Major Retailers Offer Free Recycling for 3 to 5 Old Computers and Printers
Updated
Updated · CNET · Jul 12
Major Retailers Offer Free Recycling for 3 to 5 Old Computers and Printers
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Jul 12
Summary
Best Buy, Staples and other major retailers are accepting old computers, printers and related electronics for free, giving households a simple drop-off option instead of storing or trashing unused devices.
Best Buy generally takes up to three household items per day for free and up to five laptops, while Staples accepts desktops, laptops and printers at its checkout counter even if they were bought elsewhere.
Apple also offers free recycling for computers, monitors and peripherals, but only with a qualifying Apple computer or monitor purchase; Office Depot recycles devices for free if they have no trade-in value.
Factory resets or drive-scrubbing tools are still essential before recycling, since the main consumer task is removing personal data rather than preparing the hardware itself.
People without a nearby retailer can use Earth911 or the Consumer Technology Association's Greener Gadgets locator to find local centers that accept computers and printers.