What To Do With Old Gadgets And Tech Appliances

If you recently finished your cleaning, you probably found a few electronics you can’t justify keeping. It could be an old computer, smartphone, or a broken household appliance. What do you do with them? Most of the time, the answer is to put it back in a drawer where it’ll accumulate dust for years, or discard it in the garbage.

Throwing them in the garbage isn’t a good idea. You’ll have to do some work to keep your old gadgets out of a landfill. Most electronics are made up of recyclable components, and some contain chemicals that might harm the environment if dumped.

Old laptops, phones, and tablets, as well as unwanted household items, are cluttering up landfills across the country. So many outdated gadgets end up in landfills that people coined the term e-waste, short for electronic garbage. E-waste covers a wide range of items that contain electronic components such as TV, copier, fax machine, coffeemaker, washing machine, and others.

Here are a few smarter ways to dispose of old devices and appliances:

Recycle

Almost every city or municipality has one or two recycling days every year. Bring in all old or broken electronics on this day. If you can’t wait, seek local recycling services.

A junk removal company like dirtcheaprubbishremoval.com.au/sydney/sydney-cbd/ and others is a practical and economical option. They’ll remove and safely recycle or dispose of your old devices and appliances for you.

Here are some reasons why you should recycle: 

• Many outdated electronics contain dangerous elements like mercury, beryllium, lead, polyvinyl chloride, cadmium, and chromium. E-waste pollutes both the soil and the air when it’s dumped in landfills because it leaches chemicals.
• Recycling old devices keeps them out of landfills. It also saves recyclable materials. Reusing electronics also benefits less fortunate members of your community. So, if possible, get your old equipment repaired and give them a second life.
• Electronics are a source of raw materials. Recycling saves energy—it means fewer natural resources are needed to manufacture new technologies.
• Finally, recycling saves raw materials which can be used to make new devices. Again, energy is saved, pollution is minimized, and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

Sell Or Trade

It’s wiser to sell old electronics than throw them away. So, why not get some additional cash by selling your outdated electronics online? Your rubbish could be someone else’s treasure.

Unwanted gadgets can be listed for free on eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook. Use online shops or local selling groups to list them. If you live in a larger city, you could even narrow it down to that particular city. You can sell or auction items on eBay and then mail them to the buyer. If your products aren’t moving as quickly as you’d like, consider local classified advertisements.

Expert tip: It’s all about timing. The ideal time to sell devices is before new products are released, so if you notice news about Apple releasing a new iPhone, it could be time to list yours since the price you may get drops by 10-20% when a new phone comes out.

Moreover, you can trade in electronics on online store websites. For example, Samsung and Apple both have trade-in systems. You can sometimes earn a discount on a new purchase or store credit. It’s less difficult than selling it personally, but you’ll get less.

You can also trade-in your old appliances on websites like Amazon. They accept trade-ins of old goods like TV streaming devices, smart speakers, and even doorbells for Amazon gift cards. If you utilize Amazon Trade-in, you’ll also get a discount on a new gadget in the same category.

Donate

Many people and locations need your old electronics, from local schools and students to veterans and soldiers. Donating computers and other tech items can be tax-deductible. Mobile phones are the easiest to donate.

Give to community groups. In addition to used laptops and related items, local domestic violence and homeless shelters occasionally seek out phones, TVs, and computers. If you’re getting rid of a working TV, check with local senior centers or assisted living homes. Also, find a local electronics collection organization. Across the country, charities collect used technology to aid their missions. Always ask about your local charity’s needs and what they accept.

Find out what your local centers require before dropping off any functioning electronics. Always ask about your local charity’s needs and what they accept. For all options, be sure to safely wipe all data before handing off the device.

Conclusion

Finding e-waste alternatives has never been easier. After all, technology is making information readily available. There’s no excuse to toss electronics. You can donate them, sell or trade them, recycle them, and others. People should do their share to protect the environment.