What Should You Do With Old Electronic Devices?

The average American household owns dozens of electronic devices, and many of them eventually end up in a drawer "just in case." So what should you actually do with old phones, laptops, tablets, and gadgets once you no longer use them? The U.S. EPA recommends following the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, repair, donate, then recycle. Here's how that translates into practical decisions.

Option 1: Keep Using It (Reduce)

The most sustainable device is the one you already own. Before replacing a working phone or laptop, ask whether a new battery, a fresh OS install, or some added storage would extend its life by another year or two. Manufacturing a new smartphone generates the large majority of its lifetime carbon footprint before you ever turn it on, according to multiple manufacturer life-cycle assessments. Stretching the life of an existing device almost always beats buying new — environmentally and financially.

Option 2: Repair It

Cracked screen? Worn battery? Failing port? Independent repair shops and authorized service providers can often restore a device for a fraction of the cost of replacement. California's Right to Repair Act (SB 244) requires manufacturers to make parts, tools, and documentation available for many consumer electronics — making repair more accessible than ever.

Option 3: Resell or Trade In

If the device still works and is reasonably current, resale or trade-in captures real economic value while keeping the device in service:

• Manufacturer trade-in: Apple, Samsung, Google, Dell, HP, and others offer trade-in credit toward new purchases.
• Carrier trade-in: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile run promotions that may exceed open-market value.
• Buyback services: Established platforms such as Decluttr, Gazelle, and Back Market offer instant quotes and prepaid shipping.
• Local resale: Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist for working desktops, TVs, and accessories that are expensive to ship.

Whichever route you choose, wipe your data first — sign out of accounts and run a factory reset.

Option 4: Donate It

A working laptop or tablet you no longer need can be transformative for a student, senior, refugee, or nonprofit organization. Reputable national programs include:

• PCs for People — refurbishes and distributes computers to low-income households.
• Human-I-T — provides devices and internet access to under-resourced communities, with offices in Southern California.
• World Computer Exchange — equips schools and youth programs in developing regions.
• Local schools, libraries, and senior centers — often welcome working laptops and tablets.

Donations only work if devices are functional and reasonably current. Broken or very old equipment is a burden to recipients — those belong in the recycling stream instead.

Option 5: Recycle It

If a device is broken, obsolete, or simply not worth repairing, the right answer is responsible recycling through a certified e-waste facility. Look for recyclers that are:

• CalRecycle-authorized, or in California, an authorized CalRecycle collector
• Committed to a documented zero-landfill policy
• Capable of providing NIST 800-88 data destruction and a certificate of recycling

Under California law, electronics — including phones, laptops, TVs, and even most cables — are classified as universal waste and cannot legally be disposed of in regular trash.

What You Should NOT Do

• Don't throw electronics in the trash or curbside recycling bin. It's illegal in California and creates fire risks from lithium-ion batteries.
• Don't stockpile devices indefinitely. Stored devices lose resale value, may leak from aged batteries, and create security risk if they still hold personal data.
• Don't give a device with your data on it to anyone — friend, charity, or recycler — without wiping it first.
• Don't use unverified curbside scrappers. Devices often end up dismantled informally overseas with serious environmental and health consequences.

A Quick Decision Framework

1. Does it still work and meet my needs? → Keep using it.
2. Is the problem fixable for a reasonable cost? → Repair.
3. Does it work and have resale value? → Trade in or resell.
4. Does it work but I don't need the money? → Donate.
5. Anything else? → Recycle responsibly.

Local Help in Southern California

Urban Electronic Recycling provides free pickup (5+ items) and free drop-off (Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM) across Corona, Riverside, Norco, Eastvale, Ontario, Anaheim, and the wider Inland Empire and Orange County. Every device is processed through a zero-landfill chain, with NIST 800-88 data destruction available for businesses. Schedule a free pickup or call (714) 306-3609.

Sources: U.S. EPA — Sustainable Management of Electronics and Waste Management Hierarchy; CalRecycle — Covered Electronic Waste Recycling Program; California SB 244 — Right to Repair Act; NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 — Guidelines for Media Sanitization; California Department of Toxic Substances Control — Universal Waste Rule.