Where to Recycle Old Computers and Printers for Free This Spring

Got an ancient desktop gathering dust or a printer that hasn’t worked since the 2010s? It’s time to let go—sustainably. As reported by Tamara Palmer for CNET, there are several hassle-free and eco-conscious ways to recycle your old computers and printers—some even reward you for it.

Best Buy allows you to drop off up to three items (or five laptops) per household per day at no cost, though monitor recycling policies vary by state. Staples goes even further, accepting desktops, laptops, and printers for free—even if you didn’t buy them there. They also offer a free at-home battery recycling box, which has significantly boosted the number of batteries being responsibly disposed of each week.

Apple’s recycling program is also an option, though it requires you to purchase a new Apple product to qualify for free recycling. If you’d rather skip that requirement, companies like Gazelle will pay you for old MacBooks and take care of the recycling.

Office Depot and OfficeMax offer tech trade-ins that could earn you store credit. Even if your device doesn’t have any trade-in value, they’ll still recycle it for free. They also sell recycling boxes for larger hauls, though those come at a cost.

If you’re not near a big-box store, you can still find nearby recycling options using tools like Earth911’s search or the Greener Gadgets Recycle Locator.

Recycling your old tech isn’t just good for decluttering—it’s necessary. A recent UN report found that global e-waste is outpacing recycling efforts by a factor of five. That’s a huge environmental red flag.

Let this be your sign to clean out that drawer or closet. Recycle your old devices the right way—and while you’re at it, consider repairing or buying secondhand tech instead of brand-new. Less waste, more impact.

Sign These Petitions! 

Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!

• Petition: Demand Fair Pay for Port Workers While Shipping Giants Soar in Profits 
• Petition: Stop Corporate Water Waste—Act Now Before It’s Too Late
• Petition: Urge NOAA to Reinstate Protections for Endangered Whales

Related Content:

• New GAO Report Highlights the Growing Crisis of Textile Waste in the U.S.
• How “Community Fridges” Can Help People in Need and Reduce Waste
• Common Recycling Mistakes: What Not to Put in Your Bin
• California Faces Backlash Over New Plastic Recycling Bill
• Starbucks Phases Out Plastic Cups in 580 Stores Amid Recycling Concerns

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
• Shop Sustainably for Your Home: Visit SustaiNOBLE.org, an eco-friendly and ethically sourced home decor store that will empower your home with luxurious fair-trade, and sustainable products made by global artisans. 
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!