July 7, 2015

By Rachelle Gordon July 7, 2015

Since the invention of electricity, people have been fascinated by – and purchasing – electronic devices by the truckload. As technology has rapidly advanced over the last couple of decades, the amount of electronic waste – or e-waste, has skyrocketed. Outdated cell phones, broken stereos and virus-stricken computer towers have become quite the burden, as much of the world isn’t prepared to deal with the onslaught of this interesting garbage. The issue at hand is that many electronic devices contain different materials, some of which are toxic while some are considered valuable. So the question for many consumers tends to be: Am I better off selling my old electronics or simply recycling them?

Attempt to sell what you can to legitimate organizations

There are a plethora of companies out there willing to take your unwanted electronics, and some will even pay you a surprising amount for them. As mentioned above, lots of e-waste contains valuable materials such as copper or other precious metals. Places who buy these types of items are similar to scrap metal dealers and will give you the market rate for what they can use. Make sure the business or scrap dealer is legitimate – unfortunately, some disreputable organizations have taken to sending loads of devices overseas to be processed in unsafe conditions, committing a crime in the process. 

When it comes to earning top dollar, it’s all about more current electronics (think older smartphones, video game consoles, etc.). Most malls nowadays have kiosks that will buy your devices on the spot – you can also send them to companies like Gazelle, who will give you an estimate online and then ship you a pre-paid box for your device. Don’t forget about online classifieds such as Craigslist – one man’s trash is always another man’s treasure. However, before reselling any of your electronic devices, you’ll want to make sure they have been wiped to avoid any personal or sensitive data from being exposed.

Donate usable but unwanted items

That boom box you used to blast back in 1997 may not be your style anymore, but there are plenty of people who would gladly take it off your hands for free. Churches, schools or other nonprofits often take stereos and other older electronics for those who are less fortunate. Sure, that boom box may not have any value to you, but imagine the joy of kids getting to listen to the radio and dance! Mobile phones from the early 2000s are always wanted by nonprofits, as they can often be repaired – again, for those in need.

Recycle what’s leftover – but prepare your items properly

If you have exhausted all of your moneymaking and donation efforts (or if you simply want to be rid of your e-waste in one stop), you can always recycle electronics at special processing centers. Again, it is important to make sure the center you are taking your items to is legitimate and sustainable. Many communities now have e-waste recycling centers or certain days where unwanted electronics can be dropped off and then processed off-site. Before you fill up your trunk with that old printer and computer tower, remember both your safety and the safety of the environment. Computers – even if they seem broken – still have hard drives in them, which can contain your sensitive information. When it comes to cell phones, always reset to factory settings (again, protecting yourself and your friends here). And lastly, when it comes to printers, remove the ink before recycling. These cartridges often need special processing that cannot be done at a traditional e-waste center, but most big box office stores will accept unwanted cartridges – you may even get store credit!