Ways to Make a Difference

To recycle e-waste, you first want to find a designated collection point, such as local recycling centers, e-waste drop-off events, or major retailers such as Best Buy, Staples, and even some Walmarts. Retailers that have recycling programs may offer discounts or store credit for your e-waste drop-offs. 

Before dropping off any of your devices like phones or computers, ensure that all of your important data and information have been backed up prior to recycling, and wipe the devices before recycling. Remove batteries to devices before recycling. Batteries, such as lithium-ion ones, can be a fire hazard and may need to be separated to be recycled individually. Lastly, make sure to follow the guidelines at the collection point of your choosing, as some places may require different types of e-waste to be separated into different bins.

If you have done your research and are still unsure where you should recycle or what is acceptable for certain recycling drop-off centers, Earth911 offers a service that tells you which stores and businesses near you accept certain materials, from cell phones and desktop computers to car batteries.