It's hard to let go of your old technology. Whether you're sitting around an old laptop, desktop or printer, you can use the space it takes up in your home. If you are doing spring cleaning now, you can easily and sustainably choose to handle these options.
A CNET survey released on Monday showed that 31% of adults in the U.S. are still using their unused old devices, including laptops, because they are not sure what to do. The survey also found that 29% of respondents used recycling services to deal with old technology, while 19% were throwing old equipment into the trash. However, throwing away old equipment is actually illegal and can be fined in some states.
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Recycling computers and printers is as easy as bringing them to major retailers like Best Buy, Office Depot and Staples. Some stores even get credible for you to uninstall old devices, as difficult as letting them go.
Here is what you need to know about recycling old techniques. For more information, learn how to recycle old phones.
What to do before recycling old computers
No matter where you choose to reclaim it or mail it for recycling, you need to delete the data as much as possible to protect your data. One way is to perform factory settings on your computer. Our guide takes you through the entire process.
Where to Recycle Printers and Computers
Some retail stores will accept computers and printers for recycling, but they are not always free of charge. Policies vary by company.
Apple Store
You can recycle old Apple computers, monitors, and peripherals such as printers for free in the Apple Store, but there is an expensive gain. Under the Apple Free Recycling program, you must also purchase a qualified Apple computer or monitor to receive this service. Need another option? A third-party company called Gazelle bought the old one MacBooks Recycle them. After accepting the quote from the gazelle, you print out the prepaid label or request the prepaid box and then ship the machine to them.
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Best Buy Store
Best Buy usually accepts the most free daily household items recycled up to a day, including desktop computers and printers, and other items from e-readers to vacuum cleaners. While most items have three restrictions, laptops have higher standards – Best Buy needs five per day. Note that the rules for putting down the monitor vary from state to state, and it is not always free to do so. Best Buy also offers mail recycling services for certain items, but this is not free either. A small box with a capacity of up to 6 pounds costs $23, while a large box (up to 15 pounds) costs $30.
Office Depot Store
Office Depot and OfficeMax were merged in 2013. The retailer offers a technology transaction program both in-store and online where you can get a store gift card in exchange for an old computer and printer. If the device has no transaction value, the company will recycle it for free. Office Depot also sells its own technology recycling boxes, which you can fill in electronics for recycling and then get off at the store, but they are not free. Small box Cost is $8.39 And hold 20 pounds, medium Cost $18.29 And hold 40 pounds, big box Priced at $28 And hold up to 60 pounds.
Staple food store
You can bring old desktop computers, laptops, printers, etc. to the staple checkout counter, and you can recycle it for free even if they don't buy it there. The retailer also has a free at-home battery recycling box that allows customers to recycle thousands of batteries a week, up from 50 earlier per week, according to staple food representatives. Here is a list of everything that can be recycled in Staples.
Read more: How to factory reset your MacBook, Windows laptop, or Chromebook
How to find an electronic recycling center
If you don't live near major retailers, or would rather bring your computer and printer to a recycling center, you can find nearby places using the search tools provided by Earth911 and the Consumer Technology Association.
Earth911 Recycling Center
Use the Recycling Center search feature on Earth911 to find a recycling center near your postal code that can receive laptops, desktops and printers. Note that the results may also start where the phone is accepted instead of the computer or printer, so you may need to do some filtering.
Green gadget recycling center
Consult Consumer Technology Association’s Green Gadget Recycling Locator to find your local recycling center in your area to adopt old items. The search feature also allows you to filter results to find where you compare your computer to your printer separately.
