your product might fluctuate by space.
Two main recycling corporations you will discover lots are RLG, which covers Acer, Google, Intel, Lenovo, and Microsoft; and MRM, which recycles merchandise for Brother, Hisense, Hitachi, HTC, Logitech, Panasonic, TCL and Wacom.
States
There is probably not a nationwide regulation dictating that you have to recycle your electronics, however a minimum of 26 states have handed guidelines that fluctuate broadly on what they demand of producers and shoppers. Virtually all states that do gather merchandise for recycling present this service free, with the invoice footed by the businesses ultimately. Most present some native packages that can assist you eliminate your stuff, no matter whether or not recycling your devices is required or non-obligatory.
States the place you’ll be able to now not get rid of electronics within the common trash and should recycle them embrace: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
The next states have legal guidelines requiring producers to pay for recycling, however you, the buyer, will not be truly required to recycle your electronics: Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
The next states have some particular circumstances value noting:
Connecticut
Doesn’t permit recycling facilities to cost you a charge for delivering electronics, so many organizations and retailers that might normally cost for recycling televisions and screens don’t settle for them. Since you can not get rid of them curbside, you’ll be able to take them to a municipal transfer station for free.
New York
New York State has a regulation making it unlawful to cost a charge at recycling facilities, so that is your finest guess for disposing of previous televisions (retailers can nonetheless cost for the service). In case you stay in a New York Metropolis condominium constructing with 10 or extra items, contact your landlord about getting an ecycleNYC drop-off box put in in your constructing. It’s tremendous handy and free.
Pennsylvania
Doesn’t permit retailers to cost you a charge to recycle, so locations like Finest Purchase and Staples is not going to settle for most televisions or screens. Many recycling facilities have additionally closed because of underfunding, so check the list of open locations first. Some nonprofit recyclers should settle for the gadgets, and it’s best to examine to see in case your native authorities is internet hosting any drop-off occasions. Lancaster and Dauphin Counties additionally nonetheless run civic recycling packages.
Virginia
This state doesn’t have a devoted statewide recycling program, however some localities run their very own packages together with Fairfax, Loudoun and Rockbridge counties, and cities like Arlington. Test every municipality’s web site for particulars.
Cell telephones
Cell telephones are the simplest gadget to recycle — if you have not already determined to sell yours off on eBay or by way of websites like Decluttr and ecoATM. However, if these choices don’t attraction to you, you’ll be able to ship it to:
Call2Recycle, which has drop-off facilities everywhere in the nation in lots of chain shops, together with Lowes, House Depot and Staples. It’s going to additionally settle for rechargeable batteries.
Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts telephones in any situation and sells them to refurbishers or recyclers. The proceeds go towards buying telephone playing cards for troops to allow them to name their family and friends again residence. To be clear, the telephones will not be given on to the troopers. You’ll be able to donate by way of mail: In case you’re sending lower than 10 gadgets, you’ll must pay for delivery. Greater than 10 gadgets, and Cell Telephones for Troopers offers you a pay as you go mailing label. You may also simply drop it off at one in every of greater than 3,000 areas.
The three main US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — all supply free recycling. You’ll be able to commerce in your previous gadget in-store or ship it in for a credit score towards a brand new telephone, or allow them to straight up recycle it. AT&T additionally participates in Cell Telephones for Troopers.
In case you do resolve to strive your luck with ecoATM to see in case your previous telephone remains to be value a couple of dollars and it seems it is value nothing, you’ll be able to a minimum of relaxation straightforward realizing that the corporate will even recycle your telephone responsibly.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/common/where-to-recycle-electronics.html?src=rss
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