How to dispose of old computers responsibly

We all go through several computers and other electronic devices over a lifetime and getting rid of them is not as easy as throwing them in the trash. Today we take a look at how to dispose of your old machines in a secure and environmentally responsible manner.

With the new Windows operating system around the corner and an abundance of cheap computers on the market, you may find yourself asking what to do with your old PC and components. We will take a look at how to securely destroy private data on your old hard drive, ideas for repurposing, and how to get rid of them in a way that is friendly to the environment.

Ensure Data Is Destroyed

The biggest concern when getting rid of your old computer is ensuring important and private data doesn’t get into the wrong hands. Simply deleting your files and emptying the Recycle Bin is not enough. Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is the most popular free utility that will overwrite each sector on your hard drive making data unrecoverable. It is very secure and will deter people that use hard disk forensic analysis from retrieving your data. Burn the ISO image to disk and boot from it to get the main menu. From here you can choose the method you want to use to wipe the disk.

Using the advanced methods takes a considerable amount of time and unless you have government secrets or the KFC secret recipe on the drive, you might want to choose a quicker method. You can get a list of other methods by hitting F3 at the main menu. The quick method will overwrite all sectors with 0’s in one pass and might be the easiest method for home users. However, some with the right equipment could possibly still recover data from this method and is considered the least secure.

Using a degausser to wipe a hard drive clean is aimed at businesses and corporations that need to wipe out several at a time. A degausser magnetically erases all of the information on the disk platters. Buying a degausser is not very practical for home users as they cost around $2,000 and higher. You can pay for services from companies like Garner and SEM that will degauss and destroy your hard drive completely.

Another cheap and effective (and much more fun) method is taking an axe or hammer to the hard drive and smashing it into bits. Of course make sure you wear protective goggles and other protective clothing when smashing it up.

What Happens to E-Waste?

Even with best intentions and bringing your old computers and other electronic devices to recycling centers, it’s shocking how much is dumped in developing nations. Computers and monitors contain toxic levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and beryllium which are very unfriendly substances to the environment. PBS and 60 Minutes have done stories where they track items from US recycling centers to dumping areas in China and Ghana.

A digital dumping ground in Ghana.

From a 60 minutes story, a dumping ground in China where workers are using a vat of acid to extract gold components.

It is not all gloom and doom when it comes to disposing of old computers and other electronics though. Get to know your local recycling centers and find out how they dispose of toxic e-waste. A great site is from the Basel Network (mentioned in the videos) that have created a list of rigorously tested recycling centers certified as e-stewards.

Alternatives to Recycling

Just because a computer is too obsolete for your needs doesn’t mean it it cannot help someone else. There are several donation programs that will take your legacy computer , get it in working order, and give them to others who need a starter machine to get into the information age. One thing I do is destroy all my data with DBAN and put on a fresh version of Linux or Windows and bring it to a thrift store.

Other Options

• Sell it. If your old computer has some value left you might be able to sell it on ebay or craigslist for a bit of spending money.
• Repurpose it. Figure out a new way to use the old machine. Install a light version of Linux like Damn Small Linux or Puppy Linux to breathe new life into it, turn it into a firewall, give it to your child or grandparents for web browsing, simple word processing and games.
• Keep it around for parts. I do some computer repair on the side from my home and it has been awesome having extra memory, NIC cards, and hard drives laying around. Even having an extra CRT monitor is nice to use in case one of the LCD screens goes bad.
• Keep it. If your current machine goes down for some reason you will have a spare to hook up while getting it fixed or getting a new one. You can also use it to do geeky things like trying Linux or creating a network.

Conclusion

If you have private data like credit card numbers, security number, heck even your favorite pictures on the hard drive it is extremely important to make sure it is wiped out. If you need to recycle it, make sure it’s with a trustworthy company. Even if you donate or repurpose a computer, ultimately it will need to be disposed of but hopefully with more awareness we can help do it responsibly. Leave us a comment about how you get rid of your old machines.

3 smart, responsible tactics for getting rid of unwanted laptops, phones, and more

We love our devices—our TVs, laptops, tablets, and perhaps most of all, our mobile phones, those pocket-sized miracles of computing power. In fact, Gartner, a tech research company, estimated that 1.5 billion cell phones were bought in 2017. That’s around one for every five people alive.

But unless they’re traded in for a new device, each of those gadgets eventually reaches the end of its useful life and becomes electronic waste. And that’s a problem. A United Nations study reported that 44.7 million tons of e-waste was discarded in 2016, and only 20 percent of it was disposed of properly.

On Earth Day—and every other day—consumers can do something to reduce their e-waste footprint, though. Many of the materials used in making these products can be recovered and reused, including plastics, glass, and metal. Ask Apple: The company says it re-captured 2,204 pounds of gold—worth $40 million—from recycled devices in 2015.

Unfortunately, electronics products can also contain toxic substances, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which all must be disposed of carefully. So far, 25 states have passed laws requiring people to recycle old electronics. But no matter where you live, there are safe methods for disposing of electronic waste.

First, make sure to completely erase all personal information. It usually isn’t as simple as deleting files: Here’s how to get all your personal data off your devices. Once that’s done, here are your options.

1. Bring It to the Recycler

Plenty of nonprofit organizations and local communities offer options to help you recycle old electronics. One group, Call2Recycle, offers drop-off locations for rechargeable batteries and cell phones all over the U.S. To find a location, just enter your ZIP code at Call2Recycle.org.

Also, many cities and towns sponsor collection days for electronics. A clickable map at TIA E-cycling Central lists these events by state, along with other local recycling options. And you can get still more options, or just learn how e-waste gets recycled, by consulting eStewards or Sustainable Electronics Recycling International.

2. Donate It

If your used gadget still works—or, in many cases, even if it doesn’t—there’s probably a charity or nonprofit out there that would be happy to take it off your hands. You can start by checking local senior organizations and recreation centers. Make sure to get a receipt so that you can deduct your donation on next year’s tax return. Here are a few other programs that can help you get your old devices to people who need them.

• Dell Reconnect is a partnership with Goodwill that accepts any brand of computer, as well as “just about anything that can be connected to a computer,” according to the website. You can drop off used devices at participating Goodwill locations around the country.
• AmericanCellPhoneDrive.org collects all brands of used cell phones and will refurbish and resell, or responsibly recycle them, in support of a variety of good causes.
• The World Computer Exchange is on a mission to diminish the digital divide in developing countries and to promote the reuse of and proper recycling of electronics. It provides used computers, peripherals, and many other types of gadgets to communities around the world.
• eBay for Charity lets you sell your used devices (or anything else, actually) and donate part or all of the proceeds to a charity of your choosing.

3. Take It to a Tech Firm

Many electronics manufacturers and retailers offer robust recycling programs. A chart at the EPA’s website lets you search programs by product or company. The following are just a few of the many programs that allow consumers to recycle old electronics; check your brand’s or retailer’s company website for details on its program.

• Apple’s GiveBack program offers up to $1,000 in gift cards or in-store credit for qualifying products. The company will also accept and recycle any product that does not qualify. And, through April 30, Apple will make a donation to Conservation International for every device received.
• Best Buy offers recycling options for a wide range of electronics, no matter where you bought them.
• Sprint’s Buyback program offers account credits of up to $300 for mobile phones from any carrier. For specific details on other phone programs, check the manufacturers’ websites.
• Amazon pays up to $200.91 (in the form of an Amazon gift card) for just about any kind of electronics device, as well as for music CDs and video games.
• Office Depot and Staples offer members of their affinity programs store credit of $2 per printer cartridge (with some restrictions) for up to 10 cartridges per month. Most printer manufacturers, including HP, Epson, and Canon, also have their own recycling programs.

How do you recycle your old electronics?

Tell us in the comments section below.

5 Things to Always Recycle

We love our planet, right? Then let’s stop trashing it. On the “Consumer 101” TV show, Consumer Reports reveals the five items you should always recycle rather than toss into the trash bin.

When you think of discarding old computers, a lot of stressful thoughts come to mind. From logistics to data transfer and disposal locations, it can be overwhelming. Here’s how to navigate the process easily.

Personal computers have become a constant tool in the lives of both individuals and enterprises. According to a report by Gartner, over 290 million computers were shipped to buyers globally in 2015 alone. Each year, newer models of these computers, with more advanced functionality from faster processing speeds to even greater efficiency, are released. Depending on your organization, you may feel the need to invest in regular computer recycling and disposal.

This decision means that you’re faced with the problem of how to completely dispose of old computers in a way that will not stress you out or cost too much. This guide is designed to help you do just that! Here are 7 easy steps that will have you disposing of your old computers in no time:

1. Backup All Your Useful Data

If you still have useful data on your computers, then it’s a good idea to create a backup on an external hard drive or online cloud storage account. You can also use software applications like Comodo, Syncback and Hinusoft to automate the process so that you don’t waste any extra time on it. You should definitely backup files that fall into the following categories:

Personal Data

This includes any records concerning your organization, like employee information, tax filings, financial statements and memos as well as legal filings and documents.

Client Data

This includes your clients’ bio data, contact information, medical records, financial details and every other piece of information that they have entrusted to you.

Emails

If you use a desktop email client like Windows live mail or Opera mail, you have to backup your emails otherwise, you will lose them when you wipe the computer.

2. Delete All The Files You’ve Backed Up

After backing up your important files, you should delete them because you certainly do not want unauthorized persons to access them later. Keep emails, client data and personal data confidential because any mistake in the disposal process may lead to a huge data breach later on.

3. Delete Your Browser Data

Most available guides on how to completely dispose of old computers, highlight this step as one of the most important. Cybercriminals can target you based on access to your browser records so you have to delete them. Deciding whether or not you need to delete your browser data remotely, largely depends on the browser you use. Some browsers like Google Chrome and Safari are connected to email accounts and can be controlled by login processes. This means that once you sign out, your browser history will no longer be accessible to external parties.

4. Deauthorize Your Computer

Most computers have administrator profiles that act as the central authority over customizations and app permissions. In most computer operating systems, you can easily reset the administrator customizations under settings.

5. Uninstall Your Programs

You should uninstall your programs before disposing of your old computers because some programs store your past work and account information. Programs that you subscribe to, may have your business or personal credit card details saved under their settings. There’s no point learning how to completely dispose of old computers if you get hacked due to accidental data vulnerabilities in the disposal process. If the wrong people get access to such details, you may become a victim of theft and credit card fraud.

6. Securely Wipe Your Hard Drive

If you have extremely sensitive data on your hard drives, then deleting them is not enough. When you delete a file, it never really leaves the system and someone else can access it later. You should invest in secure data destruction methods like software data erasure, degaussing and hard drive shredding.

7. Give All Old Computers To a Trusted IT Asset Disposition Company for Proper Disposal

IT asset disposition companies like All Green Recycling make it easy for you to dispose of your computers. For a small fee, such companies take them off your hands ensuring that you have nothing to worry about.

How to Completely Dispose of Old computers Conveniently With All Green Recycling

Knowing how to completely dispose of old computers on your own is great, but the process is also labor-intensive and stressful. We understand this perfectly and that’s why here at All Green Recycling, we make the entire process as stress-free as possible. We offer a host of computer disposal options including the following:

• Electronics recycling
• IT asset remarketing
• Refurbishing and Repurposing of old computers
• Secure data destruction services including certificates of destruction, chain of custody and liability, hard drive shredding, and degaussing

Our remarketing plan ensures that your organization recoups part of the initial cost of purchasing the computers. We also have drop-off sites in every state in the U.S so that you can reach us easily. To show that we serve your best interests, we can also arrange a pick-up for your computers. It’s time to stop worrying about how to completely dispose of old computers. Contact us now to start disposing of them effortlessly, in a secure and affordable way.

Have you recently run into problems while disposing of your old computers? Leave a comment below and we will respond. Don’t forget to share this with anyone who would like to learn about computer disposal.

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• Back Up Your Information
• Sign Out of Accounts, Disconnect Devices, and Erase Your Hard Drive
• Safely Dispose of Your Computer

Back Up Your Information

Before you get rid of your old computer, think about what important information you want to save. Do you have photos, videos, or important documents you want to save? How much storage space will you need to save that information?

Knowing what you want to save and how much space you’ll need will help you choose the best solution. Here are some options for saving or backing up your information.

Transfer your files to your new computer. If you bought a new computer, you can transfer information from your old computer to the new one. Most operating system manufacturers have support articles that tell you how to do this.

Save your files to an external storage device. A USB flash drive is an affordable option that offers a moderate amount of storage. Another option is an external hard drive. It might cost a little more than a USB drive, but it can give you more storage capacity and transfer data faster. You can decide which files or folders to back up, and you may be able to schedule automatic backups.

Save your files in the cloud. There are many cloud storage services that let you save files and data online. You may be familiar with some, like Google Drive, Evernote, Dropbox, or iCloud, but there are many others out there. Many of these services come with some free storage space and you can pay for more storage.

When you save your information in the cloud, you’re trusting someone else to keep that information safe. If you’re thinking about using cloud storage, find out what level of privacy or security the different services offer. Do they have privacy and security settings you can adjust?

Do they use encryption to protect your data? (Encryption is the process of scrambling the information to hide the contents of the file.) A service that encrypts your data when it’s transmitted to and from the service, or when they store it, provides a higher level of security than one that doesn’t.

Sign Out of Accounts, Disconnect Devices, and Erase Your Hard Drive

After you save your personal information, however you save it, sign out of all your online accounts from the computer you’re getting rid of. Un-pair your computer from Bluetooth devices like a mouse, keyboard, or wireless display.

Then, erase your computer’s hard drive. Look for a program or function on your computer that will let you erase all your files from the hard drive and reset it to factory settings. If it doesn’t have one, look for expert reviews online to see what programs are out there and which ones are compatible with the type of computer and hard drive you have.

Safely Dispose of Your Computer

You’ve saved your personal information and wiped your hard drive clean. Now you’re ready to get rid of that computer. Most computers contain hazardous materials like heavy metals that can contaminate the earth and don’t belong in a landfill. So what are your options? You can recycle or donate your computer.

Computer manufacturers, electronics stores, and other organizations have computer recycling or donation programs. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s Electronics Donation and Recycling page to learn about recycling or donating your computer.

You saved your personal information. Wiped your hard drive clean. And safely disposed of the old computer. Now learn how to protect your new computer from hackers with these computer security tips.

Free Computer & E-Scrap Recycling| Hard Drive Destruction

Proudly providing safe & responsible recycling for all your surplus and outdated electronic equipment at no expense to you.

Full Service Electronics Recycling​

Electronics recycling has never been easier. We make it simple for our clients to recycle ewaste by handling the entire removal process. Just give us a call, send us an email, or use our contact form to schedule a pickup and we’ll take care of the rest. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Secure Onsite Data Destruction

Our data destruction services provide a secure way for you to recycle unwanted computers and electronics without worrying about data being left behind on your old devices. We offer onsite hard drive destruction so information is securely destroyed before leaving your facility.

Free Onsite Equipment Collection

Our E waste pickup service is really free. We don’t charge handling fees or any fees at all. We absorb the costs associated with pickups to encourage clients to recycle electronic waste and keep it out of landfills.

Responsible Computer Recycling

Recycle computers and ewaste with peace of mind knowing that your unused, broken or surplus electronics will be handled and recycled in an environmentally responsible way. Omega is an EPA compliant, ISO 14001 and R2 certified company. We adhere to a strict zero landfill policy. Choose us for environmentally sound escrap recycling solutions that are truly local.

Locally Owned & Operated

Recycle electronics with our company to help the environment and the local Mid-South economy. Our company is locally owned and operated by people who were born and raised right here in West Tennessee and our headquarters are located right here, too. Choose Omega Recycling Solutions to keep jobs and valuable resources where they belong—right here at home. Think globally, recycle locally.

Free Computer & E-Scrap Recycling| Hard Drive Destruction

Proudly providing safe & responsible recycling for all your surplus and outdated electronic equipment at no expense to you.

Full Service Electronics Recycling​

Electronics recycling has never been easier. We make it simple for our clients to recycle ewaste by handling the entire removal process. Just give us a call, send us an email, or use our contact form to schedule a pickup and we’ll take care of the rest. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Secure Onsite Data Destruction

Our data destruction services provide a secure way for you to recycle unwanted computers and electronics without worrying about data being left behind on your old devices. We offer onsite hard drive destruction so information is securely destroyed before leaving your facility.

Free Onsite Equipment Collection

Our E waste pickup service is really free. We don’t charge handling fees or any fees at all. We absorb the costs associated with pickups to encourage clients to recycle electronic waste and keep it out of landfills.

Responsible Computer Recycling

Recycle computers and ewaste with peace of mind knowing that your unused, broken or surplus electronics will be handled and recycled in an environmentally responsible way. Omega is an EPA compliant, ISO 14001 and R2 certified company. We adhere to a strict zero landfill policy. Choose us for environmentally sound escrap recycling solutions that are truly local.

Locally Owned & Operated

Recycle electronics with our company to help the environment and the local Mid-South economy. Our company is locally owned and operated by people who were born and raised right here in West Tennessee and our headquarters are located right here, too. Choose Omega Recycling Solutions to keep jobs and valuable resources where they belong—right here at home. Think globally, recycle locally.

Many organizations have robust systems in place when it comes to the destruction of documents; perhaps they lock shredding into secure bins; work only with certified vendors; or require shredding to performed on-site for maximum security and peace of mind. However, many small and large business don’t have a similar process in place for technology , like cell phones, hard drives, laptops, tablets, and personal computers, all of which can contain secure information that, if compromised, can be used to harm either the business or it’s stakeholders, like clients and employees. Having a safe and compliant policy outlining the destruction of old technology can protect your business, your employees, and your customers from being targeted or attacked by criminals. In this blog post, we’ll outline the most important components of an electronic data disposal policy and how to choose the right vendor for the job.

Tips for an Effective Electronic Data Disposal Policy

Your electronic data disposal policy should ensure that electronics are properly sanitized of confidential information and then properly and safely destroyed. An effective policy includes:

• Which electronics should be destroyed according to the guidelines in the policy (tablets, laptops, cell phones, personal computers, and electronic media, for example)
• The proper way to sanitize and destroy electronics, including required qualifications for vendors
• Recordkeeping requirements, which may include requesting certification of destruction from the company that destroyed the electronic device or media
• Consequences for failure to comply with the policy, i.e. the careless disposal of confidential information stored on electronic devices and electronic media
• The contact information for the organization’s compliance officer, privacy officer, or Chief Information Officer so suspicion violations and breaches can be reported promptly

The policy should be reviewed at least once a year to determine whether standards have changed and make necessary adjustments.

Choosing a Compliant Vendor

Your business can be held liable for identity theft – and the losses that result – if poor business practices led to the compromise of personal information. Some of the most infamous and expensive data breaches in history have affected companies like Equifax and JPMorgan Chase, resulting in catastrophic privacy violations for millions of their customers. To ensure the private, protected information of your customers and employees stays safe, it’s important to choose a trustworthy vendor who specializes in both document shredding and electronic device and media destruction. Before committing, ensure the vendor is able to provide a certification of destruction each time they destroy a hard drive for you; this can help you prove that you adequately safeguarded client information.

How To Dispose of Old Technology

Many organizations have robust systems in place when it comes to the destruction of documents; perhaps they lock shredding into secure bins; work only with certified vendors; or require shredding to performed on-site for maximum security and peace of mind. However, many small and large business don’t have a similar process in place for technology , like cell phones, hard drives, laptops, tablets, and personal computers, all of which can contain secure information that, if compromised, can be used to harm either the business or it’s stakeholders, like clients and employees. Having a safe and compliant policy outlining the destruction of old technology can protect your business, your employees, and your customers from being targeted or attacked by criminals. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to recycle old computers, outline the most important components of an electronic data disposal policy, and offer tips for choosing the right vendor for the job.

What to Do With Old Computers

Your electronic data disposal policy should ensure that electronics are properly sanitized of confidential information and then properly and safely destroyed. An effective policy includes:

• Which electronics should be destroyed according to the guidelines in the policy (tablets, laptops, cell phones, personal computers, and electronic media, for example)
• The proper way to sanitize and destroy electronics, including required qualifications for vendors
• Recordkeeping requirements, which may include requesting certification of destruction from the company that destroyed the electronic device or media
• Consequences for failure to comply with the policy, i.e. the careless disposal of confidential information stored on electronic devices and electronic media
• The contact information for the organization’s compliance officer, privacy officer, or Chief Information Officer so suspicion violations and breaches can be reported promptly

The policy should be reviewed at least once a year to determine whether standards have changed and make necessary adjustments.

Choosing a Compliant Vendor to Recycle Technology

Your business can be held liable for identity theft – and the losses that result – if poor business practices led to the compromise of personal information. Some of the most infamous and expensive data breaches in history have affected companies like Equifax and JPMorgan Chase, resulting in catastrophic privacy violations for millions of their customers. To ensure the private, protected information of your customers and employees stays safe, it’s important to choose a trustworthy vendor who specializes in both document shredding and electronic device and media destruction. Before committing, ensure the vendor is able to provide a certification of destruction each time they destroy a hard drive for you; this can help you prove that you adequately safeguarded client information.

Contact Royal Document Destruction

Wondering where to recycle old computers or what to do with old technology? Royal Document Destruction is your partner in safeguarding confidential information. With 25 years of experience in the industry, Royal Document Destruction is bonded, insured, and certified, offering services in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Because we provide both document shredding and electronics disposal, we can handle all of your needs to eliminate the need for additional vendor management. To learn more about how we can help you achieve your objectives, request a free quote online today.

by Jasmine Lancaster – December 23, 2015

Many people will purchase or receive new computers and devices this holiday season. In fact, according to Forbes, IDC predicts the worldwide smart connected device market will accelerate past 2 billion units by the end of 2015. If you’re among the lucky owners of new computers and devices this year, you or your company may be planning to get rid of the old computers or devices, which have been replaced by newer versions. If so, I urge you to do so with caution!

Along with a collection of potentially harmful toxins, computers and other connected devices house vital information including passwords, registration numbers, account information, addresses, telephone numbers, and a host of other private information. Your hard drive is a goldmine for identity thieves and it is important to use proven methods to wipe this data from existence, before disposing of devices. Simply throwing the devices or their hard drives away could potentially cause more harm than good.

Below, we reveal the proper techniques to dispose of computers and devices, guard against identity theft, and protect the environment:

1. Backup significant files and information
2. Sanitize your hard drive
3. Dispose of your computer

Read on to learn more about each step.

1.) Backup Significant Files and Information

Before disposing of your old hard drive, you may find it necessary to save files you may need in the future. You can use a USB drive, CD-ROM, external hard drive, cloud service, or a new computer to transfer your information.

When using cloud backup, files can be easily transferred and accessed anywhere there is internet connection. Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive are popular cloud service providers. Each give you an allotment of free storage space, with the option of buying more at a reasonable cost. When transferring files onto a new computer, you can contact the manufacturer’s customer support line for guidance on how to accurately accomplish this task.

2.) Sanitize Your Hard Drive

Clicking “delete” on a file is not enough. Identity thieves have mastered data recovery, which makes retrieving your deleted information fairly simple. It is important that you get your hands on a utility software, designed to meet government standards for secure deletion, to wipe your hard drive clean. Usually, these programs are inexpensive and some are even free. Do your homework to ensure you’ve selected a reputable and proven program for this process — protecting your identity and sensitive data is worth it.

After you’ve taken all possible measures to remove data from your hard drive, perform a factory reset as an extra measure of security. As an extra, extra precaution, some individuals drill holes into their hard drives or destroy it with a hammer. Whereas this may seem a bit extreme, some deem it necessary. Physical destruction is a sure way to prevent data crooks from obtaining your information. You can also contract with a company to securely destroy your hard drive for you, and then provide you with proof in the form of a certificate of destruction.

3.) Dispose of Your Computer

Recycle, donate, or resell your computer to stop harmful toxins from entering the environment. If you opt to recycle it, you will find that several manufacturers have programs to recycle computers and their components. Again, check with customer support on the best method for recycling. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has useful information about how you can go about recycling your electronics. Here at Meridian, we’ve partnered with Evolve Recycling , which pays organizations for used computer components.

There are also many organizations who collect old computers and give them to charity. Doing this now could possibly make you eligible for a 2015 tax deduction. Be sure to check with an accountant for any tax-related details. Finally, reselling or trading in your computer is also a method of disposal. Do a quick online search to find companies with trade-in programs or companies who buy old computers. E-commerce sites like eBay and Craigslist can also be useful outlets for selling electronics.

Don’t Forget.

Remember, simply throwing away an old computer won’t cut it. Be sure you are protecting yourself and the environment with proper disposal.

Recycle computers, tablets, routers, hard drives, and more for free

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Staples will recycle lots of devices, regardless of the brand, condition, or store where you originally purchased them.

Not only will Staples recycle your old desktop, laptop, tablet computers, and peripherals, they’ll also do the same for your eReader, shredder, monitor, GPS device, battery backup, digital camera, MP3 player, ink and toner, external hard drive, cordless phone, wireless router, and more.

Staples keeps a complete list of acceptable and prohibited items on their Recycling Services page.

What Are the Benefits of Recycling With Staples?

Recycling with Staples comes with more benefits than just getting rid of your old electronics that are taking up space in your garage or closet.

With the Staples trade-in program, you’re able to get money back just for getting rid of your unused devices!

Visit the link below to learn more about how the trade-in program works and which devices are supported. You can bring your devices to a store or ship it through the mail. Either method will reward you with a Staples eCash Card.

When recycling empty ink and toner cartridges, you’ll get $2 back in Staples Rewards for each and every one.

How Do You Trade-In Devices With Staples?

Whether you’re trading in your device online or in person, you can get a quote for how much money you’ll get in return. To do that, begin with the GET STARTED button through that link above. If you’d rather visit a Staples store and get the quote there, you can do that, instead.

Search for your device or browse through the categories until you find it, and then answer a few questions about the condition and functionality of the device. You may also have to submit a serial number or other identification numbers before you can continue through to sending the device in.

For example, if you’re trading in an old iPhone 7, navigate to IPHONE > iPhone 7 to find the phone that matches yours — the one that lists the same carrier and hard drive capacity as yours. Then, answer a few questions about the device, like whether it powers on, if the screen is cracked or broken, and if you’ve disabled Find My iPhone and any other account information.

Some devices might have different questions. For example, if you’re trading in a laptop, you’re asked if you also have the power cord.

Finally, you can get a quote for how much you might get back for your device, with the SHOW OFFER button. You can then print off the quote and take the device into Staples or continue online by clicking GET PAID and following any other instructions.

There are lots of other sites where you can also sell your old electronics for cash, some of which might offer more money than Staples.

How Do You Recycle With Staples?

If you’re not interested in trading in your electronics, or it can’t be done through the mail, just bring them to your local Staples store to have them recycled for free.

All U.S. Staples stores support recycling electronics, except for Staples Copy & Print Shops, and you can recycle as many as six items per day.

Though Staples will erase all the data on the hard drives that you recycle, we still recommend that you do it yourself first to ensure that none of your private information is still lingering before getting rid of it.