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Keep usable electronics in service when practical: upgrade or repair them, or donate them for reuse. Recycle devices that cannot reasonably be reused, using a local program that confirms it accepts your specific item. Before handing anything over, delete personal information and handle removable batteries separately.
Where can I donate or recycle my old computer and other electronic products?
The right route depends on whether the device works, whether it contains a battery, and what local programs accept. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests considering reuse first and points consumers to local facilities, manufacturer and retailer take-back programs, and directories such as Call2Recycle, Earth911, and Greener Gadgets. Availability and accepted items vary; check directly before making a trip or shipping a device. EPA says its list is informational and does not constitute an endorsement. EPA’s Electronics Donation and Recycling guidance was last updated December 19, 2025.
Choose a route based on the device
If a computer or laptop may still be useful
Consider whether a hardware or software upgrade or a repair could extend its useful life. If the device works, donation or another reuse route can keep it in service longer. EPA identifies preventing waste as preferable to other waste-management options and recommends donation or reuse for operating electronics when practical. EPA’s guidance on reducing and reusing describes this hierarchy.
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Look for a local electronics collection or recycling program, or a manufacturer or retailer take-back option. Ask whether it accepts the exact device and its accessories, and whether batteries must be removed. The EPA’s consumer guidance links to discovery options; its electronics recycling information also directs readers to relevant resources. Confirm details with the provider, since listings do not establish current acceptance or service in every location.
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- Use Office Depot's Tech Recycling Service for your broken electronics. Each year, Americans throw away millions of tons of old or broken electronics, creating potentially harmful waste known as tech trash.
- STEP #1: Choose your box size.
- STEP #2: Fill the Tech Recycling Box with as many acceptable items as will fit. Be sure the box can close with all items inside. NOTE: Please do not seal.
- STEP #3: Bring your unsealed Tech Recycling Box to any Office Depot store. A store associate will inspect your box to ensure all items are acceptable and that the box can be closed. If everything meets these guidelines, you will be asked to complete a form and the box will be accepted and shipped for recycling.
- Acceptable items include: Monitors, fax machines, desktop and laptop computers, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, telephones, digital cameras, VCR/DVD players, televisions, cords and cables.
If the device belongs to a business or other organization
For businesses, governments, and large purchasers, EPA recommends considering a certified electronics recycler. The two accredited standards it identifies for the United States are Responsible Recycling (R2) and e-Stewards. Certification involves accredited, independent third-party auditing and addresses environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices, including downstream material management and data destruction. It is a screening signal, not a guarantee that a particular service or contract meets your needs. Check the provider’s current certification and service terms. EPA’s certified-recycler guidance explains the standards.
Prepare devices before handing them over
- Delete personal information. Remove personal data before donating or recycling a device, as EPA advises. Do not assume that a generic factory reset securely erases every model; use deletion or data-destruction steps appropriate to the device and your needs.
- Separate batteries where possible. EPA advises removing batteries because they may require a separate recycling route. Keep lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them out of household garbage and recycling bins. Check local collection instructions for the battery type and condition.
- Confirm acceptance and handoff terms. Ask the program whether it takes the specific device, accessories, and battery; whether it offers drop-off, take-back, or mail-in service; and whether fees or other conditions apply. Do not assume a directory listing means a particular item is accepted.
Questions to ask a collection program or recycler
Programs differ, so compare the terms that matter for your device rather than assuming every provider offers the same service.
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- Acceptance: Does the program take this device category, its accessories, and its removable or embedded battery?
- Reuse or recovery: If the device works, might it be refurbished or donated, or does it go directly to material processing?
- Data handling: What deletion or destruction service is included, how is it documented, and who has custody of the device?
- Certification and downstream handling: If certification is relevant, is it current? How are recovered materials handled downstream?
- Convenience and terms: Is the service local drop-off, take-back, or mail-in? What geographic area does it cover, and are there charges or contract requirements?
What the available U.S. figures say—and what they do not
EPA’s December 2024 infrastructure assessment reports 6.7 million tons of U.S. electronic waste generated and 16 percent captured for recycling, citing recent data. These are figures reported in that assessment, not measurements for 2026. The same assessment says 25 states and the District of Columbia had statewide e-waste legislation; state requirements can change, so check current rules with the relevant state or local authority before relying on a legal checklist. EPA’s 2024 electronics recycling infrastructure assessment provides the context.
EPA’s household guidance also reports older material-recovery and energy estimates attributed to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2006: recycling one million laptops saves energy equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 3,500 U.S. homes; recycling one million cell phones can recover 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium. These are dated estimates, not current universal performance guarantees for a particular program. EPA’s consumer electronics guidance attributes the figures to USGS.
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- Holds electronic waste and LEDs. Electronic waste includes any electronic components that power on and have any chip or board parts. This includes, but is not limited to computers monitors, telecom gear, fax machines, and televisions
- Each UN certified container comes with a poly liner, instructions in English and Spanish, terms & conditions, and a pre-paid return shipping label.
- Access exclusive online features including recycling reports, container tracking, and certificates of recycling.
Local rules and program details need a local check
This guide is U.S.-oriented. Collection options, item acceptance, and legal requirements differ by location and may change. Check with your local solid-waste or household hazardous-waste facility, the manufacturer or retailer, or the program itself before dropping off or shipping electronics. For organization-scale recycling, verify certification, downstream handling, data-security arrangements, service scope, and contract terms directly with the recycler.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Supply-061 RecyclePak Electronic Recycling Box provides a prepaid, convenient and environmentally responsible way to recycle a wide range of electronic devices, including computers, tablets, monitors, printers, and other e-waste, ensuring proper disposal and minimizing the potential for hazardous materials to end up in landfills.
- Veolia adheres to the rigorous R2v3 standards, ensuring that your electronic waste is handled responsibly throughout the recycling process, from collection to final disposition, protecting both the environment and data security.
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- MEDIUM ELECTRONICS RECYCLING BOX
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