First, see whether a working gadget can be repaired, upgraded, donated, or reused; that extends its life and is preferable to recycling. If reuse is not practical, check the manufacturer, retailer, local collection program, or a certified electronics recycler for a route that accepts your specific device. Before handing it over or mailing it, erase your personal data and follow the provider’s instructions. Keep lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them out of household trash and municipal recycling bins.
Choose the best route for the gadget
Use this order to decide what to do with a phone, computer, tablet, TV, battery-powered device, or other household gadget. EPA guidance prioritizes preventing waste and extending a working device’s useful life; recycling is the next choice when repair or reuse is not viable.
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- Keep using or repair it. If the gadget still meets your needs, continued use may be the simplest option. Consider repair or an upgrade where sensible.
- Pass it on for reuse. Donate a working device or look for a refurbishment or resale route. Confirm the recipient accepts its type and condition.
- Check return and collection programs. Look at the manufacturer’s current take-back, mail-in, warranty, or trade-in options; retailer take-back; local or state collection programs; and community events. Earth911 and Call2Recycle may help locate options for appropriate items. EPA’s service listings are informational, not endorsements.
- Recycle it if reuse is not viable. Ask a suitable electronics recycler or local waste agency where the device belongs, especially if it contains a battery.
EPA describes reuse as a way to extend electronics’ useful life and says waste prevention is preferable to recycling. Its reported historical figures illustrate why material recovery can matter, but are not current annual totals: a 2006 U.S. Geological Survey estimate cited by EPA says recycling one million laptops saves energy equivalent to the yearly electricity use of more than 3,500 U.S. homes; a separate 2006 estimate says recycling one million cell phones can recover 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium. EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling
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Find a program that accepts your device
Acceptance is specific to the provider and location. A program may limit the device category, age, condition, battery type, or collection method. Before travelling or shipping anything, check the current item list and terms directly with the provider.
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- Use Office Depot's Tech Recycling Service for your broken electronics. Each year, Americans throw away millions of tons of old or broken electronics, creating potentially harmful waste known as tech trash.
- STEP #1: Choose your box size.
- STEP #2: Fill the Tech Recycling Box with as many acceptable items as will fit. Be sure the box can close with all items inside. NOTE: Please do not seal.
- STEP #3: Bring your unsealed Tech Recycling Box to any Office Depot store. A store associate will inspect your box to ensure all items are acceptable and that the box can be closed. If everything meets these guidelines, you will be asked to complete a form and the box will be accepted and shipped for recycling.
- Acceptable items include: Monitors, fax machines, desktop and laptop computers, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, telephones, digital cameras, VCR/DVD players, televisions, cords and cables.
- Manufacturer: Check the maker’s current take-back, mail-back, warranty, or trade-in page. A trade-in offer is not the same as a recycling guarantee, so confirm what happens if the device is ineligible or has no value.
- Retailer: Ask whether a nearby store accepts your device and whether its rules differ for broken gadgets or batteries.
- Local government or community event: Consult your city or county solid-waste agency and check the event’s accepted-item list. State and local governments determine waste-management approaches, and rules can differ by place.
- Electronics or battery collection locator: Use a locator such as Earth911 or Call2Recycle where appropriate, then confirm details with the listed collection site.
- Certified electronics recycler: Search for a facility certified under R2 or e-Stewards, then confirm its certification is current and that the specific facility accepts your device.
For information about state electronics take-back laws, EPA points consumers to state agencies, retailer programs, manufacturer mail-back options, and the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse. EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling and EPA: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding EPA’s Electronics Donation and Recycling Program
Use certification as one screening check
EPA identifies R2 and e-Stewards as the two accredited U.S. electronics-recycler certification standards. They help assess environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices. Certification alone does not establish that a facility accepts a particular gadget; verify both the facility and its current acceptance and data-handling terms. EPA: Certified Electronics Recyclers
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Expect local rules to change
State laws are not nationwide rules. For example, the Illinois EPA says coverage under its Consumer Electronics Recycling Act expands to peripherals and home-audio components effective January 1, 2027. Check the law and collection instructions that apply where you live rather than assuming another state’s list applies. Illinois EPA: Electronics Recycling
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- Check the recipient’s instructions first. Ask what it accepts, whether accessories should be included, and how to handle accounts, activation locks, packaging, or shipping. Do not assume a take-back or trade-in program uses the same process as a local recycler.
- Back up anything you need, then erase personal information. Remove personal files and accounts before giving away, trading in, or recycling an electronic device. Follow the device maker’s instructions for a secure reset and account or lock removal.
- Ask about documented erasure when using a recycler. EPA says R2- and e-Stewards-certified recyclers wipe laptops and retain data-erasure records. Confirm how the specific facility handles your device and whether it provides documentation.
- Pack and ship only as directed. Follow the provider’s packaging and battery instructions; do not mail a battery or device without confirming the service accepts it and explaining how it must be prepared.
EPA’s general electronics guidance recommends deleting personal information before handoff. EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling
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- Holds electronic waste and LEDs. Electronic waste includes any electronic components that power on and have any chip or board parts. This includes, but is not limited to computers monitors, telecom gear, fax machines, and televisions
- Each UN certified container comes with a poly liner, instructions in English and Spanish, terms & conditions, and a pre-paid return shipping label.
- Access exclusive online features including recycling reports, container tracking, and certificates of recycling.
Handle lithium-ion batteries safely
Do not put lithium-ion batteries or devices containing them in household garbage or municipal recycling bins. For a device with a built-in lithium-ion battery, EPA recommends an electronics take-back service, a certified electronics recycler, or a local solid-waste or household hazardous-waste program. For a removable battery, use a specialized battery recycler, participating retailer, or local hazardous-waste program, and follow the battery’s handling instructions. EPA: Used Household Batteries and EPA: Electronics Donation and Recycling
Battery collection is not interchangeable with ordinary curbside recycling. Check the specific program’s accepted battery types and preparation requirements before drop-off or shipment; if a device’s battery cannot be removed, ask the receiving service how it wants the whole device handled.
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Compare options before you hand it over
When several routes are available, compare the details that determine whether the option is practical and appropriate:
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- Eligibility: Does the program accept that device category, age, condition, and battery configuration?
- Convenience and cost: Compare drop-off distance with mail-in requirements and any current shipping, handling, or service terms. These vary by provider and are not established by general EPA guidance.
- Data handling: Must you wipe the device before acceptance, and does the recycler document erasure?
- Facility practices: Is the actual facility currently certified under R2 or e-Stewards, rather than merely associated with a brand that offers collection?
- Battery safety: Is there a separate route for a removable battery or a device with a built-in lithium-ion battery?
Do not rely on a broad “electronics accepted” claim when the provider’s current list or terms are available. Confirm acceptance and any fees or shipping conditions with the provider and your local waste agency before you go.
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- The Supply-061 RecyclePak Electronic Recycling Box provides a prepaid, convenient and environmentally responsible way to recycle a wide range of electronic devices, including computers, tablets, monitors, printers, and other e-waste, ensuring proper disposal and minimizing the potential for hazardous materials to end up in landfills.
- Veolia adheres to the rigorous R2v3 standards, ensuring that your electronic waste is handled responsibly throughout the recycling process, from collection to final disposition, protecting both the environment and data security.
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