Whether you have an old phone languishing in a desk drawer or a broken laptop gathering dust in the back of a closet, there will never be a better time to dispose of it. There’s a good chance your unwanted gadget can return to useful service, and it may even make you a little cash or help someone else. Recycling should be the last resort, but if there’s no other option for your device, there are ways to recycle electronics responsibly.
Global e-waste topped 62 million metric tons in 2022, according to the latest data published by the United Nations Global E-Waste Monitor, and just 22.3 percent of that waste was collected and recycled. Too many old electronics end up in landfills and hellish e-waste graveyards in poor countries, where they poison communities. The problem is only growing worse, with an estimated increase of 2.6 million tons every year, taking us to 82 million by 2030. Governments, companies, and people are waking up to the fact that we must do better. The big question is, how? Here are some resources, services, and ideas that can help.
Updated March 2026: We’ve added more donation suggestions and advice on what to do before you dispose of electronics.
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Use Devices for Longer
Before you throw away devices, consider using them for a little longer. Do you really need to upgrade? Perhaps you can repurpose your old device to get more life out of it. For example, you might turn that old phone into a webcam. If you are dead set on shopping for a new device, research ethical and eco-friendly electronics. Look for manufacturers and retailers with trade-in and recycling programs.
Consider buying used products on eBay or other marketplaces, or look for refurbished gadgets. Manufacturers like Apple and Samsung offer refurbished devices at a discount, and you can find loads of refurbished goods at Amazon. Elizabeth Chamberlain, director of sustainability at iFixit, recommends Back Market for refurbished phones. For more tips and ideas, we have a guide on how to buy used or refurbished electronics.
Pass Devices On
Passing devices onto family members, friends, and neighbors who can use them is the best way to squeeze maximum value out of them. “Don’t let devices hibernate in a junk drawer or closet and waste away,” says Jeff Seibert, who works at SERI (Sustainable Electronics Recycling International). “Get them into someone else’s hands who can use them as quickly as possible because the older devices get, the less positive impact they can make.”
If you don’t know anyone who can use your old electronics, try the Freecycle Network or local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook to find folks interested in freebies.
Repair and Refurbish
Whether you plan to squeeze a bit more out of a device, want to pass it along to someone, or plan on selling it, repairing or refurbishing it first is a smart move. If you want to try to repair a device, iFixit is a great place to start. It boasts more than 90,000 step-by-step repair guides covering phones, tablets, laptops, computers, game consoles, and cameras.
YouTube is another great place to find repair videos, and Chamberlain recommends checking out repair techs like Louis Rossmann, Jessa Jones, Ben’s Appliances and Junk, and Rich Rebuilds, but there’s no shortage of repair videos for the specific gadget you’re looking for.
