Where to take your old PC
Your old PC contains materials that can be recycled or reused, but it also holds toxic components like lead, mercury, and cadmium that belong in a landfill only as a last resort. The fastest way to get rid of it is to take it to a retailer that accepts electronics, a municipal hazardous waste facility, or a certified e-waste recycler in your area.
Best Buy accepts old computers at any store location, with no purchase required. You can drop off a desktop or laptop at the customer service desk. Some locations charge a small recycling fee ($10 to $25 depending on the device), though monitors and TVs cost more. Call your local store first to confirm they accept your specific item and whether a fee applies.
Your city or county likely runs a hazardous waste collection day once or twice a year where you can bring electronics for free. Search "[your city] hazardous waste" or "[your county] e-waste" to find the schedule and location. These programs are free and accept almost any computer, monitor, or peripheral.
Certified e-waste recyclers are companies that specialize in breaking down electronics responsibly. Search "certified e-waste recycler near me" or visit the e-Stewards or R2 (Responsible Recycling) directories to find one. Many will pick up large quantities for free if you have multiple devices; some charge a small fee for single items.
Key Takeaways
- Best Buy accepts computers at any store with no purchase required, though some locations charge a $10 to $25 recycling fee.
- Your city or county runs free hazardous waste collection days where you can drop off electronics without charge.
- Certified e-waste recyclers follow strict environmental standards and can be found through the e-Stewards or R2 directories.
- Wipe your hard drive completely before dropping off your PC, or remove it yourself if the recycler cannot may provide data destruction.
- Do not throw a computer in the trash or curbside recycling, as it contaminates soil and water and is illegal in most states.
How to erase your data before disposal
Before you hand over your PC, you must erase the hard drive so that personal files, passwords, and financial information cannot be recovered. straightforward deleting files or emptying the trash is not enough—deleted files can be recovered with basic software.
On Windows, use the built-in Reset this PC tool. Go to Settings > System > Recovery, click "Reset this PC," and choose "Remove everything." Select "Remove files and clean the drive" to overwrite the drive so deleted data cannot be recovered. This takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on drive size. When it finishes, your PC will be wiped and ready to hand over.
On Mac, restart your computer and hold Command + R to enter Recovery Mode. Open Disk Utility, select your hard drive, and click "Erase." Choose a security option—"Most find" takes the longest but overwrites the drive multiple times. After erasing, reinstall macOS if you want, or leave it blank.
If your PC will not start, or if you do not trust the recycler to handle data properly, remove the hard drive yourself before dropping it off. Most desktop towers have a side panel you can unscrew; laptops require more work but usually have a removable drive bay. Keep the drive and destroy it separately, or wipe it on another computer first. Ask the recycler whether they can may provide data destruction—many certified facilities can, and will document it.
What happens to your PC after you drop it off
A certified e-waste recycler will disassemble your computer and sort the materials by type. Metals like copper, aluminum, and gold are extracted and sold to metal refineries. Plastic casings are ground up and sold to manufacturers who use recycled plastic in new products. Glass from monitors and screens goes to glass manufacturers or is used in road construction.
Hazardous materials like batteries, circuit boards, and capacitors are handled separately under strict environmental rules. They are either treated on-site or sent to specialized facilities where toxic metals are removed and disposed of safely. This process keeps lead, mercury, and cadmium out of landfills and groundwater.
Certified recyclers track what happens to each material and report their results. If you want proof that your PC was recycled responsibly, ask for a certificate of recycling when you drop it off. Some recyclers provide this automatically; others require you to request it.
Donating or selling your PC instead
If your computer still works, donating or selling it is better than recycling because it extends the device's life and keeps it out of the waste stream. A PC that is slow or outdated for you may be perfectly useful for someone else.
Local nonprofits, schools, and libraries often accept working computers. Call ahead to ask whether they want your specific model and what condition it needs to be in. Some organizations refurbish donated computers and give them to low-income families or students. Goodwill and Salvation Army accept computers at most locations, though they may not take very old models.
If you want to sell your PC, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay are the most common platforms. Price it realistically—a five-year-old laptop typically sells for 20 to 40 percent of its original price, depending on condition and specs. Be honest about any damage, missing parts, or performance issues. Wipe the hard drive before handing it over, just as you would for recycling.
Before you donate or sell, make sure the device actually works. Turn it on, test the keyboard and trackpad or mouse, and run it for at least 10 minutes to confirm it does not overheat or shut down unexpectedly. If it crashes or has hardware problems, recycling is the safer choice.
Recycling monitors and peripherals
Monitors, keyboards, mice, and cables can go to the same places as your PC. Best Buy accepts monitors, though the recycling fee is higher—typically $25 to $35 for a large screen. Hazardous waste collection days accept all peripherals. E-waste recyclers take everything.
Monitors contain lead in the glass and mercury in the backlight, so they should never go in the trash. Keyboards and mice are lower priority but still contain plastic and circuit boards worth recovering. Power cables and USB cables are recyclable but often end up in landfills because people throw them away—bring them to a recycler if you have them.
If you have a large monitor or multiple peripherals, ask the e-waste recycler whether they offer bulk pickup. Some will send a truck to your home or business for free if you have enough material, which saves you a trip.
What not to do with your old PC
Do not throw your computer in the trash or curbside recycling. Most states have laws against it, and even where it is legal, it contaminates soil and groundwater. Landfill workers and sanitation equipment can be damaged by batteries and capacitors that catch fire or explode.
Do not leave your PC on the curb for bulk trash pickup unless your city specifically says electronics are accepted. Call your waste management company first to ask. Many cities have separate e-waste programs precisely because computers cannot be handled by regular trash trucks.
Do not donate a computer that does not work, even to a nonprofit. Broken devices create more work for the organization and often end up in a landfill anyway. If your PC is broken beyond repair, recycling is the right choice.
Do not assume a recycler is certified just because they advertise "recycling." Some companies export old electronics to countries with weak environmental rules, where workers disassemble them by hand without protection and dump the toxic waste. Look for the e-Stewards or R2 certification logo before you hand over your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recycle my PC for free?
Yes. Your city or county hazardous waste program accepts electronics for free, usually once or twice a year. Certified e-waste recyclers often charge a small fee ($10 to $25) for a single computer, but many waive the fee if you bring multiple devices. Best Buy charges a fee at most locations, though some stores offer free recycling on certain days.
What if my hard drive is broken and won't start?
Tell the recycler that the drive is not functional. Most certified facilities can still wipe it using specialized equipment, or they will destroy it physically to may support data cannot be recovered. If you are not confident the recycler will handle it securely, remove the drive yourself before dropping off the PC. You can then destroy the drive separately or keep it.
Do I need to remove the RAM and other components before recycling?
No. Leave everything inside the PC. The recycler is equipped to safely disassemble it and separate the materials. Removing components yourself creates extra work and can expose you to dust and sharp edges. The only exception is the hard drive, which you should remove if you want to keep it or are unsure the recycler will destroy it securely.
How long does it take to recycle a PC?
If you drop it off at Best Buy or a hazardous waste facility, the handoff takes a few minutes. The actual recycling process—disassembly, sorting, and material recovery—takes several weeks. You do not need to wait for it to finish. If you want proof it was recycled, ask for a certificate when you drop it off.
Can I recycle a PC that still has the original Windows or Mac license?
Yes. The license is tied to the device's hardware, so it transfers with the computer if you donate or sell it. If you recycle it, the license is lost, but that is normal—the recycler does not need it. If you want to use the license on a new PC, you would need to transfer it through Microsoft or Apple before recycling the old one, which is usually not possible unless you have the original product key.