What Businesses Recycle Computers and Electronics?

Many companies recycle old electronics.

Electronics such as computers, cell phones, mp3 players and televisions play an important role in our lives. However, as technology gets old and replaced, it leaves a lot of waste behind. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only 18 percent of electronics were recycled in 2007. Many companies, facing state laws on recycling, and social pressure, have offered to recycle electronics. Manufacturers, retailers and cell phone service providers now often offer recycling programs.

Manufacturer Recycling Programs

Manufacturers will accept electronic products for recycling.

Many manufactures offer free recycling of their old products. Apple offers recycling on all its products, as well as taking other manufacturers' products. Dell offers free recycling of its products and those of other manufacturers when customers buy new Dell computers. Nintendo, Nokia, Panasonic and Sony all have take-back programs for their consumer electronics. Acer and Canon offer recycling with a shipping charge attached. They have printable labels on their websites. Epson charges $10 to recycle it products. The price includes shipping and comes with a $5 coupon for Epson products. Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company is a collaboration of many large manufacturers to provide recycling services. Service is available in a limited number of states and varies depending on state recycling laws. JVC, Toshiba, Sharp, Vizio and Mitsubishi Electric are participating companies. Gateway, Samsung, HP, Lenovo and IBM all offer recycling programs that vary based on the product sold. Contact these companies to learn the terms of their programs.

Retail Recycling Programs

Many retailers offer recycling in their stores.

Many electronics retailers offer recycling for old electronics. Best Buy offers free recycling of many consumer electronics products. Most smaller items can be dropped off at any Best Buy store. Check Best Buy's website for details. Crutchfield and Costco offer free shipping, and may pay, via gift card, for used electronics that can be resold. Radioshack has free recycling for batteries and cell phones and offers store credit for electronic trade-ins. Other programs for recycling vary by state. Office Depot offers recycling for a fee. Items that can fit in one of three different-sized boxes are recycled. Small boxes cost $5, medium boxes cost $10 and large boxes cost $15. Staples offers recycling of computers, monitors, laptops and printers for a $10 large-item free. Staples offers free recycling for cell phones, small electronics and chargers. Ink jet and toner cartridges are recycled with a $2 rebate.

Cell Phone Providers

Cell phone carriers recycle phones for free.

Cell phone companies offer recycling of old phones to their customers. AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint will accept phones from customers at no cost. Sprint offers trade-in values for phones that can be resold. Companies either refurbish, donate phones to charity or recycle phones that cannot be used.

Charity Recycling

Many charities offer cell phone recycling programs. Recycling of Charities and EcoCell resell or recycle donated cell phones and send proceeds to the charity of the donor's choice.

References

• DIgitalTips: Corporate Recycling Programs
• Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company: Home
• Best Buy: Ecycle
• Staples: Stapes Soul - Recycling
• Recycling for Charity: About
• EPA: Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics