How to Recycle Unused Electronic Products
Like many, I own an abundance of old tech. From old desktop computer monitors to laptops with questionable batteries, fitness trackers, and more than a couple early-gen and wanna-be iPods, they're all obsolete electronics taking up space in my home. While a new survey from Samsung found that 77% of people cite recycling as their #1 sustainable habit, recycling e-waste takes a back seat. The study goes on to note that people would rather assemble furniture (32%) give up social media (26%) or spend a day without any technology than get rid of the technology they no longer use.
Fortunately, major companies are recognizing the importance of recycling programs in conjunction with preventing the disposal of hazardous materials. By ensuring that electronic devices are recycled through certified programs, we can collectively reduce electronic waste and promote sustainable recycling practices in our communities.
You have a couple of options if you’re looking to recycle your unwanted electronics around the house. While many cite barriers to recycling electronics, groups like ecoATM, Backmarket, and the Amazon Trade-in Program, and others are looking to change that. These popular recycling opportunities protect the waste stream from electronic equipment.
Things to remember:
Always prepare your device. "Reset it to its factory settings before recycling or selling it," reminds Dr. Maryam Ramin, Sustainability Expert at ecoATM. "When you restore your phone to its original state, all personal data and information is erased."
Remove external storage. If your device has expandable storage like SD cards or external hard drives, remove them before handing over the device. If wiped clean, you can donate them separately for proper recycling.
Remove rechargeable batteries. We're talking about your standard AAA, AA, C, D. If they're still in good condition, you can save them for future use.
Remove SIM cards too, if applicable.
Include the charging cables. If you're donating to a local organization, it'll be most appreciated.
Donate products with any manuals or original documentation. (If you saved it!)
ecoATM
"ecoATM is a leader in recommerce with thousands of kiosks around the country that allow people to recycle or sell their devices for cash," shares Ramin. "[Our] ecoATM kiosks are found in national retail and grocery stores including Walmart, Kroger, Dollar General, among others. At these kiosks, you can recycle or sell phones, mp3 players, or tablets from Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, and ZTE."
She adds, "The process is simple and only takes about 3-5 minutes to sell one device. You can find the closest ecoATM by visiting the company’s website and entering in your zip code."
Related: The Motivation You Need to Conquer Your Junk Drawer
Gazelle
Gazelle is a similar program available under the ecoATM umbrella . Ramin adds, "If people are interested in trading in their used smartphone or other device for a newer or different model, they can through Gazelle, which allows them to also sell their item or items for cash as well as purchase other certified pre-owned or refurbished electronics, including mobile phones."
Samsung Trade-In and Mail-Back Programs
"Samsung makes it easy to trade in old products for a credit toward a new purchase," shared a company representative. "[We'll also] recycle the contents of your tech junk drawer for free at more than 1,700 drop-off locations across the country. Every device adds to the 1.3 billion pounds of e-waste the company has repurposed or recycled in the U.S. since 2009." Knowing that consumers are increasingly mindful about sustainability, the company places extra emphasis on the Samsung Mail-Back Program, which helps to manage e-waste. Its efforts in use of sustainable materials has won the company high-tier awards from both EPA and Energy Star.
Samsung also gives rise to three responsible recycling advocates:
Northeast Recycling Council, nerc.org
Backmarket
Get a quote for your electronic devices in minutes on Backmarket, ship it off for free, and get the money you earned deposited directly into your bank account. Backmarket's buyback program accepts consumer electronics like phones, computers, gaming systems, smart tech, audio equipment, and more (plus, it's a great place to purchase refurbished tech, speaking from direct experience).
Important note: Products vary in demand and value, so if you don't get an offer for old tech on the first try, give it another go in a few weeks. Refurbishers may be in demand for your product as in-house inventory levels change.
Photo by BENCE BOROS on Unsplash
Amazon Trade-in Program
Amazon's Trade-In Program generously accepts products from all manufacturers — not just your old Kindles. The cash value is given back to you in the form of an Amazon Gift Card on your account. According to the website, through the Amazon Recycling Program, even non-working devices are accepted.
The company also has a recycling program through which products undergo complete material reclamation by a licensed recycling facility. To participate, download a UPS label for free and plan to drop off the package at your nearest UPS store. Alternatively:
California residents: Locate drop-off points for recycled materials (e-waste) using the CalRecycle’s eRecycle program.
Washington D.C. residents: Look into the MRM take back program. This program will allow you to easily recycle items of any brand when you buy a new Amazon device.
Nonprofits
"In addition to electronics recycling or selling, people can also look to see if any local nonprofit organizations in their area accept donations for electronics, including mobile phones," notes Ramin. Many communities organize technology recycling drives that help to clear data off devices and extend their life by recycling throughout the community. If donating locally is an easier recycling option, be sure to ask around.
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