What to do with Outdated Electronics

Junk.com offers same-day junk removal to clear out the clutter, including old outdated electronics like office computer monitors.

Tech seems to move faster than the speed of light these days. Just as you buy the latest, largest flatscreen TV on the market, there’s another one even bigger and flashier hitting the store shelves before you can unbox your now-outdated purchase.

What should you do with your old electronics when you make an upgrade? Tossing your tech out with the bulk trash is exceptionally wasteful, not to mention detrimental to the environment. 

Here are 5 great options for getting rid of your outdated electronics like televisions, computers, monitors, phones, tablets, and more.

1. Make an Electronics Trade In

Best for: Devices that still function well, have minimal damage, and are less than 5 years old.

Get some cash or a gift card for your old device and put that money toward your next electronic purchase or just pocket the money for a rainy day. Some of these retailors will accept certain popular devices even if they no longer function, but you will get more money for fully functional devices. 

• Costco: This big-box warehouse retailer offers store credit for your old devices, depending on their condition.

• Staples: Store gift cards or credit toward a new purchase.

• Best Buy: Get store gift cards, credit towards a new purchase, or credit back on installment billing from your devices if they are in the Trade-In estimator tool.

• Walmart: Turn your old electronics into Walmart gift cards. Just fetch an offer, mail your device in, and get an eGift card sent to your email after you device gets evaluated.

• Amazon: Gift cards and additional discounts toward new devices purchased on Amazon. Accepts ereaders, cell phones, tablets, home security systems, and game consoles. 

• EcoATM: Get quick cash for old phones and tablets at kiosks all across the nation. Other electronic devices like laptops, desktops, and smart watches can be sent through their mail-in service.

• Back Market: This site sells refurbished electronics in order to lengthen the lifespans of our tech and combat e-waste. Get cash for old phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other used electronics. 

2. Sell Electronics Yourself

Best for: Devices of any age that still function well and have minimal damage.  

You might get more cash for your electronic devices if you take on the task of selling the items yourself. The trade-in retailors might not accept or offer much for older devices, but if you widen your pool of buyers you’re more likely to find someone willing to pay your asking price.

Here are a few places to sell electronics yourself.

• Local Consignment Stores and Pawn Shops: There might be a local shop down the block that can take your device and give you cash. Check businesses around your area and ask the owners about your device.

• Garage Sales: Offload lots of old clutter including your outdated electronics. Just watch out for leftover items after the sale. 

• eBay: Connecting buyers and sellers around the world since 1995. Sell in an auction or use the instant sale market.

• Craigslist: List an ad for your item on your local Craigslist page.

• Swappa: No broken items allowed! Buy and sell used electronics with other verified users.

• OfferUp: Connect to buyers in your area and swap those old electronics for cash.

• Mercari: Sell your electronic device to anyone in the US.

• Facebook Marketplace: Trade items with friends, family, neighbors, and strangers by listing your item for sale on this popular social media site.

3. Donate Electronics to a Charity

Best for: Devices of any age that still function well and have minimal damage.

Make your electronic device do someone some good by donating it to a charity. Sometimes you can get a nice tax deduction for your old devices, and you can walk away from the transaction feeling like you’re making a difference in someone’s life.

• Local Charity: Got a charity nearby that’s supporting a cause close to your heart? You can find local homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, or any other type of nonprofit in your area and check out what their needs are. Contact them and ask if they’d like your old electronics.

• Goodwill: This national charity has convenient drop-off locations all across the nation. Gather your items in good condition including your old electronics and make a quick, easy donation run. 

• Salvation Army: This nationwide social services charity has donation drop-off locations and offers pickup of large donations. 

4. Give Electronics Away For Free

Best for: Devices of any age in fair condition that still function well.

If you’d like just a little bit more control over who gets your item, then you can choose who to give the item to out of a pool of interested parties. You might help someone in need and you’ll keep your item out of the landfills a little longer.

• Your Local Social Media Group: Got a community group for a church, gym, neighborhood, or book club on reddit, Facebook, Instagram, NextDoor, or another social media app? Try offering your old electronic device to this community to see if anyone’s eager to take it off your hands.

• Facebook Marketplace: If you can’t get any takers selling your item on Facebook Marketplace, you can reduce your price to zero and see if anyone looking for a freebie pops out of the woodwork.

• Freecycle: This nonprofit group connects people giving items away with people who want free items in an effort to keep items in good condition out of landfills.

• Buy Nothing Groups: Buy-nothing groups were founded on the principle of reducing waste and helping others find free items that they need. Get connected to a local buy-nothing group in your area by searching on the official buy-nothing website, and then offer your electronic device to the community.

5. Repurpose Your Electronics

Best for: Devices of any age in fair condition that still function well.

Sometimes you don’t need to get rid of an item just yet when there’s a need it can fill. Devices that still work or work partially can be used in another area of your home or business.

• Digital Signs: Flatscreen TVs and other monitors can be used to display information at conferences, restaurants, or business lobbies. 

• Security Cameras: Old phones and webcams that still work can help keep your home safer. Set up the old phone or webcam in an area of interest in your home and use it to keep an eye on things.

• Digital Picture Frames: Tablets you are no longer using can be set up across your home to scroll through your favorite pictures.

• Testing Software: Keep your old computers working for you a little while longer by using them to test new software before you roll out the update across your newer machines.

6. Recycle Your Electronics

Best for: Devices that are damaged, dysfunctional, in poor condition, or more than 15 years old.

Are your old electronics broken? TV fell on its face, smart phone screen cracked, and computer monitor up and decided it would never turn on again? If your electronic item is dysfunctional and cannot be repaired, then e-waste recycling is your best bet.

• Best Buy: This retail giant is doing its part to lighten the e-waste load by taking electronics in for recycling. Keep in mind that there may be a charge for the recycling of large devices like televisions, and that there is a limit of 3 items per household per day.

• Earth911: Find out where and how to recycle your old electronics in this massive recycling database.

• Staples: Get rewards points for bringing in your old electronics for recycling. 

7. Upcycle Your Electronics

Best for: Devices that are damaged, dysfunctional, in poor condition, or more than 15 years old.

Why toss your electronics when you can upcycle them into a new creation? Your first computer holds a sentimental place in your heart and you can hang onto it in a different form for however long you decide to keep it.

• Jewelry: Circuit boards and old electronic parts can make fun earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

• Art Pieces: Make a crazy electronic-themed mural for your computer repair business lobby or show a sculpture of wires and keys at your next local art show.

• Terrariums and Aquariums: Old monitors and transparent desktop shells can make fun places for your plants or fish. 

• Pet Furniture: Create a cozy space for your kitty to curl up by reusing the shell of your old desktop or monitor.

8. Call For Junk Removal

Best for: Large electronic devices in any condition.

What about when you have a large number of bulky electronics to get rid of? If you’ve upgraded the business computers at your office, swapped out your menu monitors for your restaurant, or declared your massive home entertainment system so last year then you’re left with a legion of cumbersome e-waste.

You can call Junk.com and leave all the headaches of sorting and responsible disposal to your junk hauling experts. Junk.com prioritizes donation and recycling of salvaged junk, so you can feel confident that your old monitors could find another home or at least will be disposed of with the utmost respect to the environment.

Eco-Conscious Electronic Disposal

By donating, re-selling, recycling, and repurposing your old electronics, you can help protect the environment for generations to come.

Junk.com would be delighted to partner with you in helping to create a more sustainable future. If you’ve got outdated electronics, old furniture, broken appliances, or any other bulk item you need gone then you can get same-day junk removal at Junk.com. Just call (844) 771-6830 or click Book Now to schedule your no-obligation estimate.