Old Device Disposal
Clear out the drawer of old phones — safely.
Wipe data FIRST
Old phones and computers contain banking, photos, contacts, accounts. Always WIPE before donating or recycling. (See our "Erase Old Phone" tool.) For old hard drives — hammer + drill = guaranteed wiped, or pay $5 at a UPS Store for shredding.
Apple Trade In
Old iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch. Get gift card or credit toward new device. They handle data wipe.
apple.com/trade-in
Best Buy Recycling
Most electronics — phones, laptops, TVs, batteries. Free for many items.
3 items per household per day.
Staples / Office Depot
Free recycling of small electronics, ink, batteries.
Convenient drop-off.
Carrier (Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile)
Phone trade-in for credit on new phone or service.
Best for active phone customers.
Decluttr / GadgetGoneApp / Gazelle
Mail-in services. Free shipping. Pays cash for usable phones, tablets, laptops.
Best for older devices still working.
eBay / Swappa
Sell directly. Higher payout but more work.
Best resale value.
Local e-waste recycling event
Free electronic recycling held by towns/cities. Search "[town] e-waste day".
For TVs, monitors, microwaves.
Goodwill / Salvation Army
Donate working phones/laptops. They wipe data, resell.
Tax-deductible.
Cell Phones for Soldiers / Domestic violence shelters
Donate working phones for charity.
Helps those in need.
Where each device goes
- Working phone (less than 5 years old) — Apple Trade In, carrier, or Decluttr.
- Old phone (5+ years) — recycle at Best Buy or e-waste event.
- Old laptop with HDD/SSD — wipe drive, then Best Buy or sell on eBay.
- Old TV — Best Buy ($30 fee), e-waste day (free), or Salvation Army (if working).
- Old desktop tower — Best Buy or e-waste day.
- Old printer — Best Buy (free for some), Staples.
- Batteries — Best Buy, Home Depot, Staples — never throw in trash.
- Cables, chargers — Best Buy or e-waste day.
- External hard drive with sensitive data — physically destroy (drill or hammer) before recycling.
Maximize trade-in value
- Trade in within first year of new model launch — values drop fast.
- Compare offers — Apple, Best Buy, your carrier all offer different prices.
- Original box and charger boost value $20-50.
- Crack-free screen worth way more.
DON\'T put in regular trash
Electronics contain lead, mercury, lithium that pollute landfills. Many states ban e-waste in trash. Also — your old data could be recovered. Always recycle properly.