My iPhone 14 Pro's poor battery life forced me to upgrade to a new smartphone recently. Now the old phone is sitting in my house while I figure out a plan for it. I could trade it in with my cellphone provider or donate it to a charity. But the longer I wait, the more new phones are coming out, such as the iPhone 17E, which lowers the value of my 4-year-old phone. I've also thought about recycling it.
You've likely considered trading in, donating or just tossing your old smartphone or tablet. But if you think most US adults are responsibly recycling their e-waste, think again. CNET recently asked 2,638 US adults about their typical plan for getting rid of old tech, and the results are concerning: 22% throw away items and less than half (39%) recycle their devices. Tossing it may be illegal in your state and, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, contributes to air and water pollution. Donating or recycling your electronic waste is the recommended route.
Some companies, including Apple, are doing their part to support a more sustainable environment by using recycled materials to build new products. Apple said 30% of the material used in its products that were shipped last year came from recycled sources. Microsoft uses recycled materials for its Surface laptops and includes more replaceable components.
Based on survey findings, here's what most US adults are doing with their old personal tech, and what the typical e-waste plan is. We're also including a list of recycling locations to help give your old tech new life.
Key findings
♻️ Less than half (39%) of US adults recycle tech they no longer use. Some US adults keep old devices at home (29%), while 10% don't know what to do with them.
♻️ 22% of US adults still throw old tech in the trash, 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 US adults recycle their old devices
So what are most of us doing with the devices we no longer use? CNET found that typical plans vary. You may consider factors such as the device, its condition and your personal preferences.
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Less than half (39%) of US adults recycle their old devices, with Boomers making up nearly half (48%) of that group. On the other hand, 33% of US adults give away their old tech, while 29% stash these devices at home.
Some US adults look at old tech as a way to make some cash by trading it in with a retailer (24%) or selling their gadgets online (18%).
There are less desirable ways to dispose of your tech. It's not a good idea to throw away old tech, but 22% of US adults say they do. CNET's latest findings also show that nearly three in 10 (29%) hoard tech at home, with Gen Z making up 40% of this group.
Watch this: Make Money for Recycling Old Tech and Let the Broken iPhone Go
Selling, donating or recycling your e-waste is better than polluting the environment with toxins and chemicals found in smartphones and tablets. Tossing one in the trash may seem like the most convenient way to get rid of it, but this may be illegal in your state.
E-waste laws have been enacted in 25 states, according to the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse. For example, South Carolina bans disposing of tech in solid-waste landfills. Computer monitors, TVs and printers must be recycled.
Best Buy and Staples are two of several retailers that accept old personal devices.
Witthaya Prasongsin/Moment/Getty ImagesWhere to recycle your old tech
Here's a list of retailers where you can recycle or trade in your old smartphones, laptops and other personal tech. When narrowing down where to drop off your old gadget, see what recycling options are available through your tech manufacturer, such as Apple and HP. Your local recycling services and national services, including The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle), Earth911 and Greener Gadgets, also have tech-recycling programs to safely get rid of your tech based on your ZIP code.
Amazon Recycling Program
Amazon's Recycling Program lets you trade in eligible devices to save on a new Amazon tech gadget. If your device doesn't qualify, you can drop off your old tech at a participating store, such as Staples. Or you can mail it in 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 haul-away service to get rid of your old tech as a standalone service. Best Buy can remove and recycle up to two large products and unlimited select small products for $200. There are restrictions, such as not being able to haul away fitness equipment. You can also order a mail-in box from Best Buy and fill it to the weight limit with accepted electronics and ship it at a UPS Store using a prepaid shipping label.
GreenDrop
GreenDrop accepts various tech items on behalf of its nonprofits. However, large appliances, cabinet TVs, 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 bulk recycling and trade-in program that lets you recycle smartphones and tablets. You can ship your old phone, computer and tablet using a FedEx shipping label. Smartphone Recycling may 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 as savings on purchases. Staples also offers mail-in recycling kits to ship your tech starting at about $14, and you can receive electronic 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 has a trade-in program that lets you trade your old tech in for a Target eGiftCard based on the value of your device. The gift card can be used at Target stores, Target.com, Target Tech kiosks, Target Optical and merchants within the Target store.
Eligible trade-in items include hearables, mobile phones, MP3 players, tablets, smart speakers, video-game consoles and games, and wearables. The program is only available online.
What to do before you toss your old tech
Before you recycle, sell or give away your old device, there are a few steps you should take.
First, make sure you back up any important data, such as files and photos, using cloud storage or an external hard drive. If you downloaded any software, make sure you make note of any license keys. Then restore your device to its original state by doing a factory reset. This wipes clean any personal information, software and files by restoring the phone to its original condition.
If you plan to donate or recycle your device, check for any special instructions to safely dispose of your e-waste. Some tablets, phones and laptops use lithium-ion batteries that can pose a significant fire hazard 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, check out the video below for charities that accept unwanted electronics and what to know before selling your used tech for a fair price.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov PLC to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov PLC. The total sample size was 2,638 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken April 10-14, 2026, and the survey was conducted online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults, ages 18 or older.