How to Recycle Computers
Desktop PCs, laptops, and all-in-ones. Boards carry lead solder; laptops hold Li-ion packs; older LCD panels may use CCFL lamps with mercury. Wipe storage before drop-off.
Quick answer
Back up, wipe or remove the drive, then take desktops and laptops to Best Buy (free; up to 5 laptops/day), Staples (free), Dell Reconnect, Apple, HP channels, or an R2 / e-Stewards recycler. Curbside bins almost never take PCs. HDD overwrite and SSD secure erase are different jobs.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Working units may sell or trade; scrap-only machines are usually $0 at retail drop-off
- Donate / take-back
- Available
- 1Back up files you still need
- 2Deauthorize licensed software where required
- 3Sign out of cloud accounts and disable device tracking
- 4Secure-erase the drive or remove it for separate destruction
- 5For SSDs use ATA Secure Erase or the maker's tool, not multi-pass overwrite alone
- 6Leave swollen laptop batteries in the chassis unless a tech removes them
- 7Include power bricks when you have them
- Best Buy (free for computers; 5 laptops/day residential)
- Staples (free for computers and Macs)
- Dell Reconnect at participating Goodwill; Dell Mail Back / Trade In
- Apple Trade In / free recycle for Macs
- HP Planet Partners or retail for HP hardware
- Municipal e-waste events
- R2 or e-Stewards certified recyclers
Deleting files is not a wipe. Overwrite HDDs or use manufacturer secure erase. SSDs need ATA Secure Erase, cryptographic erase, or physical destruction. Multi-pass overwrite is unreliable on flash. Consumer Dell Reconnect and Mail Back do not issue destruction certificates. Best Buy and Staples are residential only.
Recycling recovers metals from boards and keeps Li-ion and older CCFL mercury lamps out of household trash. EPA cites a 2006 USGS estimate that recycling 1 million laptops saves energy on the order of powering 3,500+ U.S. homes for a year. Pull the drive for wipe or destruction, then use Dell Reconnect or retail drop-off for the chassis.
Do two things before the device leaves your house: wipe the personal data off it, and pull the parts that are worth more separately than the whole unit is. A recycler will not do either for you.
Secure Data Wiping
Deleting files or formatting isn't enough. Data remains recoverable. Professional wiping requires bootable software like DBAN that overwrites the entire drive multiple times.
Professional data destruction services charge $20-50 per device. A bootable USB costs less and works for every computer you'll ever recycle.
Component Recovery
Working RAM and CPUs have resale value far beyond their scrap worth. Ten minutes with a screwdriver can turn a $5 recycling payout into $50-100 in component sales.
Most computers need just a basic screwdriver set to open the case and remove components. Business laptops often have access panels that pop off without tools.
Store components in anti-static bags if you're collecting from multiple computers before selling. Prevents damage that reduces value.
Note: If you're recycling for convenience rather than value, skip component recovery and focus solely on data wiping. But if you have 3-4 old computers, spending an hour on teardown typically returns $100-200 in sellable parts on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
- Donate wiped working PCs to schools or nonprofits
- Sell or reuse RAM, CPU, and SSD separately
- Manufacturer trade-in for credit toward a new machine
- Back up data
- Sign out of accounts and deauthorize software
- HDD: multi-pass overwrite or built-in secure erase
- SSD / NVMe: manufacturer secure erase, ATA Secure Erase, or encrypt-then-wipe
- Failed drives: physical destruction via a certified recycler
- Or remove the drive and recycle the chassis separately
Accepted
- Desktops, laptops, and all-in-ones (working or not)
- Units with or without chargers and peripherals
- Cracked screens or missing keys
Not Accepted
- Loose damaged lithium batteries
- Business bulk loads at residential retail counters
- Classified government equipment (needs approved channels)
Estimated value: Working units may sell or trade; scrap-only machines are usually $0 at retail drop-off
Donation
- Dell Reconnect (Goodwill)
- Local schools and nonprofits
- Lithium-ion batteries in laptops
- Lead solder on circuit boards
- Mercury in older CCFL-backlit LCD panels
Is deleting files enough before recycling a PC?
No. Use a full disk wipe or remove the drive. For HDDs, overwrite or use secure erase. For SSDs, use the manufacturer's secure erase or encrypt then wipe. Multi-pass tools alone are a weak fit for SSDs.
Does Dell Reconnect take non-Dell computers?
Yes at participating Goodwill locations. Any brand and condition for listed electronics. Confirm your local site accepts drop-offs.
Will I get a certificate of destruction?
Usually not from consumer retail or Dell's consumer Reconnect/Mail Back/Trade In. Ask an R2 or e-Stewards ITAD if you need documented destruction for business compliance.
Can I remove the hard drive and recycle the rest?
Yes. Wipe or destroy the drive on your own schedule, then drop the chassis at Best Buy, Staples, or a certified recycler.
Do Best Buy and Staples charge for computers?
Computers and laptops are listed free for residential customers at both. Best Buy allows up to 5 laptops per household per day. Confirm fees for monitors separately.
Are old computers worth bringing in?
Yes for recycling. Even non-working units go through e-waste. Working machines are better donated or sold first.
Recycling centers that accept Computers
RecycleFind lists recycling centers that accept computers. Open a listing for hours, contact info, and directions.