What Should You Do With Your Old Electronics?
It’s a fact of life that electronic devices become obsolete, and some of them simply wear out. But what should you do with your old electronics when it’s time to replace them with newer devices? Here are some tips and guidelines about disposing of electronic devices.
Don’t Throw Them in the Trash
Electronic devices contain toxic metals like mercury and lead. They also have several types of materials in them that can be recycled and reused, like glass, plastic, and non-toxic metals. Many states now have laws requiring the recycling of electronic waste.
Another reason not to toss your old phone or tablet is that they contain a significant amount of personally identifiable information. Before you decide to dispose of your electronics, make sure you back up the information you want to keep to an external source (cloud storage or an external hard drive) and then wipe the device. Usually, performing a factory data reset will do the trick for a phone.
Take Them to an Authorized Recycling Center
Many municipal recycling programs now allow you to drop off old TVs, phones, and computers at designated electronics recycling centers. Remove any rechargeable batteries and put them in individual bags or boxes. Don’t allow them to touch each other because if their ends touch or they contact any other metal, they could short circuit and then leak or even explode.
Some waste haulers will offer one or two special pickups per year where they will accept electronics for disposal. Check with your garbage collection company to see if they have such an event planned.
Trade It In or Donate It
You can probably trade in your old phone and get some kind of discount on a new one. The phone seller will then be responsible for either rebuilding and repairing the old phone so they can resell it or for recycling it.
If your phone or laptop still works, you could donate it after you have removed all personal information and files. Many charitable organizations happily accept donations of electronic devices to give to those in need or to use in educational programs.
Many electronics retailers offer recycling programs. Check with local big box stores to see what types of items they’ll accept. In addition to phones and televisions, they may take routers, cables, cameras, and old DVD players.
If you’re doing a whole house cleanout, you may have arranged an open-top dumpster rental. Be aware, however, that many dumpster rental companies won’t take electronics or may charge an additional fee to dispose of them properly. If you’ve got old devices to be hauled away, be sure to ask your solid waste disposal company if they will take electronics, and if not, for their suggestions of where you can take them for recycling.