What to do with old electronics comes down to one question. Does it still work? If it works and is fairly recent, sell it or donate it. If it is broken or very old, recycle it with a certified e-waste recycler. Never put it in the trash, because California bans electronics from household garbage. Back up and sign out first.
Most homes have a mix. A TV in the garage, two laptops in a closet, a drawer of chargers nobody can match to anything. Below, we take each common item in turn and tell you the usual best route, what to watch out for and where it can go. Skip straight to your item if you only have one thing to clear.
We run an e-waste recycler in San Diego County, so we see these piles every day. We also name the other options honestly, because the right answer for a working laptop is often not a recycler at all.
The quick rule for old electronics
The fastest way to decide what to do with old electronics is to sort them into four piles. Each pile has one job to do before the device goes anywhere.
| Pile | When it fits | Do this first |
|---|---|---|
| Keep | It still earns its place as a spare, a second screen or a backup | Label it and store it with its charger |
| Sell or trade in | It works, it is fairly recent and people still buy that model | Back up, sign out and reset it |
| Donate | It works but is not worth the effort of selling | Call the charity first to check what they take |
| Recycle | It is broken, very old, or nobody wants it | Back up anything you need and sign out |
There is no fixed age where a device stops being worth selling. As a rough rule, phones, laptops and tablets from the last few years usually have some resale value. Older ones rarely do, unless they are a model collectors want.
What to do with old electronics that still work
When you are deciding what to do with old electronics that still work, use them again if you can. The US EPA says preventing waste in the first place beats any other option, recycling included, and that donating working electronics extends their life. A working device you sell or give away does more good than the same device shredded for metal.
If you plan to sell, do it soon. Resale value on most electronics drops every year the device sits in a drawer.
What to do with old electronics that don't work
Knowing what to do with old electronics that don't work is simpler. Recycle them. Repair is worth a look only for a recent, expensive device where the fix is simple, like a cracked phone screen or a worn battery. For most broken items, the honest answer is a certified e-waste recycler, where the parts and metals can be recovered and the hazardous bits handled properly.
Can you throw old electronics in the trash?
No. CalRecycle's guidance on household hazardous waste says plainly, "Do not throw electronic devices in the trash!" and names TVs and monitors among the items banned from household garbage. Batteries and fluorescent lamps are on the same list.
The reason is what is inside. Many devices contain parts that are hazardous when broken, and CalRecycle treats nonfunctioning tube (CRT) screens and the mercury bulbs in some older screens as hazardous waste. If you want the legal detail, read our post on whether it's legal to throw electronics away in California.
Before old electronics leave the house
Whatever you decide to do with old electronics, a few minutes of prep protects your data and makes the device easier to reuse. The EPA advises deleting personal information and removing batteries before you donate or recycle, and the FTC gives similar steps for phones.
- Back up photos, documents and anything else you want to keep.
- Sign out of your accounts, such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, and turn off any find-my-device feature.
- Remove SIM and memory cards from phones, tablets and cameras.
- Take out loose batteries that pop out easily, like the AA cells in a remote. Leave built-in batteries where they are.
- Gather the chargers and cables so they go to the same place.
At a certified recycler, the drive or memory is wiped or destroyed for you. At Dream, every data-bearing device is wiped and data-destroyed by default. You still need to sign out, though. A phone or laptop still locked to your account can't be reset by anyone, so it can only be recycled for materials and never reused.
What to do with old electronics, item by item
This table sums up what to do with old electronics in one place. Find your item, then read its short section below for the details.
| Item | Usual best route | Do this first | Where it can go |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV | Sell or donate if recent, otherwise recycle | Sign out of apps and factory reset | E-waste recycler or collection event |
| Computer monitor | Recycle unless it is recent | Nothing, just unplug it | E-waste recycler |
| Desktop computer | Sell or donate if recent, otherwise recycle | Back up and sign out | E-waste recycler |
| Laptop | Sell or trade in if recent, otherwise recycle | Back up, sign out, leave the battery in | E-waste recycler |
| Phone or tablet | Trade in if it has value, otherwise recycle | Back up, sign out, remove the SIM | Trade-in program or e-waste recycler |
| Printer and ink | Recycle | Leave cartridges in the printer | E-waste recycler |
| Cables and chargers | Keep a few spares, recycle the rest | Nothing, no sorting needed | E-waste recycler |
| Game console | Sell if it has retro value, otherwise recycle | Sign out of the console account | Resale or e-waste recycler |
| Smart speaker or camera | Recycle | Remove it from the app | E-waste recycler |
| Small kitchen appliance | Donate if it works, otherwise recycle | Empty and clean it | E-waste or appliance recycler |
| Household batteries | Recycle separately | Tape the ends of lithium cells | Battery collection point |
| Fluorescent bulbs | Recycle separately | Keep them unbroken | Bulb collection point |
What to do with an old TV
A recent flat-screen that still works can be sold or given away locally. Shipping a TV is rarely practical. Older and broken sets go to an e-waste recycler.
Watch out for tube (CRT) TVs. They are deep, very heavy and contain leaded glass, so never try to break one up or take it apart. If the tube glass is cracked, call the recycler before you travel. Our guide on how to dispose of an old TV covers tube sets, broken screens and safe lifting in detail.
In San Diego County, we take TVs of any size, type or condition, and our page on free TV recycling explains how it works. Bring the remote, stand and cables too. Take the batteries out of the remote first.
Old computer monitors
Monitors follow the same route as TVs. A recent flat monitor is easy to give away as a second screen. Older ones and anything broken go to a recycler.
Watch out for old CRT monitors, which carry the same leaded glass as tube TVs. Keep them in one piece. Our monitor recycling details apply to every kind of screen, from ultrawide panels to old tube monitors, and monitors are free at all six of our locations.
What to do with an old desktop computer
A desktop from the last few years can often be sold or donated, especially with its keyboard and mouse. Older towers are best recycled.
Watch out for the drive. It is the only part that holds your files, so back up what you need before it goes. If you have a box of loose parts, like old drives, memory or power supplies, they can go to the same recycler. Macs and iMacs follow the same route, but sign out of your Apple Account and turn off Find My first.
Our computer recycling page covers towers, all-in-ones and loose parts. Every data-bearing device we take is wiped and data-destroyed by default.
What to do with an old laptop
Laptops lose resale value fast, so sell or trade in early if the model is recent. If it is slow, broken or years old, recycle it.
Watch out for the battery. Most modern laptops have a lithium-ion battery sealed inside. Leave it there, because prying it out can puncture the cell and start a fire. A good recycler removes it under controlled conditions. If you want to clear your files yourself first, read how to wipe a laptop before recycling.
To recycle an old laptop with us, bring it in whole, with the charger. A swollen battery still inside the laptop is fine. A loose swollen battery is not, and it goes to the City instead (see the battery note below).
Old phones and tablets
If the phone or tablet still has value, a trade-in program or a resale site usually beats recycling. Otherwise, recycle it. Either way, back up, sign out of your Apple or Google account, and take out the SIM and memory card.
Do not put a phone in the trash or the blue bin. The battery inside can catch fire if it is crushed. You can drop it off for free at any of our six locations, along with its charger.
What to do with an old printer and ink cartridges
Printers rarely sell, so recycling is usually the answer. Inkjets, laser printers, all-in-ones and scanners can all go, working or not.
Watch out for loose toner. Sealed cartridges are fine, but spilled toner powder needs different handling, so call first if a cartridge has split. Leave cartridges inside the printer when you bring it in. A small fee applies to loose cartridges dropped off on their own, and our printer recycling page lists it, along with free mail-back options for loose ones.
3D printers are electronics too. Bring the machine with its cables, and keep spools of filament separate.
What to do with old cables and chargers
Nearly every home has a drawer of tangled cords. Before you clear it, keep a couple of good USB-C cables and one spare charger. The rest can go.
You don't need to untangle them, sort them or cut off the plugs. Chargers and power bricks contain small circuit boards, so they count as e-waste and don't belong in the trash. You can recycle old cables and chargers at any of our six locations. Most cables are free, and the page lists the few types that carry a small fee.
Old game consoles and controllers
Check resale value first. Some older consoles and games are wanted by retro collectors, while most recent ones sell easily if they work. Look up completed sales for your model before you decide.
Watch out for your account. Sign out of the console's online account and remove any saved payment card. Take the batteries out of wireless controllers that use AA cells. If nobody wants it, a console, its controllers and cables all go to an e-waste recycler together.
Smart speakers, cameras, doorbells and other smart-home gadgets
These are small, but they are tied to your accounts. Before recycling, remove each device from its app or account and factory reset it if it still powers on. That stops the next person from linking it, and it keeps your history private.
Once the device is removed from your account, it goes to an e-waste recycler with the rest of the pile. Doorbell batteries and spare camera batteries should come out first if they are removable.
Small appliances and other things with a plug
Toasters, kettles, blenders, fans and coffee makers can be donated if they work. If not, recycle them. The general rule is simple. If it has a plug, a cable or a battery, an e-waste recycler can almost certainly take it.
Most small appliances are free with us. Microwaves, vacuums and full-size appliances carry a small fee and go to a recycling center, not the electronics-only drop-off locations. Full-size appliances go to Point Loma or Chula Vista. Fridges, freezers and AC units need the refrigerant removed by a certified technician first. You can see everything we accept before you load the car.
Batteries, bulbs and appliances with refrigerant
These need different handling from the rest of the pile. Loose household batteries go to a battery collection point, and our guide on how to dispose of batteries in California covers each type. We take rechargeable and single-use household batteries at our three recycling centers, and our battery recycling page explains which ones carry a small fee. Fluorescent tubes and bulbs go to our Point Loma or Chula Vista recycling centers, and our fluorescent light bulb recycling page explains how. Keep them unbroken. Damaged, swollen or leaking loose batteries are something we can't take. Those go to the City of San Diego Miramar Recycling Center, by appointment through the City website.
Your options for old electronics in San Diego
If you are wondering what to do with old electronics in San Diego, you have more than one route, and the best one depends on the item. These are the main options, with what each official source says.
- City of San Diego. The City's Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility does not accept electronic waste. The City FAQ says most electronic devices can be recycled at the Miramar Recycling Center, at the Miramar Landfill entrance. Call 858-268-8971 to check current items and fees before you go.
- Private recyclers. The same City FAQ says there are many reputable companies in San Diego that will recycle electronics "for free or nominal fees".
- Charities and thrift stores. The City suggests them for working items. Call first, because most have limits on age, size and type.
- CalRecycle's eRecycle directory. It lists collectors near you. CalRecycle advises calling ahead about services, hours and "any potential charges" before you load your vehicle.
- Retailer and maker take-back. Some stores and manufacturers take old devices, often with limits per visit. Check their current page on the day you go.
We are one of those private recyclers. We have six locations across the county, three recycling centers and three drop-off locations, with no appointment needed. Our page on free e-waste drop-off lists each site, and you can read how residential recycling works with us if you are clearing out a home.
If you can't lift it or don't have a car
Ask a neighbor or friend to help with anything heavy, and never carry a tube TV alone. If you have a bigger load, we offer free pickup for five or more computing devices, meaning computers, laptops, monitors, servers, printers and TVs. Cables, chargers and other small items don't count toward that number. For a smaller load, call (619) 889-1305 and ask what is possible.
How to tell a recycler will really recycle it
Not everyone who collects electronics recycles them properly. Some strip out the valuable metal and dump the rest. Look for two things. First, a recycler or collector approved under California's program, which CalRecycle's directory shows. Second, an independent certification such as R2v3 or e-Stewards, which means an outside auditor checks where the material goes.
Dream E-Waste is R2v3 certified, and our California ID is CEWID 127772. You can see the details on our certifications page.
What does it cost to recycle old electronics?
Cost rarely gets in the way of what to do with old electronics. Usually it is nothing for common electronics. Many recyclers take TVs, computers, phones, printers and cables free. A few items often carry a small fee, such as single-use batteries, fluorescent bulbs and some appliances, because they cost money to process. Junk removal companies charge for the pickup itself. Our guide answers is it free to recycle electronics in full, including why some items cost money.
Ready to clear the pile?
If you are in San Diego County and the pile is ready, bring it to any of our drop-off locations. Most electronics are free, there is no appointment, and our team helps unload. Not sure about an item? Check the items we recycle or call (619) 889-1305.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put old electronics in my blue recycling bin?
No. Electronics don't belong in the curbside blue bin or the trash. Batteries inside phones, laptops and gadgets can catch fire when the truck compacts them, and sorting facilities can't recover the metals. Take electronics to an e-waste recycler, a collection event or a take-back program instead.
What should I do with old electronics that still work?
Sell, trade in or donate them first. A working device that gets used again does more good than one that is recycled for metal. Back up your files, sign out of your accounts and reset the device before it goes. If nobody wants it, recycle it like any other device.
Do I have to wipe my devices before I drop them off?
You should back up your files and sign out of your accounts, but a certified recycler handles the drive itself. At Dream, every data-bearing device is wiped and data-destroyed by default. Signing out still matters, because a device locked to your account can't be reset or reused by anyone.
Where do old TV remotes, antennas and streaming sticks go?
They go with the TV to an e-waste recycler. Remotes, antennas, wall mounts, set-top boxes and streaming sticks are all electronics. Take the batteries out of the remote first, because loose household batteries are recycled separately. Coil the cables so nothing tangles.
What if I have too many devices for one trip?
Split the load across trips, or ask about pickup. We pick up free in San Diego County for five or more computing devices, such as computers, laptops, monitors, printers and TVs. Cables and other small items come along but don't count toward the five. Call (619) 889-1305 if you aren't sure your load qualifies.
