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January 12, 2009 by John Cottone
Filed under Green Home and Living, Recycling, Sustainability
Did you receive a new TV, computer, or cell phone for the holidays? Don’t just throw away your old devices! Recycling electronic items is critical for preserving landfill space and for ensuring that hazardous materials used to make electronics are properly disposed.
Here is a list of resources to help you get rid of your old stuff in a safe, efficient manner.
Online Cellphone Recycling Programs
Provider Cellphone Recycling Programs
Manufacturer Take-Back Programs
Online Cellphone Recycling Programs
Nokia recycles your old phone at no charge
Cell phone and wireless phone recycling
For every used cell phone received, a donation to a charity is made
Recycle your old mobile phones, pagers or PDAs in a responsible manner
Comprehensive cell phone recycling database
Cell phone recycling program for environmentally minded fundraisers
Set up a cell phone recycling program in your community or workplace
Offers cell phone recycling programs for organizations of all types
Helps you locate a local donation center or mail-back programs
Donate your old cell phone, PDA, digital camera or iPod to be recycled and benefit the charity of your choice
Provider Cellphone Recycling Programs
Through the AT&T Reuse & Recycle program, consumers can bring unwanted wireless phones, Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), accessories and batteries (regardless of the manufacturer or carrier) to AT&T operated stores and participating authorized dealer stores for recycling.
Sprint customers can return their used Sprint PCS or Nextel wireless phones, if eligible, to the “buy back” program, certain models may be exchangeable for an account credit. Sprint’s Project Connect recycles used wireless phones, batteries, accessories and connection cards, regardless of make, model or service provider for free. Net proceeds benefit Internet safety for kids.
T-Mobile’s Handset Recycling Program promotes the recycling and reuse of old wireless devices, net proceeds from handset recycling benefit the charitable efforts of the T-Mobile Huddle Up program.
Used phones and batteries can be returned to any Verizon Wireless retail store nationwide or sent in via mail. The HopeLine program collects no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any service provider. The used phones are either refurbished or recycled. With the funds raised from sales Verizon donates wireless phones and airtime to victims, and provides funding and other contributions to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.
Virgin’s free recycling program attempts first to refurbish it and provide it to a new Virgin Mobile customer or sends it on to people who are in need of a mobile phone, at a reduced price. If the phone cannot be re-used or re-furbished it is recycled in an environmentally correct way. Profits from the recycling program will go to the RE*Generation charitable partners, connecting youth in need to youth who want to make a difference.
Manufacturer Take-Back Programs
Apple’s free recycling program will take back your iPod or any cell phone regardless of manufacturer or model.
Canon’s mail-in program recycles certain consumer products, including binoculars, camcorders, cameras (digital/film), fax machines, ImageCLASS products, PC copiers, printers, projectors/video equipment and scanners.
Recycle your old Dell products for free. If you buy a new Dell desktop or notebook and select the free recycling option at the time of purchase, they will recycle your old PC and monitor at no cost to you (even if it isn’t a Dell-branded product).
Epson has a recycling fee of $10 per item (includes shipping). Receive a $5 Epson Store coupon per item returned.
HP recycles computer equipment, printing supplies, rechargeable batteries and other items, most for free.
IBM offers solutions for the end-of-life management of computer equipment, printer supplies etc.
As part of its product end-of-life management activities, Lenovo offers consumers and/or commercial clients end-of-life management solutions for their computer equipment worldwide through voluntary programs and country programs in which Lenovo participates.
Lexmark’s collection programs recycles inkjet and toner cartridges and hardware.
Nokia recycles your old phone at no charge. Print a postage-paid return label online and send it back.
The Samsung Takeback and Recycling programme (STAR) is a free process for returning and recycling used printer cartridges.
Sony Electronics, in partnership with Waste Management Inc. offers the “Sony Take Back” program for post-consumer Sony electronics, a free program that accepts anything from cameras to televisions. Recycle up to five Sony products per day by dropping them off at designated Waste Management eCycling Drop-Off Centers throughout the country or mailing them in.
Toshiba offers free recycling of all Toshiba notebooks, gigabeat® MP3 players and packaging as well as low-cost recycling options for other manufacturer laptops and consumer electronics products.
Retailer Take-Back Programs
Inside the door of every single U.S. Best Buy store, recycling drop-off kiosks are available for consumers to drop off old cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and ink-jet cartridges at no cost. Also recycles appliances and offers mail-in cellphone recycling and a recycling grant program.
Provides free recycling services of any brand of used computers, monitors, laptops, printers, faxes, MP3 players, game systems, cameras/camcorders, and smartphones/pdas through a mail-back program.
Those who send items with “trade-in-value” will receive a Costco gift certificate. You do not need to be a member to use this service. Materials are not accepted at Costco retail locations.
Accepts any brand of used electronics provided that they are not cracked or leaking. Items must be able to fit within one of their three boxes (The largest box is 14″x18″x18″, which is big enough for a monitor, but not a large television). The box must be purchased for $5, $10, or $15 depending on the size of the box. The filled box can then be left at the store for recycling.
Accepts any brand of used computers, monitors, laptops, printers, faxes, and all-in-ones for recycling at any of its stores for a $10 per large item fee.
Sell Your Stuff Online
Craigslist
Craigslist offers free classified ads by city and state, and is the perfect place to off-load your used stuff. You can list a product description, pictures and the pricing you choose. Many people opt to list their items for free so long as the recipient does all the pick up and moving work.
eBay
If you’re looking to sell your item to a broader audience with seller protections, then eBay is the way to go. EBay does charge modest listing and sales fees, but allows you to accept credit cards and offers a level of anonymity with the sale. You can run an auction listing, or set a fixed price with this service.
Don’t forget that there are dedicated recyclers for electronic waste. Earth911.com is a great resource for individuals looking. Also many municipalities have electronics recycling programs, so contact your local city waste management division and see if there are sponsored pickup days.
Sorry – submitted my comment too soon. The second sentence should read: Earth911.com is a great resource for individuals looking for a local recycler.