If you have an old laptop, desktop or printer that is taking space, there are many easy and durable opportunities for their mood. Some stores will even give you store loans to load your old technology.
Recycling such items can be as simple as bringing them to retail sellers such as Best Buy, Office warehouses and staples, and throwing your old equipment is illegal and can attract large fines in some countries, including in California. It is an indispensable habit to introduce, too. According to a UN report released last year, people around the world are throwing about five times more tools than being recycled.
This story is part of Cnet zeroA series that chronicles the impact of climate change and explores what is being done about the problem.
Here’s what you need to know about recycling your old technology.
Read more: Why is our devices not being recycled enough, and how can you help
Before recycling your computer
Wherever you choose to take or mail to your items to recycle, you will want to protect your data by removing it as best you can before doing so. One way to do this is to perform a factory reset to your computer. Our guide permeates the process.
Where to recycle computers and printers
Some retail stores will accept computers and recycling printers, but it’s not always a free service. Policies differ from the company.
Apple shop
You can recycle your old Apple computers, monitors and periphems, such as printers, for free in an Apple store, but there is a costly catch. According to Apple’s free recycling program, you also need to buy a qualified Apple or Monitor computer to get this service.
Need another opportunity? A third -party company called Gazelle Bulls old MacBooks to recycle them. Once you accept the Gazelle offer, you press a prepaid label or request a prepaid box and send the car to them.
Read more: The phone and laptop repair is going to the main stream, with a big push from IFIX
Best shopping shops
Best Buy generally accepts up to three household items per day per day to be recycled for free, including desktop computers and printers, as well as other items ranging from electronic readers to vacuum cleaners. While three is the limit for most items, there is a higher standard for laptops – the Best Buy will take five of those per family a day. Note that the rules for abandoning monitors vary according to the state, and it is not always free to do so.
Best Buy also offers a mail recycling service for selected items, but this is also not free. A small box that holds up to 6 pounds costs $ 23, while a large box (up to 15 pounds) costs $ 30.
Officemax and Office Warehouse
Office Depot and Officemax joined in 2013. Retail sellers offer a technological trade program both in the store and online where you may be able to get a gift card in the store in exchange for your old computers and printers. If the device has no commercial value, the company will recycle it for free.
The Office Depot also sells its own technology recycling boxes that you can fill with electronics to recycle and then fall into stores, but they are not cheap. Small boxes cost $ 8.39 and hold up to 20 pounds; Middle ones cost $ 18.29 and hold up to 40 pounds; And the high cost of $ 28 and holding up to 60 pounds.
Staples shops
You can bring your old desktop computers, laptops, printers and more on the arka staples counter to be recycled for free, even if they were not bought there. The retailer also has a free -house battery recycling box, which, according to a rap, has made customers recycle thousands of batteries per week, from an early average of 50 per week.
Here you have a list of everything that can be recycled in staples.
Read more: How to reset the factory a MacBook, Windows laptop or chromebook
How to Find Recycling Centers for Technology
If you do not live near a large retailer or you will prefer to get your computers and printers in a recycling center, you can find places near you using search tools provided by Earth911 and the Consumer Technology Association.
Earth911 recycling search
Use the Earth911 Recycling Center search function to find recycling centers near your ZIP code that accept laptops, desktop and printers. Note that the results can also present places that accept cell phones and not computers or printers, so you may need to make a small filter.
Green tools cta
Consult the Grener recycling bar of the Consumer Technology Association to find local recycling centers in your area that will receive old items. The search function also allows you to filter out the results to hunt separately places computers against printers.