I’ve been accumulating old electronics for about a decade now and I really need to safely dispose of them at this point. I know some cities have drop off spots for recycling, but the one near me charges a fee and appears to cater to business clients. Obviously I’m against tossing them in the bin. It’s small things, like an old iPod touch, Bluetooth speaker etc. What do you all do with your old Ewaste?
Edit: Whew. I’m tired after a long day of…you guessed it…work. Great suggestions in this thread. Thanks y’all!
Recently I’ve found a place called ‘Free Geek’ that is pretty much a tech-specific thrift shop/non-profit aiming to help eliminate digital divides.
When I first started learning I would go to a lot of second hand stores and just buy old systems to take them apart and see what could be made for a few bucks each, now that I have plenty of my own it’s time to give back to such places.
Free Geek is awesome, but they’re only in a few cities, I know about the ones in Minneapolis and Portland.
RIP Freegeek Chicago :(
There’s one like it in the sf bay area. Called Oakland technology exchange East.
I have a bunch of old microwaves so sometimes I but batteries and other stuff and see what happens. If it’s a full pc, I save it until I need to relieve some stress and beat it to pieces with a shovel in my shop. After that I sometimes light it on fire. Whatever floats your boat!
Not admitting to nothing, but the scene in Office Space where they beat a printer to death; well, a 2x4 in '98 works just like a bat.
That happened.
That’s not very environmentally friendly.
I’m a big fan of taking old electroics, taking them apart, and then organizing them neatly in a frame, like this example.
If you are going to keep electronics however, I definitely recommend removing the battery and recycling it. Phones aren’t fire hazards but batteries definitely are, especially the ones in the old iPods.
I’m a big fan of taking old electroics, taking them apart, and then organizing them neatly in a frame, like this example
that’s so cool
Already been said, but that really is so cool 😎
It really depends on the type of waste and possible usefulness. I generally do a cellphone trade-in when getting a new device. I like to tinker so, for other devices, I will tend to hold onto them to disassemble for future project components. For lithium ion batteries, generally, you need to bring them to a household hazardous waste facility or, some electronics stores, like Best Buy, may offer collection.
I know that there’s a place at UCLA where you can drop them on certain days, run by the LA Sanitation Department, but I tried googling and it was buried under listings that, like you said, charge a fee and cater to businesses. (They’re interested in 20 computers, not your meager hoard.) So maybe your city does have something but it’s listed under Hazardous Waste. If you already know where to drop old solvents and meds, it might be there or they might know.
In a bag. Under the stairs. Know as the tech graveyard
you could gift/sell them, maybe you’ll find some interested collector
I keep a few old phones as spares but if I don’t use them, they get recycled. I have a ton of electronics that aren’t used, but could still be for the right project. It’s nice to have parts whenever you need them.
I would perform exploratory surgery before discarding it.
I keep them in case I need them in the future.
Check your local recycling centers to see if they take it. My local one takes ewaste for free (as well as water-based paint, motor oil, cardboard, paper, metal, and probably others). The local garbage company takes old batteries for free, you just need to put them in a Ziplock bag on top of the bin on collection day.
I recall official (not 3rd party) Verizon stores having a receptacle for old phone disposal. Even try AT&T or T Mobile as old electronic disposal is quite routine for all three.
Most of mine are old computer components. I’ve taken some of them and made a home server, and the rest I keep around for builds for friends and family. Everything else I put in a bin for future projects
If these items still work, there’s lots of people in homeless shelters who’d be grateful. Maybe dump small box in front of shelter during day, or ask staff if any of their clients could use them
When my laptops die, I take them apart to find the hard drive, which I then turn to an external drive. Just put it inside an enclosure, good to go.
Try checking out laptop repair stores, not big chains. The mom n pop ones. Often they can use parts.
And, cuz I’m weird, sometimes I disassemble, turn them into art, as part of larger mixed media projects.
Where I live, there’s a nonprofit that takes old electronics and laptops, has volunteers repair them, who get work experience. Worthy cause
If you have old batteries or something like a UPS that is mostly a battery you can (and should) take it to a battery recycling center. A general recycling center near me does that, but also some stores like Best Buy will collect and recycle them too. Years ago I dropped off a non-functioning UPS there and it was super simple. I would have felt terrible throwing that away in the trash.
