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E-Waste Recycling and Disposal

How to responsibly get rid of old electronics, including trade-in programs and local recycling options

Old electronics do not belong in the trash. They contain toxic materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium that contaminate soil and water when they end up in landfills. Batteries can cause fires in garbage trucks and waste facilities. Beyond the environmental reasons, old devices often contain personal data that needs to be wiped before you hand them off.

The good news: recycling electronics is easier than most people think. Manufacturers and retailers have free programs that handle it for you.

Before you dispose of anything

Do these steps before recycling, trading in, or donating any device:

  1. Back up your data. Transfer anything you want to keep — photos, documents, downloads. See Backup Your Computer for a full walkthrough
  2. Wipe or factory reset the device. This removes your personal data so nobody else can access it. For computers, see Disk Cleanup for data wiping instructions. For phones and tablets, use the built-in factory reset in Settings
  3. Sign out of all accounts. Remove your Apple ID, Google account, or Microsoft account from the device. Disable Find My iPhone/Mac or Find My Device. Deauthorize any apps tied to that hardware (like iTunes or Adobe)
  4. Remove SIM cards and memory cards from phones and tablets
  5. Unpair Bluetooth devices connected to the old device so they do not try to reconnect to it later

What counts as e-waste

If it has a circuit board, battery, or plug, it is e-waste:

  • Computers (laptops, desktops, all-in-ones)
  • Phones and tablets
  • Monitors and TVs
  • Keyboards, mice, and other peripherals
  • Cables, chargers, and adapters (yes, that drawer full of old cables)
  • Printers and scanners
  • Batteries (lithium-ion, AA, AAA, coin cells)
  • Routers, modems, and networking equipment
  • Game consoles and controllers
  • External hard drives and USB drives
  • Headphones and speakers

Manufacturer trade-in and recycling programs

Most major manufacturers will take back their products and often give you credit toward something new. Even devices with no trade-in value are accepted for free recycling.

Apple Trade In — trade in eligible devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch) for Apple Store credit or an Apple Gift Card. Devices with no trade-in value are recycled for free. Available online with a prepaid shipping kit or at any Apple Store.

Samsung Trade-In — trade in phones, tablets, and watches toward new Samsung purchases. Available through Samsung.com and Samsung retail locations. They also accept devices for free recycling through their Samsung Recycling Direct program.

Dell Reconnect — free recycling of any brand of computer equipment (not just Dell) through a partnership with Goodwill. Drop off at participating Goodwill locations. Dell also offers a mail-back program for Dell-branded hardware.

HP Planet Partners — free recycling for HP hardware and cartridges. Trade-in available for HP devices through their online program. They accept any brand of hardware for recycling through their mail-in program.

Microsoft Trade-In — trade eligible Surface devices, Xbox consoles, and other Microsoft hardware for Microsoft Store credit. Powered through their online store with mail-in shipping provided.

Retailer take-back programs

Even if you did not buy the device from these stores, they will take it for recycling.

Best Buy — accepts most consumer electronics for free recycling at any store, including TVs (limit of two per household per day), computers, phones, cables, and small appliances. They also offer a mail-in recycling program with prepaid shipping boxes available for purchase. Best Buy has recycled over two billion pounds of electronics since starting their program.

Staples — accepts computers, monitors, peripherals, and small electronics at all stores for free recycling. They partner with certified recyclers to handle the disposal.

Local e-waste collection

If manufacturer and retailer programs do not cover what you need:

  • Search for "[your city] e-waste recycling" or "[your county] electronics recycling" to find local drop-off locations
  • Many cities run periodic e-waste collection events, especially around Earth Day (April) and America Recycles Day (November)
  • Check with your municipal waste service — many offer scheduled e-waste pickups or have a permanent drop-off facility
  • Look for recyclers certified by e-Stewards or R2 (Responsible Recycling) to ensure your devices are handled properly and not just shipped overseas to be processed unsafely

Batteries deserve special attention

Never throw batteries in regular trash. Lithium-ion batteries (in phones, laptops, tablets, and rechargeable devices) can catch fire when punctured or crushed in garbage trucks and landfills. This is not a theoretical risk — it causes real fires regularly.

  • Rechargeable batteries: Return to any store that sells them (Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples). Many have collection boxes near the entrance
  • Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D): Accepted at most e-waste drop-offs. Some municipalities allow disposal in regular trash, but recycling is always better
  • Coin/button cell batteries: Tape the ends before disposal to prevent short-circuiting. Return to retailers or e-waste facilities
  • Swollen or damaged batteries: Handle with care. Do not puncture. Place in a non-flammable container (like a metal or ceramic bowl) and bring directly to a recycling facility. Do not mail swollen batteries

What not to do

  • Do not throw electronics in the trash. It is illegal in many states and always harmful
  • Do not hoard old devices. That drawer of old phones and the closet of dead laptops are only losing trade-in value. If you have not used it in a year, recycle it now
  • Do not try to "destroy" a hard drive yourself by smashing it unless you know what you are doing. Proper data wiping software is more reliable and keeps the device recyclable. If you need physical destruction for security reasons, many e-waste recyclers offer certified hard drive shredding
  • Do not remove batteries from devices unless the recycler specifically asks you to. Improper removal risks damage and fire

Donate working devices

If the device still works, consider donating it instead of recycling it:

  • Schools and nonprofits often accept working laptops and tablets. Check with local organizations
  • Digitunity (formerly Interconnection) connects donors with nonprofits that need technology
  • Local libraries sometimes accept donations of working computers and tablets
  • Wipe the device first (same steps as recycling) and include the charger if you have it

Recycling checklist

When you are ready to dispose of a device:

  1. Back up anything you need
  2. Factory reset or wipe the device
  3. Sign out of all accounts and disable Find My / Find My Device
  4. Remove SIM and memory cards
  5. Choose a disposal method: manufacturer trade-in, retailer drop-off, local e-waste, or donation
  6. If trading in, check the estimated value online first — it takes two minutes
  7. For batteries, never put them in regular trash

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just throw old cables in the trash?▾

Technically, simple cables without batteries are less hazardous than other electronics, but they still contain copper and plastics that should be recycled. Best Buy and Staples accept cables for free. Most people have a drawer full of old cables — bring the whole drawer next time you are near a drop-off location.

Is my data really safe after a factory reset?▾

For modern phones and computers with encrypted storage (most devices made after 2016), a factory reset effectively makes your data unrecoverable for all practical purposes. For older devices or if you need extra assurance, use dedicated data-wiping software that overwrites the entire drive. For the highest security (business or government), have the drive physically shredded by a certified recycler.

Do I get paid for recycling electronics?▾

Trade-in programs from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and Best Buy offer credit toward new purchases for devices with remaining value. A recent-model phone in good condition can be worth hundreds. Even older devices sometimes have modest value. Devices with no trade-in value are accepted for free recycling, so you never have to pay to get rid of them through these programs.

What happens to my devices after I recycle them?▾

Certified recyclers sort devices into components. Working devices may be refurbished and resold. Non-working ones are disassembled — metals, plastics, glass, and circuit boards are separated and sent to specialized processors. Precious metals like gold, silver, and palladium are recovered from circuit boards. Responsible recyclers handle this domestically or through verified international partners.

Are there any electronics I cannot recycle through these programs?▾

Most consumer electronics are accepted. Large appliances (refrigerators, washers) typically need separate handling through your municipal waste service or the retailer you purchased from. CRT monitors and TVs are accepted by some programs but not all — check with your local e-waste facility. Medical devices may have additional handling requirements.