We use many electronic devices at home. From TVs to cables, these items can pile up over time. Today, we'll discuss ways to get rid of these household electronics and offer some inspiration for where to donate them. I hope this helps you get rid of your unused ones.
Let's define home electronics. These items include tube TVs, flat screens, DVD players, CD changers, speakers, receivers, cables, and computers (affiliate), as well as the accessories purchased for them.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Gather all household electronics in one place to assess what to donate.
- Before donating, protect your privacy by wiping data from devices and removing batteries.
- Conduct a Hidden Value Audit to extract cash by selling components like chargers and remotes before donating.
- Explore donation options like Goodwill, eBay Giving Works, and local schools to find the right place for your items.
- Consider recycling broken electronics through programs like Best Buy or TerraCycle if you can't donate them.
Jump to:
- Key Takeaways
- Some things to do before donating your home electronics.
- The Hidden Value Audit: How to Extract Maximum Financial Return Before Recycling
- Where to Donate Your Electronics?
- Places to donate electronics for a fee:
- Get rid of the cardboard boxes, too.
- Additional things you need to know before donating household electronics:
- FAQs
First, gather all items in one place so you know what you want to get rid of. Electronics may not do well in cold places, so choose a temperature-controlled spot. But don't donate them yet. You may need to do a few things before donating these items.
Some things to do before donating your home electronics.
Before donating anything, review this section first to protect yourself and your family. And maybe even get a little money back for the item instead of donating it for free.
Some electronics manufacturers may offer incentive programs to update your devices. Check the manufacturers' websites, such as LG, Samsung, and HP.
Remove batteries from the electronics.
Before you start, protect your privacy by following these steps.
- For hard disk drives, we recommend overwriting the drive (e.g., with DBAN AKA Darik's Boot and Nuke. Get a copy for free at dban.org). Or removing it entirely before recycling the rest of the laptop.
- For solid-state drives, a secure crypto-erase is usually sufficient, but physical (affiliate) destruction is best if the drive is completely dead.
Below are a few things to do before donating your home electronics. The table below shows the time required, the data-deletion method, and the device it applies to.
Data Deletion Methods by Device Type
| Device Type | Data Deletion Method | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Smart TV | Factory reset + sign out of all apps | 5-10 minutes |
| Computer (affiliate)/Laptop | DBAN software or OS reinstall | 2-4 hours |
| Smartphone/Tablet | Remove accounts + factory reset | 10-15 minutes |
| Gaming Console | Deactivate as primary + initialize | 15-20 minutes |
| DVD/Blu-ray Player | No data deletion needed | N/A |
Now that you have cleared out all your data, it's time to find a place to donate your items. Below are some options.
The Hidden Value Audit: How to Extract Maximum Financial Return Before Recycling
Most people don't realize that their old electronics contain components worth significantly more than the device itself. Before you donate or recycle, conduct a simple value audit that could put cash back in your pocket. Below is a 72-hour value extraction test.
Day 1 Component Separation:
Remove original equipment manufacturer accessories like original charging cables. These can sell individually for $10-$25 for Apple or specialized laptop chargers. Generic micro-USB or older charging cables are practically worthless ($1-$2) because of market saturation. Remote controls can sell for $8.00 to $15.00 each. Camera accessories and attachments can sell for more than the main device.
Day 2 Market Comparison:
Check "sold" listings on eBay for your exact model number. These numbers are usually on the device. Non-working devices often sell for parts at 15-30% of the original retail value. A broken MacBook or a high-end gaming laptop might fetch $75-$150 just for the screen, keyboard, and hard drive. Older Windows laptops with broken screens often sell for closer to $20-$50.
Day 3 Strategic Selling:
High-value items like high-end cameras or recent smartphones are prime targets for scams on Facebook Marketplace. This could include fake payment screenshots, unsafe meetups, etc. Instead, sellers prefer eBay and Swappa for high-value electronics because of buyer protection, selling ratings, and shipping security.
Important Notes before selling
Allow a hard-stop deadline if you do decide to sell these items. Give yourself 1 month so that the item doesn't linger in your home and get forgotten. I have seen this so many times. Something doesn't sell, and then we review the cluttered space again, and it is still there, buried under the other pile of stuff.
Another reminder: remove batteries from electronic devices before donating. Below is a table about battery removal and whether it is easy or hard in different electronics. It shows the device, battery location, and whether it is easy or difficult.
Battery Removal Quick Reference Guide
| Device | Battery Location | Removal Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Controls | Back panel slide-off cover | Easy |
| Laptops (older models) | Bottom with release latches | Easy |
| Laptops (newer models) | Internal (requires screwdriver (affiliate)) | Moderate |
| Tablets (affiliate)/Smartphones | Sealed internal (non-removable) | Leave in device |
| Wireless Keyboards/Mice | Bottom compartment | Easy |
Where to Donate Your Electronics?
Now that you've decided to donate, check out the locations below.
Donation opportunities in your area may accept these household electronics. Check your school district, private schools, and other local municipalities for details.
Goodwill and Dell are working together to recycle unwanted devices and related accessories. You can drop them off at selected Goodwill locations. Visit this link to find a Goodwill location near you.
The eBay Giving Works website allows you to sell your working items and donate 10-100% of the final sale price to the charity of your choice. Visit this eBay page for more details.
You can also see if other family or friends want these items. If you have a friend who just bought a house, they may want one of these household electronics.
Did you know some places accept broken items? Check out the table below.
Electronics Donation & Recycling Programs Compared
| Program | Accepts Broken Items | Tax Deductible |
|---|---|---|
| Goodwill / Dell Reconnect | Yes | Yes |
| eBay Giving Works / For Charity | Only if sellable | Yes (on donated portion) |
| School Districts | Usually no | Yes |
| Best Buy Recycling | Yes (with fee) | No |
| TerraCycle | Depends on program | No |
Places to donate electronics for a fee:
There are probably plenty of places throughout the United States where you can go to recycle household electronics for a fee, so I am sharing the one I found that is most likely available nationwide.
Places like Best Buy will recycle items for a fee. Visit this Best Buy Electronics and Appliances Recycling page to determine if your household electronics are recyclable.
If you are in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Region, check out The Junkluggers of Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties' website for details on what they recycle.
Check out TerraCycle, a national, easy-to-use recycling platform that lets everyone recycle everything. They also have a sustainable shopping experience. When you sign up, you can review their Recycling Programs list; most are free. After you collect enough items to recycle, you can return them to the TerraCycle recycling program and get a free shipping slip. They have an electronic waste recycling program. You can sign up for free and recycle standard cell phones, smartphones, iPhones, and select inkjet cartridges, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, iPads, and tablets (affiliate).
Below is a table that compares Best Buy and local hauler averages.
Fee-Based Recycling Cost Comparison
| Item Type | Best Buy Fee Range | Local Hauler Average |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Screen TV (under 32") | $29.99 | $40-75 |
| CRT TV / Monitor | $29.99 | $50-100 |
| Desktop Computer (affiliate) | Free | $20-35 |
| Small Electronics (cables, etc.) | Free | Free-$15 |
| Printers (affiliate) | Free | $15-30 |
Get rid of the cardboard boxes, too.
And don't forget to review the electronic cardboard boxes section of your house. Some people save the boxes (affiliate) and store them in an attic or basement. Check where you store those boxes (affiliate) and recycle them there, too.
Additional things you need to know before donating household electronics:
Broken household electronics may need to be disposed of at a recycling center for a fee.
Remember, the donation programs through stores and other fundraisers are primarily for residents ONLY. Businesses and other organizations must contact the charity directly.
Visit our Locations To Donate Your Stuff and Recycling and Shredder Event pages for more information.
FAQs
Yes. Factory reset TVs and sign out of apps; use DBAN (free at dban.org) or reinstall the OS on computers/laptops; remove accounts and factory reset phones/tablets; and deactivate/initialize gaming consoles. DVD/Blu-ray players don't require any data wipe. Also pull out any batteries first.
Yes, try the "Hidden Value Audit": separate out chargers and remotes (they often sell individually for $8-$25), check eBay's sold listings to gauge your device's resale value, then sell through eBay or Swappa within a set timeframe (about a month) so items don't linger unsold.
Goodwill (via Dell Reconnect, dellreconnect.com) takes both working and broken items and offers tax deductions. eBay Giving Works lets you sell items and donate a portion of proceeds to a charity of your choice. School districts often accept working electronics for educational use, and friends/family are always an option for functional devices.
Broken items generally aren't accepted for free donation and need paid recycling instead. Options include Best Buy (fees vary by item, e.g., ~$29.99 for TVs, free for desktops and small electronics), TerraCycle's free recycling program for phones/laptops/tablets, or local haulers ($15-$100 depending on the item).
The post advises against it for higher-value items, since Facebook Marketplace carries more scam risk than platforms like eBay or Swappa, which offer buyer/seller protections.
Well, there you have it. I hope this post gives you inspiration and helps you get rid of your unwanted household electronics. Hopefully, you can find a home for your item, but if not, at least you have some ideas to help you get started.
Feel free to share this post and comment below with your suggestions on where to donate these household electronics.
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Nancy Haworth says
Thank you for these wonderful tips about recycling electronics. It is so important to clear off personal information from these devices before recycling or donating them! I always suggest my clients collect all electronics together, so they only need to make one trip. In my area, we have a non-profit that accepts most old computers, then refurbishes them for students in need. I love donating to a cause like that!
Julie Bestry says
Thanks for all of the excellent advice! For myself and my clients, recycling (or reselling) the smaller electronics isn't hard, but I've got THREE (don't ask) old bubble-style TVs in my own home that aren't going anywhere quickly. Junk removal places want hundreds to take them away, and they're all on the second floor. All my smaller electronics get reset to factory settings and out the door, sold or recycled, as soon as they are replaced, but these big, old, heavy TVs? Oy, vey!
Janet Barclay says
"I don't have any unused electronics," she says, before she spots her laptop across the room, the one that was replaced nearly two years ago. Hmm...
Janet Schiesl says
I'm lucky in that my county will recycle electronics. It's very easy to drop them off at my dump.
Seana Turner says
Almost every home I enter faces this challenge. We are fortunate to have a transfer station that accepts all old electronics, but as you point it, it is important to "clean" them first. I do think that options for recycling are emerging at businesses like Best Buy, and sometimes you even get a store credit!
Sabrina Quairoli says
That's great! Glad to hear it. I found it has been difficult to find recycling centers for things like TVs in Pennsylvania. So, this sparked the idea for the post. =)
Linda Samuels says
Electronics recycling has become a more significant challenge over the close to three decades I've been organizing. Our devices have brought some convenience to our lives. They have also brought problems when it comes to their disposal. So often, clients have piles of no longer used devices, cords, and other equipment that sits without a plan to let go of them. Our county has a free recycling center that takes things like electronic waste, chemicals, and more. It's worth checking to see if other counties offer that. There are many paid-for recycling services where you pay for a pre-paid shipping box and then can ship your items directly to the vendor. In turn, they will dispose of them responsibly. Terracycle is one company that recycles electronics and many other things too.
Sabrina Quairoli says
Great suggestion! Thanks, I heard of Terracycle but never used them before. I will check it out.