How to recycle old electronics devices

You just had to have the latest iPhone and a cool new 3D TV. But now your basement is cluttered with a bunch of outdated electronics. If you’re tempted to toss it all in the trash, forget about it! Chucking old cell phones, printers, computers, and TVs into landfills is bad for the environment. And in many states—25 and counting—it’s illegal. Electronics contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, which can contaminate soil and drinking water.

So what can you do with all of your tech cast-offs? Read on for lots of ideas.

If last year’s devices still work, you might be able to sell them on Amazon.com, Craigslist, or eBay, or with an ad in a local paper’s classified section or on its website. And services such as Gazelle buy used electronics.

Tip: Whether you sell, trade, or donate your used device, be sure to include its power adapters or chargers, along with the user manual, case, and any other accessories you might have for it.

Many retailers and manufacturers have trade-in programs that give you a gift card or credit for the estimated value of the product. Usually you can determine the value of acceptable products at the company’s website, then mail items or drop them off. If your "treasure" proves to be trash, though, most companies promise to recycle it responsibly. Here’s what some retailers offer:

Best Buy lets you trade in many kinds of electronics items, including computers, cameras, tablets, Blu-ray players, games and gaming systems, TVs, audio gear, and phones—regardless of how old a product is or where you bought it. (A few items, such as CRT monitors, are excluded.) You start the process online, then drop the item off at a store or use a prepaid mailer at a UPS center. You’ll receive an electronics gift card for the value. If personal data can be stored on the device (as it can on an MP3 player or a computer), Best Buy erases your info before disposing of it.

Target runs a trade-in program in conjunction with NextWorth. You can trade in electronics items such as cell phones (including iPhones), point-and-shoot and digital SLR cameras, iPads, iPods, laptops, tablets and e-book readers, GPS units, video-game consoles, and more. You can send merchandise in with a prepaid label or drop it off at a participating Target store. You’ll get a Target gift card for the trade-in value.

Amazon.com is testing a new program for trade-ins with a list of specific models it will accept, mostly smaller items such as e-book readers, cameras, tablets, and MP3 players. You submit your trade-in request online, learn the value, then send in the merchandise. If it’s accepted, a gift card is credited to your online account. Update: As of 5/31/2012 Amazon also accepts laptops and netbooks in its trade-in program. Visit www.amazon.com/tradein to see what your electronics items are worth.

RadioShack accepts a wide variety of products, including phones, cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, games and gaming consoles, computers, TVs, e-readers, tablets, and Blu-ray players. You can trade items in at a local store and apply the value to a purchase or get a gift card. You can also check RadioShack’s website to determine the value of the product, then use a prepaid mailer to send in the item.

Some manufacturers have take-back programs too. Here are a few examples:

Apple will accept iPads, iPods, and iPhones, as well as computers of any brand. You’ll get a gift card for the value of an item that can be reused. If it’s no longer in usable condition, Apple will recycle it.

Kodak has a trade-in and recycling program for all brands of cameras, accessories, and printers. You can mail products using a prepaid label and get a check. If the item has no value, Kodak will give you recycling options.

Sony’s EcoTrade program accepts a variety of products of all brands. You can get a credit by taking the product to a Sony store or mailing it in. Unusable products are recycled.

Tip: A few retailers now offer buyback programs, through which you trade in a device for a preset percentage of its value toward a newer model. When we looked at these programs last year, though, we concluded that the programs are rarely worthwhile since they're fairly expensive and measly in what they pay.

Feeling charitable? You can donate computers, printers, VCRs, and other electronics products as long as they are in good working condition. Check with schools and community centers in your area or consider the following electronics charity programs:

Freecycle.org and sites like it (including Freesharing.org and Sharing is Giving) make giving away your stuff super easy.

Goodwill has teamed up with Dell in the Dell Reconnect partnership. Computers, keyboards, monitors, and printers are among the items accepted at more than 2,600 Goodwill locations. 

National Cristina Foundation will find an organization that can use your computer, printers, and other peripherals and software, as well as cameras, fax machines, answering machines, and more. The group will arrange with you for pickup or delivery of the equipment.

Recycling for Charities will donate cash to a charity of your choice, with a percentage of the market value for every item to be refurbished or a set amount for recycled items, ranging from a penny to $100.

The Salvation Army accepts computers, monitors, printers, DVD players, VCRs, typewriters, stereos, copiers, radios, and more. Call your local office or check the organization's website for more information.

For products that aren’t usable, or at least not desirable (think tube TVs and VCRs), recycling is the answer. There are many programs designed to keep electronic gear out of landfills.

Community drop-offs

Call local officials or check online to see whether your town or city collects e-waste. Or check the Environmental Protection Agency site to find public and private recycling programs. Call2Recycle, a nonprofit funded by manufacturers, recycles rechargeable batteries and cell phones at 30,000-plus locations, including many retail chains.

Manufacturer programs

Dell’s Reconnect partnership with Goodwill takes not only working computers and related products but also those that are past their prime. Recycling is free.

Samsung Recycling Direct accepts TVs, cameras, cell phones, laptops, and more of any brand at hundreds of drop-off locations in all 50 states.

AT&T, LG, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon and other phone makers and carriers let you drop off old phones at their retail stores or at authorized dealers, or you can mail them in.

For a list of manufacturers that accept used TVs and computers, visit the Electronics Takeback Coalition.

Retailer options

Office Depot accepts computers, small TVs, and more for $5 to $15 to cover costs. It recycles ink and toner cartridges, cell phones, and rechargeable batteries free.

Best Buy recycles electronics items for free. You can drop off ink and toner cartridges, cords, cables, and rechargeable batteries at stores.

Staples offers $2 in Staples Rewards for empty ink and toner cartridges. Stores also offer free recycling for computers and smaller items and charge $10 for items such as monitors and printers.