How To Donate Or Recycle My Old Computers

Find a Local Program

• EcoSquid
  EcoSquid is a web search platform that helps consumers identify the best options to resell, recycle, or donate new and used electronics. EcoSquid enables consumers to find opportunities to earn cash for electronics that have value, or recycling or donation options for those that do not.
  
• Earth 911
  Earth 911 is a comprehensive communication medium for the environment. Earth 911 has taken environmental hotlines, web sites and other information sources nationwide, and consolidated them into one network. Once you contact the Earth 911 network, you will find community-specific information on eCycling and much more.
  
• My Green Electronics
  Provided by the Consumer Electronics Association, this site is a resource for consumers wishing to purchase green products and/or searching for local opportunities to recycle or donate used electronics.
  
• Electronic Industries Alliance’s Consumer Education Initiative
  The Electronic Industries Alliance’s eCycling Central website helps you find reuse, recycling and donation programs for electronics products in your state.
  
• TechSoup
  TechSoup has compiled a comprehensive body of information to promote computer recycling and reuse. This site provides resources for those who would like to donate hardware, those who would like to acquire recycled hardware, and refurbishers.
  
• Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC)
  RBRC can help you recycle portable rechargeable batteries commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys. Search for collection sites by zip code.

Manufacturer and Retailer Programs

Manufacturers and retailers take different approaches to give you several options to donate or recycle your electronics. The following programs developed by EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling partners may be national or regional in scope and may:

• Offer takeback, mail-in, or trade-in programs;
  
• Support local organizations that collect equipment;
  
• Host collection events at retail locations; or
  
• Support local recycling events with cities and municipalities.

AT&T Reuse and Recycle

• Reuse & Recycle Program offers you the option to bring unwanted cell phones, Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) and other accessories (regardless of the manufacturer or carrier) to an AT&T operated store or participating authorized dealer store near you. Use the store locator to find a participating store near you.
  
• For information on holding a cell phone recycling collection at your business or in your community, please visit AT&T’s online starter kit for donations.

Best Buy

• Best Buy offers consumer electronics recycling programs in all Best Buy US stores. Best Buy will accept most electronics, including TVs, DVD players, computer monitors, cell phones and more. Consumers can bring in up to two items a day per household. See Best Buy Recycling for details.
  
• Drop off old cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and ink-jet cartridges at the free recycling kiosks located just inside the door of every US Best Buy store.
  
• Trade in unwanted electronic products for Best Buy gift cards or just recycle it for free. See Best Buy Trade-In for a step-by-step process for Tech Trade-In.

Dell

• Dell RECONNECT is a comprehensive electronics recovery, reuse and environmentally responsible recycling partnership between Goodwill Industries and Dell, Inc. for consumers in participating communities. See participating locations.
  
• How it works
  
• Recycling and Donation
  
• Asset Recovery Services

eBay

• Rethink Initiative provides information, tools and solutions that make it easy to find new users for idle computers and electronics, and responsibly recycle unwanted products.

Hewlett-Packard

• Product Recycling (including hardware, LaserJet supplies, and Inkjet supplies)
  
• Trade-In Program
  
• Hewlett-Packard/Compaq Asset Recovery Services

Intel

• Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT) provides technology-based education for K-16 students through the process of refurbishing donated equipment for schools.
  
  • Silicon Valley StRUT
    
  • Arizona StRUT
    
  • Oregon StRUT

LG Electronics

• Offers consumers a free mail-in recycling program for old cell phones and their accessories (any make or model). Simply box up your old phone and accessories, print off the pre-paid mailing label from their website and mail in the phone for recycling.
  
• Offers consumers free take back and recycling of any product such as televisions, monitors, audio equipment, video cassette players and recorders, DVD players and recorders, combination TV/VCR and TV/DVD units, set top boxes and accessories associated with those products that have the LG, ZENITH or GOLDSTAR brands. Consumers can drop off up to five items at any one time for free at any of these locations.

Motorola

• Consumers can visit Motorola’s website to print out postage paid mailing labels (PDF)  (1 pg, 112K, about PDF) and send in any unused phones or accessories.
  
• Motorola also created the Race to Recycle program, an innovative fundraising opportunity for K-12 schools, that allows them to earn extra money by recycling old mobile phones.

NEC Display Solutions

• Total Trade Program

Nokia

• Offers a free mail-in recycling program for old cell phones. Simply print a prepaid shipping label and send in your unwanted phones. Additionally, consumers can pick up a prepaid shipping envelope at any of the Nokia flagship stores in Chicago and New York.

Office Depot

• Tech Recycling Boxes ($5-$15 depending on size) are available at participating stores. You can fill the boxes with as many used consumer electronics (cell phones/PDAs, computers, televisions, etc) as will fit and drop the unsealed boxes off at any Office Depot store to be recycled.
  
• Every store has kiosks where consumers can drop off used cell phones, batteries and accessories.

Samsung

• Offers a mail-in recycling program to customers who want to recycle Samsung cell phones and accessories. Simply box up your old phone and accessories, print off the pre-paid mailing label from the website and mail in the phone for recycling.

Sony

• Take Back Recycling Program
  
• Notebook Trade-in Program

Sony Ericsson

• Offers consumers the ability to print pre-printed shipping label from their Web site and mail in old devices (any make or model) free of charge.
  
• Offers an event based cell phone recycling program. For more information on setting up a cell phone recycling program in your area, contact Steve Coston (steve.coston@sonyericsson.com).

Sprint

• Offers two cell phone recycling programs for consumers:
  
  • The Sprint Buybackprogram offers Sprint customers an account credit for returning eligible Sprint and Nextel models of phones.
    
  • The Sprint Project Connect program is available to all consumers. It accepts wireless phones, batteries, accessories and connection cards for recycling — regardless of make, model, condition, or service provider.
  You can participate in either program at no charge by visiting Sprint’s website or a Sprint retail store. Use the store locator to find a participating store near you.
• Sprint provides consumers with the free cell phone data eraser tool to clear any personal information from the phone.

Staples

• EcoEasy offers consumers in-store recycling of computers, monitors, printers, desktop copiers and other electronic waste for a fee of $10 per item
  
• All Staples stores offer in-store collection bins where consumers can drop-off cell phones, PDAs, chargers, other handheld electronics, and ink and toner cartridges for recycling ($3 rebates are available for some eligible toner cartridges).

T-Mobile

• Handset Recycling Program offers both in-store drop-off locations and a mail-in recycling option for cell phones, PDAs, and accessories. To use the mail in option, simply box up your mobile devise and accessories, print off the pre-paid mailing label (PDF)  (1 pg, 1.2MB, about PDF) from the Web site and mail in the phone for recycling.
  
• Postage paid recycling bags are included with all purchases. Customers can also pick up a recycling envelope at any T-Mobile store. Use the store locator to find a participating T-Mobile store in your area.

Toshiba

• Recycling and Trade-In Program

Verizon

• Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program collects no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any service provider. The used phones are either refurbished for reuse or recycled. Used phones can be returned to any Verizon Wireless retail store across the country. Use the Store Locator to find the Verizon store closest to you.
  
• Wireless phones and equipment donations can also be sent to:

  
  Verizon Wireless HopeLine
  c/o CMB Wireless Group
  630 Broadway Avenue
  Holbrook, NY 11741

Government-Supported Donation and Recycling Programs

Preventing waste in the first place is usually preferable to any waste management option...including recycling. When you outgrow your computers, cell phones and other equipment, and pass them on to new users, that’s reuse. Learn more about the benefits of Reusing and Donating Electronics. If donation for reuse or repair is no longer practical, you can send your used electronics for recycling. Electronic equipment can be recycled for recovery of metals, plastics, glass and other materials. To find a program in your community, you might want to start with your state or local government’s website. The following websites provide examples of government-supported ecycling programs and additional sources of information:

• e-cycle St. Louis: Electronics Recycling for the Region
  This consumer electronics collection program has been developed by the St. Louis Regional Partnership for Electronics Recovery to encourage reuse and recycling of unwanted electronics in the St. Louis region.
  
• eRecycle.org
  This website provides guidance and information to consumers in California about recycling electronics.
  
• Federal Electronic Challenge
  If you are a government agency or a business, check out the Federal Electronics Challenge for tools on how a large institution can donate or recycle its used electronics.
  
• www.ecyclingtools.com
  This resource kit provides information on the entire lifecycle of electronics and contains useful information to help you address your e-waste concerns.

Source: www.epa.gov