Where to Recycle Your Electronic Waste

Recycling your electronics is tough. You can find them piled up around year house gathering dust. You know you can't just throw them away, but it can be hard to find places to take them.

Only 15% of electronic waste is recycled today. This leads to over 416,000 mobile devices and 142,000 computers end up in landfills and incinerators every day. Here's a guide on where you can properly recycle your electronic waste. 

1. Local Places (recycle where)

   Most cities have local electronics recycling centers that accept e-waste for free or a small charge. Websites like RecycleWhere can help you locate places to recycle your used electronics. The EPI also provides a website for you to locate recycling programs. These are frequently the best option in terms of price and convenience.

2. Best Buys

   Best Buy also provides a national recycling program. They have recycling kiosks in their stores in the US, as well as recycling in-store for no charge to you. They typically limit it to three items per family, per day. From there, they work with recycling companies to make sure the phones and other electronics don't end up in landfills.

3. Charities

   Another good option for your electronic waste is charities. Programs like Recycle For Charities accept all different models and makes of cellular phones. They try to refurbish them before sending them to recycling centers.

4. Tech Companies

   Tech companies such as Apple or Amazon offer trade-in programs that reward you with credit or discounts on new products. Apple will give you a gift card and Amazon will credit your account with money. Using company trade-in programs are a great way to earn money while recycling your electronics.

5. Call2Recycle

   Call2Recyleis a no-cost recycling program for batteries and cell phones in the US and Canada. It has collection boxes that can be placed anywhere, which have shipping permits so mailing them is easy. They also have bulk shipping if there is a large amount of recyclables.

6. Mail Back Programs

   Recycling Centers typically offer mail-back programs that will process your electronic waste for free. This method is typically for people who live further away from recycling programs. You will have to pay the shipping costs and you should call in with the recycling center to see if they accept the materials you are trying to send.