Disposing of Electronics

Although still not easy, disposing of electronics is cheaper and easier than ever before. 

A somewhat dated Greene County solid waste management plan cites that there are 62 drop-off electronic recycling locations in that county alone. The same report shows that 78 tons of electronics were recycled in 2018, in addition to 10 tons of appliances.  Your pile of stuff is looking smaller all the time!

Many of us had (or have) stacks of old electronics because has historically been so hard to get rid of them, we weren’t confident about doing so properly, or we have them just out of inertia.  But when it's time to downsize, procrastination is not longer an option (or at least not for long).

The most important part of any electronics disposal is to make sure you’ve removed all the personal data from every device before returning it.  Many years ago, my husband purchased a hard drive from Circuit City (yeah, that long ago).  After it failed multiple times to properly install, he realized someone had purchased a new hard drive, replaced it, and then returned their old one in the new drive’s packaging. In figuring this out, he recovered the individual’s private data on the drive.  Since Circuit City didn’t have a way to deal with this situation, they just told him to return the drive (again) as if it were defective and get a new one—but if Circuit City resold it again, that data would be out in the world, maybe with someone even less scrupulous than the original scammer.  I can’t feel too sorry for the original owner, but for anyone who is trying to responsibly dispose of old electronics, this would be a nightmare.

If you don’t know how to make sure your data is truly gone from the devices you no longer use, there are multiple credible resources such as the Federal Trade Commission that have advice if you’re up for the DIY solution.  If not, there’s likely a tech-savvy person you trust in your family or friend group. Barring that option, or if you don’t want to bother them, there are reputable companies that provide that service as well.  For example, Goodwill’s program states on its website that electronic donations within the program will be wiped as well—but only you can decide if the convenience of someone else doing that is worth trusting someone with your electronic data.  Me? I probably wouldn’t—but another option that’s out there.  

Once you have sanitized your devices, it’s time to find a reputable way to get rid of them. Obviously, the most appealing is to sell them back vice donating for free or, worse yet, paying for disposal.

Selling unwanted electronics. There are more options than ever for getting some money for your electronics.  Many may not be worth the time unless those solutions are equally convenient as getting rid of them for free. For instance, there’s a Dayton recycling center that will give you 25 cents/lb for your desktop as long as it’s all there (no removing hard drives!), and 75 cents/lb for your complete laptop.  Beyond computers, they’ll give you 6 cents/lb for your LCD TV as long as it’s less than 18 years old.  The list goes on.  With a trunk full of old electronics and corded home goods (they’ll take your iron and vacuum too), you may drive away with a few dollars—but at least you didn’t have to pay for it, and, with any luck, recoup the cost of gas to get there.  There are other local companies who take your electronics, part out the pieces or elements that can be resold, and then throw away the rest—minimizing what ends up in a landfill.  A simple Google search can help you find these options local to you.

Donating. The next option is the free option. Some counties, such as Montgomery County, have free electronics recycling for their residents through a drop-off program with their Solid Waste Department.  There are also commercial entities that may accept your old electronics for free—often, as long as you’re also a customer. 

Mixed solutions. Some big box stores have kiosks where they will take some items for free, give you discounts or gift cards or pay you for some items, or charge you for those things no one finds value in anymore.  Many wireless carriers will take your old cell phone—either by giving you some money or an incentive through your plan, or at no cost for phones that may be too old to be of interest in their current condition. Another donation option is Goodwill—it has a partnership with Dell and the program takes almost anything but old, CRT tube TVs, very large appliances, or damaged batteries. Note that Goodwill won't pick up your items if you want to participate in this program--it's drop-off only, and not all sites participate.

Paying to get rid of those final electronic items. Finally, there’s the option to pay to get rid of your electronics. Why would you do this, you ask? Mostly, convenience. And in some cases, because you’ve held on to something so long (or so bulky) that no one finds value in reselling or reusing its components.  Multiple “fill-a-box” options require you to buy a specific box for $20 or more. You then fill it up with whatever you have and mail the box in. Some services will pick up the gear from your doorstep.  Additionally, some of the electronic recycling companies that pay for newer electronics may take your older or damaged electronics, but will charge you for it, allowing one-stop convenience where you get paid for some items, are allowed to leave some without any charges, and then pay for responsible disposal of the remaining items.

The good news is that disposing of unwanted electronics is easier than ever before. The bad news is that it gets more complex daily. Try to collect all those items together in one place so that when you're ready, you and your helpers can make smart decisions on where to best send your items.

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