There are lots of electronic devices we use in our homes. From TVs to cables, these items can pile up over time. Today we are discussing ways to get rid of these household electronics and give you some inspiration on where to donate them. I hope this helps you get rid of your unused ones.
Let’s define home electronics, these items could be tube TVs, flatscreens, DVD players, CD changers, speakers, receivers, cables, and computers. This also includes the accessories that are purchased for these items.
First, gather all the items in one place, so you know what you want to get rid of. Electronics may not do well in cold places so try to pick a spot that is temperature controlled. But don't donate them yet. Some tasks need to be done before you donate these items.
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Some things to do before donating your home electronics.
- Some electronic manufacturers may have incentive programs to update your electronics. Check the manufacturers' websites like LG, Samsung, and HP.
- Remove batteries from the electronics.
- Delete all personal information from the devices, especially computers and Smart TVs. You can pull the manuals and see if the information on deleting the data is there. Usually, you will need to restore to factory reset to get all your personal data removed.
Now that you cleared out all your personal data, it's time to find a place to donate your items. Here are some options below.
Where to Donate Your Electronics?
There may be some donation opportunities in your area that will accept these household electronics. Check your school district, private schools, and other local municipalities' websites for details.
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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 is a way for you to sell your working items and giving 10-100% of the final sale price to the charity of your choice. Visit this page for more details.
You can also see if other family or friends want these items. If you have a friend that just bought a house, they may want one of these household electronics.
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 most likely is nationwide.
Places like Bestbuy will recycle items for a fee. Visit this BestBuy 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.
As per a colleague of mine, Linda Samuels from Oh, So Organized out of the NYC area, you can also check out TerraCycle, a national, easy-to-use recycling platform allowing everyone to recycle everything. They also have a sustainable shopping experience. When you sign up, you can review their list of Recycling Programs, and most are free. After you have collected enough of the items you are recycling, you can then go back to the recycling program in TerraCycle 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, select inkjet cartridges, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, iPads, and tablets.
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 and store them in an attic or basement. Check that area where you would store those boxes and recycle them too.
Additional things you need to know before donating household electronics:
Household broken 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. For Business and other organizations, you will need to contact the charity directly.
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 to get started.
Feel free to share this post and comment below with your suggestions on where to donate these household electronics.
Visit our Locations To Donate Your Stuff and Recycling and Shredder Event pages for more information.
Nancy Haworth
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
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
"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
I'm lucky in that my county will recycle electronics. It's very easy to drop them off at my dump.
Seana Turner
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
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
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. Here is a link: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/zero_waste_boxes/e-waste
Sabrina Quairoli
Great suggestion! Thanks, I heard of Terracycle but never used them before. I will check it out.