What Should I Do With My Old Electronics?

Over half a million tons of electronics are collected annually for recycling in the U.S.

Sell

…To a buy-back website. Online resellers such as YouRenew.com, Gazelle.com, and Nextworth.com allow you to sell your old electronics for cash, or recycle them if they aren’t worth anything. You can also sell your old gadgets to Amazon, provided they meet certain criteria. Once you receive a free quote online, print a pre-paid shipping label and mail your gadgets to the reseller.

…On eBay or Craigslist. Many people turn to these popular websites to sell a variety of items. eBay has partnered with the Rethink Initiative to help you sell, donate or recycle your old technology.

…Back to the manufacturer. Many manufacturers, including Apple, Sony, Toshiba, and Hewlett-Packard offer trade-in programs that will pay market value for your computers and equipment, depending on the condition of these items. Visit the manufacturers’ websites for more information.

Donate

Many non-profit organizations accept donations of electronic devices, especially computers and office equipment. Visit Recycles.org for more information about how to donate electronic devices to organizations near you.

Things to Remember Before Donating

• Be sure to erase any private information from the hard drive.
• Call the receiving organization to make sure they will accept the type and condition of electronics you wish to donate.
• Write down what you donated; you may be able to write off the market value of the computer at tax time.

Recycle

Since electronics are made of precious metals and hazardous materials, it’s dangerous to send them to landfills. Electronics recycling recovers the usable materials from the device and safely disposes of the hazardous waste. Visit EcoSquid.com or Earth911.com for more information about where to recycle your electronics locally.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency