We all know the drill when it comes to recycling glass bottles and aluminum cans, but what about electronics? You can’t just chuck your old cell phones, computers, tablets, and TVs into the bin. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that e-waste contains harmful substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can contaminate soil and drinking water. That’s why half the states in the U.S. have laws requiring you to recycle your old electronics.
But here’s the catch: most local governments don’t accept electronics for curbside recycling. So, you have to find places to take them yourself. Luckily, many retailers have stepped up to help out. They often refurbish nonworking electronics or donate them to those in need. Even the most broken devices have valuable materials like plastic, glass, copper, and silver that can be recovered and reused.
The best part? Recycling your electronics can actually put money in your pocket. You can get cash, discounts, coupons, and gift cards for recycling electronics. And your device doesn’t even need to work in most cases. Companies can refurbish working gadgets for resale or mine nonworking ones for parts to fix other electronics and recycle the rest. In some cases, the device might be completely useless, but you won’t know until you check out what’s available.
Here are some recycling rewards programs you might want to consider:
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SellCell: This company compares prices from over 40 buyback companies. You just find your device on SellCell, choose the best deal, ship your device, and get paid.
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Gizmogo: Gizmogo is all about keeping used electronics out of landfills. They refurbish and resell devices where possible or responsibly recycle devices past reusability. They accept any type of used electronics, and if they can’t offer you anything for a valueless device, they can at least recycle it for you.
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GreenBuyback: GreenBuyback accepts devices in any condition and a wide variety of electronics. You can get an instant quote on their website, and if you like the offer, they’ll email you a prepaid shipping label.
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SellBroke: SellBroke accepts a range of electronics in any condition. You can get an instant quote on their website, and if you like the offer, you can mail in your device at no charge.
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Decluttr: Decluttr recycles a variety of tech devices, including nonworking ones. You can get a quote on their website, and if you accept the offer, they’ll generate a prepaid shipping label.
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ecoATM: ecoATM has kiosks in over 4,500 American retail stores. They take devices in all conditions and give you cash on the spot.
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Amazon: You can trade in almost anything through Amazon, from textbooks to video doorbells. They even accept nonworking devices and can recycle all nonworking devices at no cost to you.
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Best Buy: With Best Buy’s trade-in program, you can trade in select electronics in exchange for an e-gift card. They also recycle nearly every type of home electronics and appliance.
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Apple Stores: Apple allows you to trade in your old devices for credit toward a new purchase. They even take smartphones from other brands. And even if your device doesn’t have value, Apple recycles it for free.
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Microsoft: Microsoft allows you to trade in any device, including computers, tablets, phones, and gaming consoles from any brand in exchange for cash back after buying a qualifying new Microsoft device.
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Dell: Dell accepts computers and laptops, tablets, phones, gaming consoles, monitors, digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR), media players, and smartwatches from any brand. They pay via Virtual Visa rewards, which you can use on Dell.com to purchase a new device.
Bonus: Your Cell Phone Service Provider: Most cellphone service providers have their own trade-in programs. Typically, these are incentives for customers to upgrade their phones or tablets to newer models.
Remember, it’s always worth shopping around for the best offer. And even if you can’t find someone to offer you a financial incentive, it’s still important to recycle. To find a certified electronic waste recycling program, visit the National Center for Electronics Recycling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Electronics Donation and Recycling page, or search Earth911 to find a recycling center near you. And whatever you do, don’t put electronics in the trash.
