Advances in technology happen at an astounding rate. In fact, according to Moore’s Law, the processing power of computers doubles every two years! While this is excellent news for the breakthroughs in knowledge, new things that we can experience, and personal convenience, it also comes at a cost — our technology seems outdated rather quickly.

Electronic Recycling Centers

Global competition has made it cheap and easy to purchase new electronics — often, this is long before the old electronics stop working. These old electronics contain plastics and metals that can be recycled and hazardous waste that needs to be kept out of landfills and the environment.

Fortunately, many of the top electronics brands have funded electronic recycling centers and electronic recycling programs to incentivize recycling! Learn more below about how to recycle your electronics and earn discounts and gift cards while responsibly disposing of e-waste.

How to Recycle Old Electronics 

Modern lives include lots of electronic devices, but unfortunately, not all of them are designed to live forever. When an electronic device is no longer useful, it can be challenging to know how to properly and safely dispose of it.

What is Electronic Waste Recycling?

Electronic waste recycling separates and safely extracts components in electronics for future use in new products. The recycling process keeps items out of landfills and keeps toxic elements from contaminating the environment.

These electronic recycling programs help make recycling easy — either with rewarding incentives to recycle or convenient and free recycling options.

Recycle Electronics for Rewards

Electronic Waste Recycling

These great programs make recycling easy by offering rewards when you return old electronics for recycling.

• Advance Auto Parts: recycle automobile, golf, marine, or light truck batteries and receive a $10 store gift card (see details)
  • free additional program to recycle used motor oil
  • free (refundable deposit required) tool loaner program (see details)
• Best Buy: recycle consumer electronics from any brand and receive a gift card based on value of items and/or a % discount (see details)
  • Get 15% off a new modem, router, gateway and In-Home Wi-Fi Setup service for recycling a modem, router, or modem/router combo (in-store only through 12/31/22)
  • Get 20% off of Amazon EReaders for trade-in of any working Amazon Ereader (in-store only)
  • Get 10% off of a WD or SanDisk Professional hard drive for recycling an HDD or SSD (in-store only through 1/23/23)
  • Get $30 or $50 off select Epson printers for recycling any printer (in-store only)
  • Get $30 or $50 off select Epson scanners for recycling any scanner (in-store only)
  • Best Buy Totaltech members get 10% off a new smart doorbell, security camera, or smart lock for recycling any of these devices
• Eva NYC: recycle hair tools and appliances from Eva NYC brand and receive 100 TerraCycle points per pound (see details)
• Office Depot: recycle electronics and ink cartridges
  • recycle electronic items and receive store credit based on value of items
  • recycle ink cartridges and receive rewards based on the number of items returned (see details)
• Staples: recycle electronics, rechargeable batteries, and ink and toner cartridges
  • receive $2 in rewards per ink and toner cartridge returned (see details)

Sell or Trade In Old Electronics

Recycling Computers for Cash and Trading In for Credit

Of course, just because you stopped using your old electronics doesn’t always mean that they don’t still have usable life left in them. You may be able to sell electronics that are no longer used for cash or for store credits.

These e-waste recycling for cash options are great when you are ready to upgrade your devices and would like to clear out old tech products that are still in usable condition. Many places can provide instant online quote estimates for your electronics — it’s never been easier to recycle old cell phones for cash (plus cameras, TVs, drones, and more)!

• Adorama: recycle photography and video equipment, computers, audio gear, musical instruments, optics, drones, + more and receive store credit based on value of items
• Amazon: recycle small consumer electronics and receive store credit based on value of items (see details)
• Apple: recycle any products from Apple brand and receive store credit based on value of items
• AT&T: recycle small consumer electronics and receive store credit based on value of items
• B&H: recycle camera and camera gear and receive cash or store credit based on value of items
• decluttr: recycle books, CDs, DVDs, consoles, video games, cell phones, tech products and receive cash payment based on value of items
• Dell: recycle computer hardware and peripherals from any brand and receive store credit based on value of items (see details)
• GameStop: recycle electronics and games and receive cash or store credit based on value of items
  • PowerUp Rewards Pro Members get 10% extra in value on most items
• Gazelle: recycle electronics and receive cash based on value of items
• gizmogo: recycle cameras and electronics and receive cash based on value of items
• HP: recycle electronics and other items from HP brand and receive store credit based on value of items
• Microsoft: recycle tablets, phones, laptops, and game consoles and receive cash based on value of trade ins (see details)
• Sprint / T-Mobile: recycle electronic devices and receive store credit based on value of items
  • note that this program may change as Sprint and T-Mobile companies are merging
• Verizon: recycle phones, tablets, and wearable tech and receive store credit based on value of items (see details)
• Walmart: recycle electronics from any brand and receive gift cards based on value of items (see details)

Free Electronic Recycling

Free Electronic Recycling

While no points or monetary incentives are given with these free electronic recycling programs, you can rest easy knowing that your e-waste does not end up in landfills or polluting the environment. These free e-waste recycling programs are open to everyone, plus the programs have recycle electronics locations across the US!

• Batteries Plus: recycle batteries, lighting, and small electronics (availability varies by store)
• Canon: recycle ink cartridges from Canon brand
• Epson: recycle hardware from Epson brand in end-of-life condition (see details)
  • Epson supports a free-of-charge toner cartridge collection program for its AcuLaser CX11N Series cartridges
• Home Depot: recycle batteries, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, plastic bags, and plastic plant pots in most stores
• Lowe’s: recycle batteries, CFL bulbs, plastic bags, plastic plant pots, and cell phones in most stores (see details)
• Samsung: recycle small electronic devices from any brand (see details)
  • Samsung brand products up to 50 pounds may also be mailed in for free recycling via OEM Takeback
• Sony: recycle electronic products and batteries from Sony brand (see details)
• Xerox: recycle copy and print supplies from Xerox brand

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In addition to all the great places where you can be rewarded for recycling electronic waste items, be sure to check out more places where you can earn rewards for recycling:

• recycle old beauty product containers
• recycle household waste
• recycle clothing and shoes

Vintage Electronic Radios on Shelf

Thank you for sharing and saving!