E-cycling at a store near you

cell phones (Andynormancx, Wikipedia)

Planet Green rounds up five places you can easily recycle electronic gadgets and gear. And guess what? All the places are stores where you probably bought the stuff in the first place.

Retailers may not always make it obvious, but more and more of them will take back computers, iPods, mobile phones, TVs, refrigerators, and more -- even batteries.

Apple, Best Buy, Circuit City, Office Depot, and Staples all have e-waste recycling programs for items bought at their stores. Details vary, so check the retailer's website or call customer service before you bring in a pile of junk.

For small things like a cell phone, you may get a postage-paid envelope to mail the gadget off to a central recycling center. Sometimes, you'll be charged a small fee to recycle a few items. But usable electronics might be worth some trade-in value toward a new purchase.

Since e-waste is dangerous (and sometimes illegal) to dump in your home garbage, these retail programs are a step in the right direction for properly disposing of obsolete tech toys.

You may have to ask them, but many retailers will take unwanted electronics off your hands.

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comments from our community

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 comments

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  • Posted by Dontell J Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:14am PST
    Does anyone know of a resource site that has a list of pc recycling centers for most cities and states?
    Report Abuse
  • Posted by baukus Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:15pm PDT
    Im not paying anyone to recycle, make it freeand Im all over it!!
    Report Abuse
  • Posted by mombabe Tue May 5, 2009 10:34am PDT
    The post office has no-postage-needed bags so you can recycle ink printer cartridges.
    Report Abuse
  • Posted by truckinguy1 Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:12am PDT
    Where can I recycle my old Phillips sonicare toothbrush? I wish that company would just take them back..
    Report Abuse
  • Posted by carl Sat Sep 12, 2009 3:21am PDT
    listen people ajust about any cell phone or yopur old laptop is worth bucks. if you need a job call me if you live charleston, sc where i am moving in two weeks. I will open a funrasier that will a on going thing. I need to have help so i can have a lords church, bible. studied and help line, and a food bank. so gop collect old cell phone and get paid for them.
    Report Abuse

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