What to do with old electronics?

[beaucoup]

What do you do with old electronics that still function. Just old, slow & a bit obsolete.

We've got stuff like a laptop, a digital camera, a film camera, & other stuff.

I've asked around to see if any friends had any interest in it for any reason. Kids or whatever.

I've mentioned it on Facebook.

Would it be worth eBaying? Hate to landfill it.

What happens to all these cell phones & iPods people just keep upgrading? Same story. Have a few of those too.


-----------------UPDATE 11/2/10 (post #16)

UPDATE: Research showed that a few of the old electronics had a pretty ok shot of making some money on eBay rather than just getting it out of our house with no monetary return.

Took a chance and listed them. Happy to report, they brought in more money than the websites that pay you for your old electronics. Even after the PayPal & eBay fees.
Laptop, iPod & camera gone.

 

[hipchickie]

I have seen some people here mention gazelle.com, but I have not personally sold anything through them.
I am donating 2 old laptops to my childrens school, I volunteer in compuet class and the teacher mentioned she wanted a computer the kids could take apart to see what is inside. I just don't think I want to deal with selling them.
I have 2 routers that I paid close to $100 each, and I looked them up on ebay and found them selling for $1 - so not going to bother with that either!
So, Anyone want a vonage router for the cost of shipping?

 

[jlima]

Donate them to Goodwill.

Most Goodwills have resources to recycle almost anything, including glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and electronics. If they can't sell it in a store, it can probably be recycled on-site at your local Goodwill, or sold to another company who can recycle it - Goodwill still receives the revenue from your donation; and the item is safely recycled rather than ending up in a landfill.

The digital and film cameras can probably be sold in a store. Some monitors, keyboards and accessories can be sold in stores, but old monitors and obsolete computers and mobile phones are sold to vendors who can safely and legally recycle these items for their metal, plastic and glass components.

My Goodwill even has a vendor that purchases single shoes - a charity based in California that sends them to an African country and an effort is made to match similar shoes and given to those in need.

Televisions are a different story. Our Goodwill does not accept non working TVs. In Nevada, there isn't anywhere in the entire state that legally recycles old TVs for their components. The local trash company only takes old TVs one day a week! It is a challenge to get rid of an old TV.

 

[ssawka]

Check with your county or city. I don't know where you are located, but where I am the county has monthly Electronic Recycling Days.

Oh, also many of the retailer stores will take them as well. I know Best Buy does, and I think Office Depot does.

 

[scrapquitler]

Our local foodbank takes them...they have a college age student who will fix them if necessary and they give them to families who are in need of them.

Another idea is to donate them to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. Someone might appreciate the chance to purchase them (for example, I hate the new lightweight irons with the auto-shut off...I always troll my local thrift store for the old fashioned heavier ones, they tend to work better).

 

[stich1fan]

we recycle them. Our recycling center has a special collection area for them. Not sure where you are located but they have quarterly donation areas for them in each of the counties in our state, NJ.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Our YMCA is looking for old cameras for photography class. If your film camera is an SLR (has interchangeable lenses) you could donate it to a local college that does real photography classes. Film cameras have no real value unless they are SLR type.

Good Will is also a great option!

 

[gracie1]

I am always nervous donating things like computers because if by chance a hacker gets it they can get all your information out of it.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Cellphones are easy - places that sell them (including Wal-Mart/ Target) will take them and recycle them for you. Ditto ink cartridges

You can try Freecycle for anything if you have one in your area.

Also Goodwill etc is an excellent idea.

Like the PP I worry about donating a computer - if you decide to be sure you really 'scrub' the hard drive.

BestBuy (store) every now and then will do an electronics recycling type day when you can bring in anything electronic that's trash and they'll make sure it's recycled properly.

 

[JB2K]

What do you do with old electronics that still function. Just old, slow & a bit obsolete.

We've got stuff like a laptop, a digital camera, a film camera, & other stuff.

I've asked around to see if any friends had any interest in it for any reason. Kids or whatever.

I've mentioned it on Facebook.

Would it be worth eBaying? Hate to landfill it.

What happens to all these cell phones & iPods people just keep upgrading? Same story. Have a few of those too.

Here are some thoughts:

Laptops: You may be able to donate it to a school/early education center -- but make sure the hard drive is wiped clean, first!

Cell Phones: If you have the phone/battery/charger, you can drop these in donation boxes at Verizon Wireless Corporate stores. Verizon is known to refurbish these phones and donate them (as prepaid models) to women's shelters or the USO (for military personnel).

Cameras: If the camera is 5.0 mp or less, I would give it to a young relative for them to have fun with.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with eBay, as old electronics fall out of fashion, quickly.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

you can always try freecycle as well.

 

[candy0730]

Best Buy has a trade in center and they will buy your used electronics. They gave me $55 for a 8 year old video camera and it was super simple.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Electro...In/pcmcat133600050011.c?id=pcmcat133600050011

 

[vicki_c]

If you want money for them, I would check Gazelle. They have an online thing that will tell you upfront what they will buy them for, if anything. We've been very happy to work with them - sold our Kindle and 2 iPhones.

If just to toss, I just noticed Best Buy has a whole bin in front of the store for recycling electronics and a sign that said other larger items could be taken to the service desk. My DH works @ Target, he said they do that as well.

 

[jedijill]

Costco has a recycling program as well. I have just sent stuff to both Costco and Best Buy. Got $14 BB gift card for an ancient Ipod and am getting about $90 bucks in Costco cash for an old laptop.

Jill in CO

 

[wenrob]

Donate them to Goodwill.

Most Goodwills have resources to recycle almost anything, including glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and electronics. If they can't sell it in a store, it can probably be recycled on-site at your local Goodwill, or sold to another company who can recycle it - Goodwill still receives the revenue from your donation; and the item is safely recycled rather than ending up in a landfill.

The digital and film cameras can probably be sold in a store. Some monitors, keyboards and accessories can be sold in stores, but old monitors and obsolete computers and mobile phones are sold to vendors who can safely and legally recycle these items for their metal, plastic and glass components.

My Goodwill even has a vendor that purchases single shoes - a charity based in California that sends them to an African country and an effort is made to match similar shoes and given to those in need.

Televisions are a different story. Our Goodwill does not accept non working TVs. In Nevada, there isn't anywhere in the entire state that legally recycles old TVs for their components. The local trash company only takes old TVs one day a week! It is a challenge to get rid of an old TV.

I've found sitting them on the curb makes them disappear pretty quick.

I agree with the above poster that Goodwill is the best option, plus you get a tax receipt. I donate old cell phones to the woman's shelter. A working, charged cell phone will dial 9-1-1 so they can literally be a life saver for them.

 

[beaucoup]

UPDATE: Research showed that a few of the old electronics had a pretty ok shot of making some money on eBay rather than just getting it out of our house with no monetary return.

Took a chance and listed them. Happy to report, they brought in more money than the websites that pay you for your old electronics. Even after the PayPal & eBay fees.



Laptop, iPod & camera gone.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Call around your county and see if there is a recycling place to take them.

Here, you can take a car load and it costs you $1 for the whole lot.

 

[Cindy B]

Best Buy has a trade in center and they will buy your used electronics. They gave me $55 for a 8 year old video camera and it was super simple.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Electro...In/pcmcat133600050011.c?id=pcmcat133600050011

Thanks. I've got a bunch of Ipods that I can get rid of. I still have to check on model numbers for phones though.