How To Recycle Electronics For Free Or On The Cheap

Every year, new phones, tablets, and computers are released. But unfortunately, your previous device is consigned to your home’s gadget cemetery when upgrading for new tech. Furthermore, old gadgets eventually quit functioning and join the world’s collection of electronic junk, maybe sooner than you think. In light of this, is it possible to recycle gadgets at little or no cost?

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The 9 Ways To Recycle Electronics For Free Or On The Cheap Are Below!

Recycling is frequently advocated as the answer, and while it’s not the only way to deal with e-waste, it’s frequently the best one we have. To that aim, I’ve put together this directory of facilities that will accept your outdated or unusable gadgets and either recycle them properly or transform them into something helpful for someone else.

The Best Cheap Or Free Ways To Recycle Electronics

Depending on how often you replace your equipment, you probably have a drawer full of outdated batteries, cords, and perhaps discarded desktops, laptops, and phones. Of course, we all have different reasons for keeping old technology around; for example, I still have my first indestructible Nokia brick phone stashed somewhere in case I need it for self-defense.

Jokes aside, there are many methods to recycle outdated gadgets for your smart home, like repurposing them as security cameras and other things. Here are the top locations to recycle, reuse, or breathe new life into your outdated equipment for free or cheap, starting with Staples.

1. Recycle Old Printers And More At Staples

Staples, an office supplies retailer, also provides free recycling services for outdated devices. A consumer may bring a maximum of seven products per day to Staples. Additionally, the business offers prepaid address labels, driver pickup, pallet collection, and various haul-away alternatives.

At Staples, you may recycle various electrical gadgets while purchasing printer paper. In addition, the office supplies retailer offers a free electronics recycling service that accepts a wide range of items. Seven products maximum may be brought into each business each day.

Businesses may recycle their outdated technology, ink and toner cartridges, and even the K-cups that coffee makers spew out through Staples’ recycling program. In addition, accessories, adapters, cables, laptops, cordless and mobile phones, digital cameras, tablets, webcams, ink and toner, and other office technology may all be recycled at Staples.

2. Smartphone Recycling Offers Free Services

You may order a recycling kit at SmartphoneRecycling.com or print a free FedEx delivery label. Depending on the age and state of the phone, you can even get paid to ship it. However, you must send a minimum of 10 smartphones since Smartphone Recycling accepts devices in bulk.

Depending on how long you’ve been collecting phones, you might fulfill this need on your own. If not, consult your friends and family and try to work things out together.

They’re not here to pass judgment if you give in to the seductive call of the newest technology, even if your old device wasn’t broken. Smartphone Recycling will take your old smartphones, mobile phones, MacBooks, tablets, iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Apple Watches in exchange for batteries that are still linked to or built into the devices.

3. Apple Trade-In And Apple GiveBack

You can return your old Apple gadgets to their original location. For example, you could be given an Apple gift card in exchange for your functional iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac. Additionally, recycling is free even if it is broken.

Not just Apple products are eligible for the Apple Trade-In program. You may mail in items like printers, Android smartphones, and more by ordering a prepaid mailing label. Additionally, you have the choice of using Apple GiveBack.

You may recycle any Apple product and those from Apple-owned companies through Apple GiveBack. Apple will see that it is properly recycled or given a second shot. Additionally, some gadgets could be creditable.

4. Best Buy Offers Limited Daily Free Electronics Recycling Programs

Best Buy, a national electronics retailer, undoubtedly offers one of the best recycling programs. Best Buy takes a wide variety of electronic equipment and often accepts three things per household every day. In addition, you can check the website’s state-specific recycling information dropdown menu for specifics that may differ based on where you reside.

The vast majority of tech is free to recycle. In addition, you might be able to trade in certain products for a discount or a bargain on something else. Best Buy also has a haul-away option for more significant equipment like TVs, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, treadmills, and exercise cycles, including standalone haul-away services.

Best Buy will remove and recycle your old item when you order a new item. If you’re buying a more significant replacement appliance or TV from Best Buy, a $29.99 haul-away service is available. It costs roughly around $99.99 for a haul-away service if you’re not purchasing anything. With a few exceptions, you can have two large objects and an unlimited number of smaller items carried away.

Best Buy accepts a variety of items, including TVs, cables and chargers, media players, projectors, laptops, hard drives, webcams, cellphones, calculators, radios, landlines, headsets, vacuums, fans, ink and toner cartridges, alarm clocks, speaker systems, camcorders, digital cameras, GPS devices, and more.

5. The Home Depot Offers Advice, And Office Depot Comes In Cheap

Almost every state’s guidelines for upcycling and repurposing, as well as excellent explanations of how to securely dispose of dead batteries, old paint, electronics, and other materials, can be found on the Home Depot website. However, the services are exclusively available for domestic clients, claims Home Depot.

Home Depot takes rechargeable household batteries, lithium-ion batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, household alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V), cell phones, and LED light bulbs.

However, recycling at Office Depot is a simple task. They provide a variety of boxes in various sizes and charge appropriately. For example, small parcels cost $5, medium-sized boxes cost $10, and big boxes cost $15. So the most remarkable thing you could do to recycle your electronic trash is to fill up these boxes.

If you don’t have enough electronic garbage to recycle, you may still bring certain goods to their store, where they will recycle them for free. Request a tech recycling box from a shop associate, fill it with eligible goods, and bring the box in the open. Rechargeable batteries, printer cartridges, MP3 players, cell phones, and other small electronic devices can all be recycled for free on-site.

6. Xerox And HP Offer Excellent Recycling Progrmans for Larger Businesses

Rechargeable batteries, any brand of computer hardware, and genuine HP inkjet and laserjet supplies may all be easily recycled through HP’s Planet Partners return and recycling program. In addition, HP accepts almost all Original HP and Samsung toner cartridges for recycling.

Among the merchants taking part in the free drop-off program for toner from HP and Samsung are Staples, Office Depot, Walmart, and Best Buy. Visit the retailer finder and select “Drop it off” to identify your shop from the list to confirm that the retailer closest to you is an authorized collection place.

For more significant enterprises, you can also request a free large e-waste bucket and have it shipped to you free after filling it with acceptable HP recyclables.

With HP, you can freely recycle toner Samsung and HP cartridges, home and office equipment, business equipment, HP 3D consumables, smartphone and laptop batteries, HP/Compaq mercury lamps, and more.

Through our industry-leading Green World Alliance supplies take-back program, Xerox prevents millions of pounds of unwanted materials from going to the dump each year. Like HP’s initiative, you may pick from a variety of options on their website for recycling other brands of printers and cartridges.

However, this program is not intended for use by garbage consolidation companies, third-party recyclers, or other similar entities. It is only allowed for individuals or companies that own Xerox goods.

7. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) And Electronic Take Back Coalition

The EPA has a helpful guide that makes accessing the information you need more straightforward, even if it doesn’t manage recycling and drop-offs like other businesses. The EPA’s directory categorizes recycling and donation by an electronic device, business name, logo, and any other relevant information.

EPA’s directory directs you to specific businesses and their rules. In addition, it is an excellent site for more detailed information on specific electronics and how to recycle or dispose of them. Still, the list indicates that you may recycle and donate mobile phones, computers, televisions, and other electronic items.

On the other hand, like the EPA, Electronics Take-Back Coalition makes it simple to locate manufacturer take-back programs in the US. Browse the take-back program descriptions from more than 25 businesses, including Apple, Acer, HP, Dell, Panasonic, Lenovo, Sony, and more.

Although the Electronics Take-back Coalition does not handle recycling, it may point you toward the best resource for your requirements. Depending on the brand, you may locate drop-off locations for items like iPhones, iPads, smartphones, displays, laptops, printers, keyboards, mice, DVDs & VHS players, cameras, TVs, and more.

8. Earth911 Helps You Find Nearby Locations

The national hub for recycling initiatives of all types is called Earth911. For example, you may search by ZIP code in the electronics category to find drop-off and mail-in programs from A to Z. Likewise, you may use Earth911 to search by device and ZIP code to locate the best local facilities to recycle your old electronics.

You can start by going to the organization’s website and selecting “Where to Recycle” at the top of the page. Known companies like Lowe’s and Target, as well as regional garbage and recycling facilities, collaborate with Earth911.

Ultimately, Earth911 assists you in finding recycling facilities, but it also provides information on the kind of recyclables each facility takes, whether home or commercial drop-off or collection is permitted, and any other relevant details.

9. Donate Electronics With Recycling For Charities

Recycling for Charities accepts technology contributions and donates a portion of its worth to the charity of your choice. Pick a charity from a list, fill out the necessary information, and click the donation button. From your stuff, charities can collect anything from 25 cents to $100.

Recycling for Charities is dedicated to properly recycling wireless devices and mobile phones. They make an effort to recycle or renovate as many of the units as they can. RFC guarantees that every electronic trash is appropriately handled. Their main priority is the environment’s health.

Wireless mobile phones, iPhones, wireless pagers, digital cameras, iPods, PDAs, Palm Pilots, and more are eligible for donation. Nothing compares to getting something done for nothing and feeling proud of yourself that it is going towards a good cause!

Related Questions

What Should I Do Before Recycling a Laptop Or Old Smart Phone?

If the gadget still works, please make sure the device is finished with you when you are through using it. That said, before doing a factory reset, back up any data you want from the device, including any images, movies, and songs.

Depending on the device and where you are sending it to be recycled, you need to remove any batteries since they need to be recycled separately.

If you are not sure how to factory reset, you can always attempt to follow a guide online by searching the model name, along with the term “how to restore factory settings.” Once completed, you are good to go.

Why Can’t You Throw Away Electronics In The Trash?

Even if it’s permitted in your state, avoid throwing outdated batteries or electrical devices in the garbage. These goods’ harmful contents don’t belong in landfills. In addition, because many devices contain hazardous substances, there are regulations against the incorrect disposal of e-waste in several states.

For instance, mercury, lead, sulfur, cadmium, arsenic, and other dangerous substances are frequently found in electronics. However, unfortunately, there is no way to undo the carbon footprint left by a single computer and monitor that goes to a landfill. As a result, recycling e-waste plays a vital role in our everyday lives and for future generations.

Does Amazon Have A Recycling Program?

Amazon provides a recycling program for Alexa devices and other gadgets bearing the Amazon mark. You can also recycle any Kindles you own for free via a separate program run in conjunction with Amazon. You fill out a form with the details of the device you want to discard, and a UPS mailing label is then sent to you.