Disposal guide

How to recycle electronics

Most electronics — computers, phones, tablets, monitors, small appliances — contain lithium-ion batteries, rare-earth metals, and recyclable plastics. 25+ U.S. states have electronics-recycling laws that ban them from landfill. The good news: Best Buy, Staples, and your county e-waste program all accept them free of charge.

Want your county's specific e-waste rule + nearest drop-off?

Type your ZIP at /check — verified local rule, free, no signup.

Computers & laptops

Best Buy free, or manufacturer take-back

Best Buy accepts laptops and desktops at every store free of charge. Apple, Dell, HP all run free mail-in or in-store take-back. Wipe your drive first — Settings → Reset or DBAN for full drive erasure.

Phones & tablets

Carrier or manufacturer take-back; trade-in pays cash

Apple, Samsung, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile all accept old phones free. Trade-in programs (especially for newer models in working condition) often pay $50-300. Factory- reset first — wipes iCloud / Google account links.

Monitors

Same as TVs — state ban + Best Buy

CRT monitors contain leaded glass; LCD/LED monitors contain mercury backlights. Both are banned from landfill in most states. Best Buy accepts up to 50"; larger sizes need in-home haul-away ($30-50). Free at most county e-waste sites.

Small appliances (microwave, toaster, blender)

Curbside metal recycling OR scrap-metal drop-off

Most small kitchen appliances are mostly steel + plastic housing. Many counties accept them in curbside metal recycling; otherwise drop at a scrap-metal yard (often pays a few dollars). Remove batteries first if any.

Printers, cables, peripherals

Best Buy + Staples accept; many take ink cartridges too

Best Buy and Staples accept all printer types plus most peripherals (keyboards, mice, USB cables). Staples also recycles ink cartridges for free.

Step-by-step

1. Back up + wipe. Computers, phones, tablets, smart TVs store personal data. Factory-reset before handoff.
2. Remove batteries if user-removable. Drop them separately at Call2Recycle or HHW.
3. Bundle small items. Cables, chargers, small peripherals can go in one bag for drop-off.
4. Pick a recycler. Best Buy + Staples are convenient; county e-waste handles bulk; certified e-Stewards / R2 recyclers for compliance-sensitive contexts.
5. Look up your local option. Use ClearPath /check with your ZIP for verified sites + hours.

Frequently asked

Where can I recycle electronics for free?

Best Buy accepts most electronics (laptops, phones, monitors up to 50", small appliances) free at every store. Staples accepts small electronics. County e-waste sites are usually free. Apple / Samsung / Dell / HP run free manufacturer take-back for their branded devices.

Should I wipe my computer before recycling?

Yes. Most certified recyclers (e-Stewards, R2) will wipe drives as part of intake, but you should still factory-reset or run DBAN for sensitive data. Don't rely on the recycler — wipe it yourself first.

Is electronics recycling required by law?

In 25+ U.S. states yes — including CA, CO, CT, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI. Other states allow trashing but the safer option is always recycling.

What's the difference between e-Stewards and R2 certification?

Both certify electronics recyclers as compliant with US environmental + worker-safety law. e-Stewards is stricter on export bans (no e-waste to developing countries); R2 is the global ISO-equivalent. Either is trustworthy for residential recycling.

Can I get paid for old electronics?

Sometimes. Trade-in programs (Apple, Samsung, Best Buy) pay for working phones, tablets, laptops — usually $50-300 for recent models in good condition. Decluttr and Gazelle buy used electronics too. Older or broken devices = no payout, but free recycling still works.