How to Dispose of Electronics
Electronics are banned from landfill in around 25 states, and almost all of them can be recycled free if you know where to go. Best Buy and Staples both run national drop-off programmes, most counties hold e-waste events, and several manufacturers take their own products back. Here's the full map.
Short answer: small electronics go free to Best Buy or Staples. Anything with a screen has its own rules. Wipe your data before any of it leaves the house.
Wipe your data first — this is the part people skip
Before anything with storage leaves your possession:
- Phones and tablets — sign out of your account first, then factory reset. Resetting without signing out can leave the device activation-locked and useless to anyone else.
- Computers — a factory reset is usually enough for modern encrypted drives. For older unencrypted drives, use a secure erase tool or physically remove the drive.
- Printers, routers and smart devices — these hold Wi-Fi credentials and sometimes scanned documents. Factory reset them too.
- Remove SIM and memory cards. They're easy to forget and trivially readable.
Recycling does not mean data destruction. A reputable recycler will wipe drives, but you shouldn't rely on it. If a device held anything sensitive, remove and keep the drive — you can destroy it separately or reuse it.
Free drop-off options
Best Buy — the widest national network
Accepts most small electronics free: phones, tablets, laptops, cables, chargers, game consoles, small appliances. Limits are typically three items per household per day.
TVs and monitors are the exception — those carry fees in most states. See our TV disposal guide for the specifics.
Staples
Takes small electronics, ink and toner cartridges, and batteries free. No TVs, no large appliances. Often the easiest option for a box of accumulated cables and old phones.
County e-waste events and permanent sites
Most counties run periodic collection days and many maintain permanent drop-off facilities, typically free for residents. These usually accept the widest range — including the awkward items retailers refuse.
Search your county name plus "electronics recycling" or "household hazardous waste." In states with e-waste laws, manufacturers fund this, which is why it's free to you.
Manufacturer takeback
Apple, Dell, HP, Samsung and others run their own programmes, often with free mail-back labels and sometimes trade-in credit. Worth checking before you drive anywhere, particularly for laptops and phones that may still have value.
Carrier and retailer trade-in
Phone carriers, and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, offer trade-in credit for working devices. The offers are usually below private-sale value but require no effort and take the device off your hands immediately.
Is any of it worth money?
| Item | Typical outcome |
|---|---|
| Recent phone, working | Real resale value — sell privately or trade in |
| Laptop, under ~5 years | Worth selling, especially with an SSD |
| Older laptop or desktop | Little resale value; recycle free |
| Cables, chargers, accessories | Scrap copper in quantity; otherwise recycle |
| Game consoles | Retro and recent both sell; mid-generation less so |
| Printers | Essentially worthless; recycle |
| CRT monitors and TVs | Cost money to dispose of |
The general rule: anything with a working screen and a battery has some value. Anything without usually doesn't, because the recoverable materials don't cover the labour of extracting them.
Why electronics can't go in the bin
Consumer electronics contain lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants and lithium. In landfill those leach; in a compactor truck, lithium batteries start fires — which is now a leading cause of waste facility fires in several countries.
They also contain genuinely valuable materials — gold, silver, copper, palladium and rare earth elements — in concentrations higher than the ores they're mined from. That's the actual argument for recycling them, beyond the harm avoidance.
Devices with built-in batteries
Anything with a sealed lithium battery — phones, laptops, tablets, e-cigarettes, cordless tools, Bluetooth speakers — should never go in general waste or kerbside recycling.
Damaged, swollen or punctured lithium batteries are a fire risk. If a device has a swollen battery, don't press it, don't puncture it, and take it to a facility that specifically handles damaged lithium cells. See our battery disposal guide.
If you're clearing an office
Business quantities are handled differently. Most retailer programmes are for household volumes only. For office clearances, look for a certified e-waste recycler — R2 or e-Stewards certification means audited handling and, importantly, a proper chain of custody for data-bearing devices.
Many will collect free if there's enough volume, because the recoverable material covers their cost. Ask for a certificate of destruction if the drives held anything sensitive.
Common questions
Can I put electronics in the recycling bin?
No. Kerbside recycling is for paper, glass, metal and plastics. Electronics need dedicated handling and cause genuine problems at sorting facilities — particularly the batteries.
Does Best Buy charge for electronics recycling?
Not for most small electronics, which are free. TVs and monitors carry fees in most states. See our TV guide.
Is my data safe if I recycle a computer?
Reputable recyclers wipe drives, but don't rely on it. Wipe it yourself, or remove the drive and keep it. This is the single most common regret in electronics disposal.
What about a broken phone?
Still recyclable free at Best Buy, Staples or a county event. Broken phones also have modest trade-in value at some buyback services — worth a check if it's recent.
Are e-waste recyclers actually recycling it?
Standards vary, which is why the certifications exist. R2 and e-Stewards certified recyclers are audited on where material ends up. If it matters to you, look for one of those marks.
Related
Retailer programmes, item limits and state e-waste laws change. Always confirm current terms before travelling. Last verified August 2026.