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Keep an old device in service if it can be repaired safely and at a cost that makes sense; if not, consider resale, donation, or refurbishment before recycling it. Before handing it over, remove your personal data, and handle any loose lithium batteries separately. The right next step depends on the device’s condition, data sensitivity, battery, and the options available where you live.
Why the choice matters
The Global E-waste Monitor 2024 from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNITAR estimates that the world generated 62 billion kilograms (62 million tonnes) of e-waste in 2022. Just 22.3% was documented as formally collected and recycled. The report projects 82 billion kilograms in 2030 if current growth continues.
Discarded electronics also contain materials with economic value. ITU estimated that e-waste contained 31 billion kilograms of metals, valued at USD 91 billion, in 2022. That value is a measure of materials in the waste stream, not money an individual household should expect to receive for a device.
Choose the next step for your device
Start with condition and remaining useful life, then weigh the likely cost, data risks, and convenience. A repair quote, resale estimate, or recycler’s acceptance rules can help you decide; there is no single best option for every device.
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| Option | When it may fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | The device has a fault that can be fixed and could remain useful afterward. | Compare the repair quote with the cost of a suitable replacement. Check any warranty or resale value, and consider whether the repairer can handle the device’s data securely. |
| Reuse, donate, or resell | The device still works, or can be made usable through refurbishment. | Remove personal data before transfer. For resale or donation, check that the recipient can use the device and that required accessories or account removal are handled. The U.S. EPA defines refurbished electronics as electronics “that have been updated and repaired for resale.” |
| Recycle | The device is no longer useful or repair and reuse are not viable. | Confirm that the collection point accepts that device and battery type, whether it charges a fee, and how it handles data and downstream processing. |
Keeping a usable device in service through repair, reuse, or refurbishment preserves more of the product’s value than sending it directly to recycling. Recycling is the appropriate next route when continued use is not practical; it can recover materials, but it does not make every discarded device or component reusable.
Protect your data before handoff
- Back up what you need. Save personal files and make sure you can access important accounts on another device.
- Use the maker’s removal and reset process. Sign out of accounts and remove device locks or account associations as directed by the manufacturer, then erase or reset the device using its official instructions.
- Ask about data handling. If a recycler or refurbisher offers data destruction, confirm what the service covers and whether it applies to your device. Do not assume that dropping off a device includes secure data erasure.
Handle loose lithium batteries separately
Loose lithium batteries need a separate safety step before collection. The U.S. EPA recommends covering battery terminals with non-metallic tape while keeping labels legible, or placing each battery in its own bag. Then use an appropriate battery-recycling or hazardous-waste channel, following the receiving facility’s instructions. Do not put damaged or swollen batteries in ordinary collection bins; contact the facility or local waste authority for safe handling instructions.
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Before transporting a device with a battery that is damaged, swollen, or otherwise concerning, ask the intended collection site how it accepts it. Do not assume that rules for loose batteries also describe how a facility handles batteries installed in equipment.
Find an appropriate collection or recycling route
- Start with a manufacturer or retailer. Check whether its take-back program accepts your specific product and battery condition, and ask about fees and data handling.
- Check local government and community options. Municipal waste departments and community drop-offs may list electronics or hazardous-waste collection, but accepted items and appointment requirements vary by location.
- For mixed or business loads, check recycler standards. Look for recyclers operating under recognized R2 or e-Stewards standards, then confirm that the particular site accepts your equipment and ask how it manages downstream handling.
There is no universal directory or acceptance rule in the sources cited here. Fees, data-erasure services, take-back availability, and accepted equipment depend on country, municipality, retailer, and facility, so verify the details before traveling or shipping a device.
Collection rates vary by equipment type
ITU and UNITAR’s 2024 monitor reported different global formal collection and recycling rates for different e-waste categories in 2022:
| Category | Formally collected and recycled in 2022 |
|---|---|
| Large equipment | 34% |
| Temperature-exchange equipment | 27% |
| Screens and monitors | 25% |
| Small IT and telecommunications equipment | 22% |
| Photovoltaic panels | 17% |
| Small equipment | 12% |
| Lamps | 5% |
These are global category figures, not the chance that a particular household device will be recycled correctly at a particular drop-off. The variation underscores why it is worth checking the collection route for the item in hand rather than assuming all electronics follow the same process.
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What changing rules mean for disposal
Countries increasingly use extended producer responsibility (EPR), which assigns producers responsibilities related to the products they place on the market. ITU’s 2025 toolkit reports that 81 countries had e-waste legislation or regulation and 67 had provisions for EEE-EPR. These counts describe national policy provisions, not a guarantee that a convenient take-back program exists in every community.
International shipments are also subject to a change: from January 1, 2025, Basel amendments require prior written consent for international shipments of hazardous and non-hazardous e-waste and scrap. This concerns cross-border shipments; it does not by itself tell a household which local collection site to use.
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