The place to recycle your used and undesirable devices

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 transport. All of it provides up, however you may assist convey that price down a bit by recycling your previous units.

Luckily, firms and governments alike have made it potential to eliminate your previous units responsibly. You’ll be able to take your objects to a recycling middle, drop them off at a retailer, and even mail them in. Right here’s how one can discover locations that can take your previous devices.

Nationwide chains

There is no such thing as a nationwide electronics recycling regulation presently, so you will not discover any federal applications to help you with eliminating previous units. The USPS does run a program for federal agencies and their employees, nevertheless it’s not out there to most of the people. As an alternative, the remainder of us need to depend on nationwide retailers to toss out our previous stuff.

Greatest Purchase

With greater than 1,000 places in the US, there could also be a Best Buy near you, wherein case, you may go to a location to drop off objects to be recycled. You simply must take it to the customer support counter. They’re going to subject you a receipt, however remember the fact that you may’t declare the drop-off as a deduction in your taxes as a result of Greatest Purchase is not a charity.

As of 2025, Greatest 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 authorized devices as you may (whereas staying beneath the load restrict) and ship it again to Greatest Purchase to be recycled. You’ll be able to both drop off your containers at a UPS drop-off level or schedule a UPS pickup (don’t drop the containers off at a Greatest Purchase retailer).

You’ll be able to even recycle televisions and displays, although in most locations you may be charged a charge of $30 per merchandise to cowl the upper prices of transporting and disassembling them. Greatest Purchase’s in-house TV manufacturers, Insignia and Dynex, will at all times be accepted totally free, although, so long as they’re smaller than 50 inches. (Shoppers in California usually are not charged the $30 charge, whereas places in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan cost the charge however supply a $30 reward card as reimbursement. Connecticut places will solely settle for Insignia and Dynex units for recycling.) If you happen to’re handing over 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 remember that Greatest Purchase limits you to 3 objects per family per day, together with as much as two televisions or displays.

Staples

Recycling your stuff at Staples is just like Greatest Purchase — simply convey your merchandise to the checkout counter and an affiliate will enable you out. However you may solely usher in seven objects a day, and the shop gained’t settle for televisions in any respect (displays are allowed). Staples Simple Rewards members additionally obtain factors for bringing in items to be recycled or shredded; the factors could be redeemed at checkout for reductions on purchases (200 factors = $1 off).

If you happen to can’t make it to a retailer, Staples additionally gives 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 out there for industrial places). You’ll be able to put as a lot as you need right into a field so long as it suits inside and doesn’t exceed the load restrict (a big field can settle for as much as 70 kilos). A “serialized” choice can also be out there for an extra cost, which incorporates a list listing for every part you ship again. The containers are shipped to you after which again to Staples at no further price; 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 virtually 1,000 places round the US however, not like Staples and Greatest Purchase, the corporate will not recycle your previous devices totally free. If you happen to’re solely getting rid of some telephones, batteries or ink and toner cartridges, these could be turned in at any Workplace Depot or OfficeMax retailer for no cost.

For every part else, you will need to buy a Tech Recycling Field ($8.39 for small, $18.29 for medium, and $28 for large) even if you happen to’re already on the retailer. After you have the field, you may fill it with as many objects as you may match inside, together with smaller televisions, so long as it doesn’t exceed the load restrict. So it is an excellent deal when you have plenty of stuff you need to eliminate. These have to be turned in at an Workplace Depot or OfficeMax retailer; an affiliate will verify to ensure all of the objects are acceptable and put together the field for transport (you’ll be requested to fill out a kind).

You can also return used ink and toner cartridges and get $2 every, as much as 10 a month, if you happen to’re a rewards member and spend not less than $10 in-store on merchandise throughout the identical month.

Residence Depot and Lowes

You’ll be able to eliminate previous rechargeable batteries, previous telephones and CFL bulbs within the dropoff containers at any of two,300 Residence Depot or 1,700 Lowe’s places. The bins are often located in the front of the store, and Residence Depot has an 11-pound restrict on particular person objects, whereas batteries have to be beneath 300Wh.

Goal

Target places have drop-off bins for recyclables positioned 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

Stack of old, broken and obsolete laptop computer

If you cannot make it to a retail location, particularly when you should eliminate just one or two objects, many firms supply recycling applications for their very own merchandise. They’re going to even pay for transport. Some run their very own applications whereas others use exterior 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, if you happen to’re trying to recycle Amazon-branded merchandise like Kindles, Fireplace 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 will simply must fill out some kinds on-line and generate a transport 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 continues to be in good condition, it’s best to contemplate selling it, but when it is too previous or beat up you may nonetheless rating a present card by utilizing Apple’s trade-in program. For iPhones (in addition to choose handsets from Samsung and Google) and iPads, you may be requested to fill out a kind 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 reward card and an iPhone 12 scores you $170). For Macs and Apple Watches, you may be requested to offer 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 may nonetheless mail it in or convey it to any Apple Retailer so it may be responsibly disposed of.

Dell

Dell gives drop-off recycling through 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, you could 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 may generate and print out a transport label and drop the package deal off at a FedEx location as a substitute.

Epson

You’ll be able to ship previous merchandise again to Epson by merely making a transport label on its web site and dropping it off at a FedEx location. If you happen to’re positioned in New York, you may even get free packaging despatched to you by calling 866-922-8252. Epson additionally recommends getting in contact with an area charity through Digitunity, the place your previous gear could also be refurbished to be used by folks in want.

HP

If you happen to can, HP recommends taking its merchandise to the closest Greatest Purchase. HP does have a trade-in program, nevertheless it’s geared towards enterprise prospects trying to improve gear that also has market worth and particular person shoppers will likely be redirected to different recycling strategies.

Ink and toner cartridges could be returned by mail; the corporate will mail you an envelope that may maintain between three and eight ink cartridges and could be dropped off in a mailbox or on the put up workplace. For toner and huge portions of ink cartridges, you may print out a label and use your individual field, or request a field be despatched on to you, which you’ll fill with objects and drop off at a UPS location.

Different producers

Many different firms use exterior recyclers to eliminate their merchandise, and you will typically see the identical names popping up time and again throughout completely different producers. This could simplify issues in some instances — it’s best to be capable to ship in merchandise from a number of sources in a single package deal. You simply must fill within the make and mannequin to generate a pay as you go transport label. Nevertheless, completely different states have completely different guidelines on what you may return, so the drop-downs for choosing your product might range by space.

Two main recycling firms you may discover loads 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 will not be a nationwide regulation dictating that you will need to recycle your electronics, however not less than 26 states have handed guidelines that adjust extensively on what they demand of producers and shoppers. Nearly all states that do accumulate merchandise for recycling present this service free, with the invoice footed by the businesses not directly. Most present some native applications that will help you eliminate your stuff, no matter whether or not recycling your devices is required or non-compulsory.

States the place you may not eliminate electronics within the common trash and should recycle them embody: 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 patron, usually are not really required to recycle your electronics: Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

The next states have some particular circumstances price noting:

Connecticut

Doesn’t enable recycling facilities to cost you a charge for handing over electronics, so many organizations and retailers that might often cost for recycling televisions and displays don’t settle for them. Since you can not eliminate them curbside, you may 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 wager for disposing of previous televisions (retailers can nonetheless cost for the service). If you happen to reside in a New York Metropolis condominium constructing with 10 or extra models, contact your landlord about getting an ecycleNYC drop-off box put in in your constructing. It’s tremendous handy and free.

Pennsylvania

Doesn’t enable retailers to cost you a charge to recycle, so locations like Greatest Purchase and Staples is not going to settle for most televisions or displays. Many recycling facilities have additionally closed because of underfunding, so check the list of open locations first. Some nonprofit recyclers should settle for the objects, and it’s best to verify to see in case your native authorities is internet hosting any drop-off occasions. Lancaster and Dauphin Counties additionally nonetheless run civic recycling applications.

Virginia

This state doesn’t have a devoted statewide recycling program, however some localities run their very own applications together with Fairfax, Loudoun and Rockbridge counties, and cities like Arlington. Examine every municipality’s web site for particulars.

Cell telephones

Cell telephones are the best gadget to recycle — if you have not already determined to sell yours off on eBay or through websites like Decluttr and ecoATM. However, if these choices don’t attraction to you, you may ship it to:

Call2Recycle, which has drop-off facilities everywhere in the nation in lots of chain shops, together with Lowes, Residence Depot and Staples. It would 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 usually are not given on to the troopers. You’ll be able to donate through mail: If you happen to’re sending lower than 10 units, you’ll must pay for transport. Greater than 10 units, and Cell Telephones for Troopers will provide you with a pay as you go mailing label. You can too simply drop it off at considered one of greater than 3,000 places.

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.

If you happen to do determine to strive your luck with ecoATM to see in case your previous telephone continues to be price a couple of dollars and it seems it is price nothing, you may not less than relaxation simple understanding that the corporate will even recycle your telephone responsibly.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/normal/where-to-recycle-electronics.html?src=rss

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