Less Than 40% of Us Recycle Old Tech. Some Are Even Taking a Risky Route, CNET Finds
My iPhone 14 ProPoor battery life forced me to upgrade to a new smart phone recently. Now the old phone is at home while I come up with a plan. I could exchange it with my mobile phone provider or donate it to a charity. But the longer I wait, the more new phones come out, like the iPhone17Ewhich reduces the value of my 4 year old phone. I also thought about recycling it.
You’ve probably considered trading, donating or simply throwing away your old smartphone or compressed. But if you think most American adults recycle their e-waste responsibly, think again. CNET recently surveyed 2,638 U.S. adults about their typical plan for getting rid of old technology, and the results are concerning: 22% throw away their items and less than half (39%) recycle their devices. Throwing it away may be illegal in your state and, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, contributes to air and water pollution. Donating or recycling your e-waste is the recommended route.
Some companies, including Appleare doing their part to support a more sustainable environment by using recycled materials to make new products. Apple said 30% of the materials used in its products shipped last year came from recycled sources. Microsoft uses recycled materials for its Surface Laptops and includes more replaceable components.
Based on survey results, here’s what most American adults do with their old personal technology and what the typical e-waste management plan is. We also include a list of recycling sites to help you give new life to your old tech.
♻️ Less than half (39%) of American adults recycle technology they no longer use. Some American adults keep their old devices at home (29%), while 10% don’t know what to do with them.
♻️ 22% of American adults still throw away old technology, which is illegal in some states.
♻️ National retailers, including Best Buy and Staples, offer recycling programs to safely dispose of your unwanted appliances and gadgets.
Only 39% of American adults recycle their old devices
So what do most of us do with the devices we no longer use? CNET found that typical plans vary. You can consider factors such as the device, its condition and your personal preferences.
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Less than half (39%) of American adults recycle their old devices, with baby boomers making up almost half (48%) of this group. On the other hand, 33% of American adults give away their old technology, while 29% hide it at home.
Some U.S. adults view old technology as a way to make money by trading it in at a retailer (24%) or selling their gadgets online (18%).
There are less desirable ways to dispose of your technology. It’s not a good idea to throw away old technology, but 22% of American adults say it is. CNET’s latest findings also show that almost three in ten people (29%) hoard technology at home, with Gen Z making up 40% of this group.
Watch this: Make money by recycling old technology and let the broken iPhone go
It is better to sell, donate or recycle your e-waste than to pollute the environment with toxins and chemicals found in smartphones and tablets. Throwing one in the trash may seem like the most convenient way to dispose of it, but it may be illegal in your state.
E-waste laws have been enacted in 25 states, according to the Electronic Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse. For example, South Carolina prohibits the disposal of technologies in solid waste landfills. Computer screens, Televisions And printers must be recycled.
Best Buy and Staples are two of the many retailers that accept old personal devices.
Where to recycle your old technology
Here is a list of retailers where you can recycle or trade in your old smartphones, laptops and other personal technologies. When determining where to drop off your old gadget, check what recycling options are available from your tech manufacturer, such as Apple and HP. Your local and national recycling services, including The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle), Earth911, and Greener Gadgets, also have technology recycling programs to safely dispose of your technology based on your zip code.
Amazon Recycling Program
Amazon’s recycling program lets you trade in eligible devices to save on a new one Amazon tech gadget. If your device doesn’t qualify, you can drop off your old technology at a participating store, such as Staples. Or you can mail it with a free shipping label.
Best buy
Best Buy lets you recycle up to three accepted items per household per day for free. It also offers a transport service to get rid of your old technology as a standalone service. Best Buy can remove and recycle up to two large products and an unlimited selection of small products for $200. There are restrictions, such as not being able to bring fitness equipment. You can also order a mailbox from Best Buy and fill it to the weight limit with accepted electronics and ship it to a UPS store using a prepaid shipping label.
Green drop
GreenDrop accepts various technology items on behalf of its non-profit organizations. However, large appliances, televisions, monitors and medical equipment are not accepted. Call your local GreenDrop about your specific device before dropping it off. Donations are tax deductible.
Smartphone recycling
Smartphone Recycling is a wholesale recycling and exchange program that allows you to recycle smartphones and tablets. You can ship your old phone, computer, and tablet using a FedEx shipping label. Smartphone Recycling can pay you up to $400 for your old devices, including locked and damaged ones.
Staples
You can earn Staples Easy Rewards by recycling tech devices online and in-store. Points can be redeemed for savings on purchases. Staples also offers mail-in recycling kits to ship your tech starting at around $14, and you can receive e-gift cards when you trade in an eligible device in stores only. There are a few restricted items and Staples charges a fee for recycling monitors.
Target
Target offers a trade-in program that allows you to trade in your old technology for a Target e-gift card based on the value of your device. The gift card can be used at Target stores, Target.com, Target Tech kiosks, Target Optical and Target store merchants.
Eligible trade-in items include hearing aids, mobile phones, MP3 players, tablets, smart speakers, video game consoles and games, and portable devices. The program is only available online.
What to do before throwing away your old technology
Before recycling, selling or donating your old device, there are a few steps you should follow.
First of all, make sure to backup all important data, such as files and photos, using cloud storage or a external hard drive. If you downloaded software, be sure to write down all license keys. Then restore your device to its original state by performing a factory reset. This operation cleans all personal information, software and files restoring the phone to its original state.
If you plan to donate or recycle your device, check for special instructions for safely disposing of your e-waste. Some tablets, phones and laptops use lithium-ion batteries which can pose a significant fire risk if damaged or not disposed of properly. The EPA also has a directory listing hazardous rechargeable batteries and where to dispose of them by zip code.
For other ways to get rid of unwanted tech, watch the video below for charities that accept unwanted electronics and what to know first. sell your used technology at a fair price.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov PLC to conduct the investigation. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov PLC. The total sample size was 2,638 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from April 10 to 14, 2026 and the survey was conducted online. The numbers have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults aged 18 or older.
