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BeCircular

Electronics

My Circular World logo

Recirculate
Resell, exchange/trade-in or donate things that still work but you no longer need.  

Repair
Do it yourself or hire a pro to repair, refurbish and restore things that no longer work. 

Recycle
Beyond repair or reuse? Return it to the company that made it or a recycling facilitator  

Repurpose
AKA the Upcycle, revitalize the old by transforming it into something new.

Electronics

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There is no lack of options here, find what suits you best below.

Recirculate

Resell for Cash

  • ​decluttr is a great option for selling a variety of tech items. They offer instant quotes online, free shipping, and fast payouts.

  • Gazelle specializes in buying and selling used electronics. They offer competitive prices, free shipping, and a variety of payout options.

  • SellCell is a comparison website that allows you to get quotes from multiple buyback companies for your old phone or tablet.

  • Swappa is an 2nd hand marketplace for electronics & more. They allow you to set your own price and negotiate directly with potential buyers.

  • ItsWorthMore offers hassle-free trade in for used electronics. Solid reviews, instant quotes, free shipping and fast payouts.

  • Gizmogo's best price guarantee, 1-day payouts & commitment to reducing e-waste make them a great choice for selling old phones & tablets

  • ​BuyBackWorld is one of the largest platforms for used electronics. Get instant quotes, free shipping, and quick cash on most phones & tablets

  • ecoATM is a kiosk that will buy your phone or tablet on the spot.  With over 5000 locations (mostly in Walmart's) they're easy to find.  

Trade In for Credit

  • Best Buy has a trade in program that provides Best Buy credit for select used phones & tablets. Available online and in a handful of stores.

  • Apple Trade In offers great value for your old Apple, Android or Google devices.  Transactions can be made online or at any Apple store. 

  • Google allows customers to trade in devices from most major electronics manufacturers in exchange for credit towards a new Pixel purchase. 

  • Samsung accepts a wide variety of trade ins, even those with a cracked screen.  Earn up to $870 on a new Galaxy phone by trading in today.

  • Game Stop offers on the spot cash or store credit for select used smartphones at any one of their retail locations.  

  • Amazon's trade in program will give you 20% off a qualifying Amazon device AND an Amazon gift card for trading in eligible, used devices.  

  • Techy offers store credit or outright cash for phones and tablets (and a lot more) from most major electronics manufacturers.  

  • AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all accept phone and/or tablet trade-ins for statement credits or special deals on new or existing services.   

Donate to Charity

  • Cell Phones for Soldiers uses proceeds from donated phones to send prepaid calling cards to troops to use via their approved for use phones.

  • The NCADV uses proceeds from donated phones (& other devices) to further projects that support victims and survivors of domestic violence

  • 911 Cell Phone Bank refurbishes phones for distribution to emergency service providers, schools, and victims of domestic violence.

  • Local Donations:  Use this link to find local shelters and community centers that accepts cell phone and tablet donations.   

Repair

Fix It Yourself

  • iFixit has everything you need to fix a phone or tablet - replacement parts, precision tools & detailed repair guides for 1000's of products.

  • Search YouTube for help with repairing a cell phone or tablet

  • Samsung's Take Care with Self-Repair page makes it easier than ever to repair Samsung devices; offering parts, tools, and instructions.  

  • Amazon sells a variety of tool kits made for working with electronic devices

Find A Professional

  • Asurion offers 3rd party protection plans on electronic devices; and/or convenient in-store & mail-in repair service on smartphones & tablets.

  • Best Buy offers in-store repairs for various devices, including smartphones and tablets through their Geek Squad service desks.  

  • iFixScreens has locations in many parts of the country and offers a mail-in repair service for cell phones, tablets and other electronics.

  • Joe's provides mail in-repair services for various electronic devices; along with repair guides, tips for identifying devices and more. 

  • Techy offers a variety of repair services for electronic devices with a focus on same-day repairs and lifetime warranties on parts and labor.

  • Samsung and Apple both offer extensive repair services on the devices the manufacture and sell. 

Recycle

Return to Sender

  • Dell Reconnect is a free program that accepts electronics in any condition at Goodwill locations across the US or mail-in option also available.

  • Apple's recycling program accepts old iPhones for recycling through the mail and at Apple stores; they offer store credit for participating

  • T-Mobile stores accept old phones, accessories, tablets, and netbooks for recycling. Start your return at the link provided. 

  • With Microsoft's Online Trade-In Program, you get cash back for eligible devices; if there's no value they will be recycled in a responsible way.

  • Google's recycling program makes it easy, just request a free shipping label, wipe your data and drop it in the mail. Start at the link provided. 

  • LG's Recycling Service accepts cell phone, tablets and more via free shipping or at drop off locations across the country.  

  • Amazon will recycle small electronic devices (including phones & tablets) through the mail and at participating store locations.

Avoid the Landfill

  • Best Buy offers free recycling for most consumer electronics both in their stores and with through a mail-in program.  

  • Staple's will accept up to 7 electronics items per day at any one of their stores.  Earn Staples Rewards for participation.  

  • Green Squared offers fast, easy, and free recycling for cell phones and other small devices.  Just print and ship for easy return.  

Repurposing Ideas

  1. Home Security Camera: Use the device as a security camera for your home. Download a security camera app and set it up to monitor your home while you're away. Some apps even allow for remote viewing.

  2. Kitchen Assistant: Use your old tablet as a kitchen assistant. Mount it in your kitchen and use it to display recipes, watch cooking tutorials, or listen to music while you cook.

  3. Portable Entertainment System: Load your old device with movies, music, and games to create a portable entertainment system. Perfect for long trips or as a backup for when you're on the go.

  4. Digital Photo Frame: Transform your old tablet into a digital photo frame. Load it up with your favorite photos and set it to display a slideshow. You can place it on a stand or mount it on a wall.

  5. White Noise Machine:  Download white noise apps to create a calming atmosphere for sleep, studying, or masking outside noise.

  6. Second Screen for Your Computer:  Extend your computer's desktop to your old tablet using apps like Duet Display. This creates a larger workspace for multitasking and productivity.

Make this process easier next time, start with a product that was designed for the circular economy.

We welcome your ideas! If you have a solution that's not listed, please share.

Cell phones & tablets

Cell Phones & Tablets

Screens are everywhere find, the right path for those you no longer need.

Recirculate

Resell for Cash

  • Nextdoor is a social networking app for neighborhoods where you can list old electronics (among other things) to people in your area

  • OfferUp is an app for buying and selling goods locally. It works well for large items (like TV's) because all deliveries are local

  • Local Consignment Shop: Give your items to a consignment shop and let them do the selling.

  • With new TV's so inexpensive, resale & trade-in options are limited. If your TV is still valuable - Ebay or FB Marketplace are also options. 

Donate to Charity

Repair

Fix It Yourself

  • iFixit  has everything you need to fix a TV or monitor - replacement parts, precision tools & detailed repair guides for 1000's of products.

  • Find tips to repair a TV on YouTube

  • Amazon sells a variety of tool kits made for working with electronic devices

  • Use Sony's Product Repair page for troubleshooting information, spare parts, warranty information and to find an authorized service center.      

Hire A Professional

  • Best Buy offers in-store repairs for various devices, including TV's and monitors through their Geek Squad service desks.  

  • Send a Samsung device to an authorized service center or bring it into one of their collection points for repair services.

  • LG Repair Services allows you to begin and manage your repair through a simple portal on their website. 

  • Find an electronics repair shop or service center on this map.

Recycle

Return To Sender

  • LG Electronics offers a convenient mail-in recycling program for end-of-life LG televisions. Print a free shipping label at their website. 

  • Sony's Take Back Recycling Program provides a responsible solution for unwanted Sony electronics with drop-off or mail-in recycling options. 

  • Vizio's Take Back Program accepts all Vizio-branded devices for recycling. Download a free shipping label, and mail in your old TV for recycling.

Avoid the Landfill

  • Greener Gadget's website offers an extensive map of local electronics recyclers; find a drop center near you that will take your old TV.

  • Use RecycleNation's Map to find an electronics recycling facility or drop site near you.

  • The Electronics Recycling page on the U.S. EPA website offers instructions on how to responsibly recycle and donate electronics.

Repurposing Ideas

  1. Digital Art Frame: Remove the internal components of your television and mount a digital picture frame behind the screen. This allows you to display a constantly changing gallery of artwork or photos on a familiar screen.

  2. Headboard with a Built-in Display: Upcycle your television into a unique headboard for your bed. This is a great option for a kid's room or a guest bedroom where a built-in display can be used for movies, video games, or even a digital alarm clock.

  3. Interactive Mirror: With some technical know-how, you can transform your old television into a smart mirror. This interactive display can show the weather, news headlines, or even your daily schedule while still functioning as a mirror.

  4. Double Trouble: Use your old TV as an extra monitor for your PC.

Make this process easier next time, start with a product that was designed for the circular economy.

We welcome your ideas! If you have a solution that's not listed, please share.

tvs monitors

TV's & Monitors

Whether they work or not, PC's and laptops (or their parts) can always be reused. 

Recirculate

Resell for Cash

  • Swappa is a marketplace to buy or sell computers and more; here you can set your own price & negotiate directly with potential buyers.

  • ​decluttr is a great option for selling PC's, laptops and more. They offer instant quotes online, free shipping, and fast payouts.

  • Gadget Salvation makes redeeming old electronics simple; get an estimate, ship your laptop, and get paid within two days. 

  • ItsWorthMore.com offers hassle-free electronics resale. Instant quotes, free shipping, high ratings and fast cash. 

  • Gizmogo's best price guarantee, 1-day payouts & commitment to reducing e-waste make them a great choice for selling your laptop.

  • ​BuyBackWorld is one of the largest platforms for used electronics. They prefer MacBooks but will consider paying for most functional laptops.

  • OfferUp is an app for buying and selling goods locally, if you can't get an offer from an online platform consider selling directly to a neighbor.

  • The Next Door App is another option for eliminating the middleman and selling directly to someone in your local community

Trade In for Credit

  • Best Buy offers competitive trade in value on most PC's and laptops online and at anyone of their stores.  

  • Apple offers great trade in value for your current device and applies it towards the purchase of a new one.

  • Dell will give you credit towards a new purchase for old Dell or non-Dell laptops.  Participation is simple, follow the link to get started.

  • Lenovo's trade in program exchanges old laptops, PC's and more for Lenovo reward points AND Visa gift cards that can be spent anywhere.

  • HP will collect, sanitize, process, and refurbish or recycle end-of-use HP (& non HP) products in exchange for cash or credit.

  • Microsoft runs an extensive trade in program that offers cash or trade in value on most consumer electronics from major manufacturers. .​

Donate to Charity

  • The Salvation Army and Goodwill always make options for donation if your laptop or PC still functions properly.

  • Savers is a non-profit store that operates similar to Goodwill.  They will accept most consumer electronics, including PC's and laptops

  • Check with local community centers and shelters: see if they're in need of any laptops or PC's.

Repair

Fix It Yourself

  • iFixit  has everything you need to repair your computer - replacement parts, precision tools & detailed repair guides for 1000's of products.

  • Amazon sells a variety of tool kits made for working with electronic devices

  • Search YouTube for hints and instructional videos related to fixing laptops​ and PC's

  • Samsung's Take Care with Self-Repair page makes it easier than ever to repair Samsung computers; offering parts, tools, and instructions.  

Find A Professional

  • uBreakiFix has more than 500 locations nationwide that offer same-day (sometimes) repairs on a variety of devices including PC's and laptops

  • Best Buy offers in-store repairs for various devices, including PC's and laptops through their Geek Squad service desks.  

  • CPR has more than 800 locations throughout the country. They offer repairs for a wide range of devices, including PC's and laptops

  • Asurion offers 3rd party protection plans on electronic devices; and/or convenient in-store & mail-in repair service for laptops.

  • Office Depot Repair offers PC tune-ups and repair services through remote access or at any one of their 1,200 US stores.  

  • iResQ offers high-quality device repair services for phones, laptops and more via mail in service.  

  • Techy offers a variety of repair services for laptops & PC's with a focus on same-day repairs and lifetime warranties on parts and labor.

  • Dell, Apple. Lenovo, Asus, HP and Samsung all offer in-house repair services for most of their products, including laptops and PC's

  • Find a local repair shop on Google Maps

Recycle

Return To Sender

  • Dell Reconnect is a free program that accepts electronics in any condition at Goodwill locations across the US or mail-in option also available.

  • Apple's recycling program accepts Apple products for recycling through the mail and at Apple stores; they offer store credit for participating

  • Microsoft's recycling program gives you cash back for eligible devices; and responsibly recycles those without any value.  

  • Google's recycling program makes it easy, just request a free shipping label, wipe your data and drop it in the mail. Start at the link provided. 

  • LG's Recycling Service accepts all LG branded electronics via free shipping or at drop off locations across the country.  

  • HP Planet Partners Program will recycle most electronic devices for free if they cannot be reused or refurbished.

  • Lenovo will recycle your old Lenovo laptops, desktops and more (US only) for free; just wipe your data, print a label and send it out.

  • Sony's recycling program provides a responsible solution for unwanted Sony electronics with drop-off or mail-in recycling options. 

Avoid the Landfill

  • Best Buy offers free recycling for most consumer electronics both in their stores and with through a mail-in program.  

  • Staple's will accept up to 7 electronics items per day at any one of their stores.  Earn Staples Rewards for participation.  

  • Greener Gadget's website offers an extensive map of local electronics recyclers; find a drop center to take your PC or laptop.

  • Green Squared offers fast, easy, and free recycling for laptops and other small devices.  Just print and ship for easy return.  

  • The Electronics Recycling page on the U.S. EPA website offers instructions on how to responsibly recycle and donate electronics.​

Repurposing Ideas

  1. Media Center: Turn your old PC into a dedicated entertainment hub for streaming movies, music, and shows on your TV.

  2. Lightweight Workstation:  Basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and email can  be handled well by older machines. It's a great option for a  guest computer or a dedicated workstation for a child.

  3. Home Automation Hub: Use your old PC as a hub for home automation by installing software like Home Assistant. You can connect smart devices to automate tasks like controlling lights, thermostats, and security cameras.

  4. Test Bench: Use it as a test machine for trying out new software, operating systems, or potentially harmful tasks like opening suspicious files.

  5. Spare Parts: Keep it for spare parts. The power supply, RAM, and other components might be useful for repairing other computers.

Make this process easier next time, start with a product that was designed for the circular economy.

We welcome your ideas! If you have a solution that's not listed, please share.

pc laptop

PC's & Laptops

Gaming

Gaming

More popular than ever but sneaky wasteful; find the right cycle for discs, controllers and consoles. 

Recirculate

Resell for Cash

  • Gizmogo's best price guarantee, 1-day payouts & commitment to reducing e-waste make them a great choice for selling old game consoles.

  • Swappa is an 2nd hand marketplace for electronics & more. They allow you to set your own price and negotiate directly with potential buyers.

  • ItsWorthMore offers hassle-free trade in for used electronics. Solid reviews, instant quotes, free shipping and fast payouts on all consoles.

  • ​BuyBackWorld is one of the largest platforms for used electronics. Get instant quotes, free shipping, and quick cash on most phones & tablets

  • OfferUp is an app for buying and selling goods locally, if you can't get an offer from an online platform consider selling directly to a neighbor.

  • The Next Door App is another option for eliminating the middleman and selling directly to someone in your local community

  • Gadget Salvation makes redeeming old electronics simple; get an estimate, ship your console, and get paid within two days. 

Trade In for Credit

  • Sony will offer up to $150 off a new PlayStation when you trade in your old one. 

  • Microsoft makes trading in simple, fill out a quick questionnaire and get an offer on the spot.  Redeem for cash or Microsoft credit.

  • ​GameStop allows customers to trade in old games, controllers, consoles & more in exchange for cash or store credit.

  • Amazon accepts most popular gaming consoles as trade in items; offering discounts on future purchases for sending in your old console.

  • Techy offers store credit or outright cash in exchange for most popular gaming consoles

Donate to Charity

  • Just about any modern and functional gaming console and its accessories are going to have a decent if not excellent resale value.  But if you're feeling generous - The Salvation Army, Goodwill and Savers will gladly accept your donation.  See recycling options for non-functional devices.

Repair

Fix It Yourself

  • Browse iFixit's page dedicated to gaming consoles that's loaded with instructions, guides, wikis, discussions and more.

  • Do a YouTube search for gaming console repairs.

  • Amazon sells a variety of tool kits made for working with electronic devices.

Find A Professional

  • Nintendo's Repair Center walks you through the repair process; whether it involves doing it yourself or sending it away to get fixed.  

  • Sony  has a product support page for PlayStation products that will walk you through the process of getting you back to the games asap.

  • Microsoft makes servicing your Xbox simple by walking you through each step on their website.  

  • Joe's Gaming & Entertainment offers convenient mail-in repair service for gaming consoles; along with repair guides & replacement parts for sale.

  • Best Buy offers in-store repairs for various devices, including gaming consoles through their Geek Squad service desks.  â€‹

  • uBreakiFix has more than 500 locations nationwide that offer speedy repairs on a variety of devices including most types of popular consoles.

Recycle

Return To Sender

  • Nintendo offers a courtesy product take back program for Nintendo systems in any conditio

Avoid the Landfill

  • Best Buy offers free recycling for most consumer electronics both in their stores and with through a mail-in program.  

  • Staple's will accept up to 7 electronics items per day at any one of their stores.  Earn Staples Rewards for participation.  

  • Greener Gadget's website offers an extensive map of local electronics recyclers; find a drop center to take your non-functional console.

  • The Electronics Recycling page on the U.S. EPA website offers instructions on how to responsibly recycle and donate electronics.​

Repurposing Ideas

  1. Media Center PC: Most Xbox consoles can play DVDs and some streaming apps. With an external hard drive, you can turn it into a basic media center PC for watching movies and shows in another room.

  2. Streaming/Recording Device Stand: The sturdy build of an Xbox console can be repurposed as a stand for a streaming or recording device like a webcam or microphone.

  3. Use the Parts for Other Projects: If your Xbox is broken, you could use the parts for other projects2. This could be a great way to learn about electronics and do some creative DIY projects2.

Make this process easier next time, start with a product that was designed for the circular economy.

We welcome your ideas! If you have a solution that's not listed, please share.

Most people own at least one set of headphones and a speaker at a time, how to do so sustainably

Recirculate

Resell for Cash

  • Swappa is a marketplace to buy or sell all kinds of electronics; here you can set your own price & negotiate directly with potential buyers.

  • ​decluttr is a great option for selling most electronics. They offer instant quotes online, free shipping, and fast payouts.

  • ItsWorthMore.com offers hassle-free electronics resale. Instant quotes, free shipping, high ratings and fast cash. 

  • Gizmogo's best price guarantee, 1-day payouts & commitment to reducing e-waste make them a great choice for selling your working devices.

  • OfferUp is an app for buying and selling goods locally, if you can't get an offer from an online platform consider selling directly to a neighbor.

  • The Next Door App is another option for eliminating the middleman and selling directly to someone in your local community

Donate to Charity

Repair

Fix It Yourself

Find A Professional

  • The Speaker Exchange fixes and sells parts for all types of speakers, both professional and home. Start your repair on their website.  

  • Bose offers a range of repair options on their support page.  Just enter your product's serial number and follow the instructions on the page

  • Apple offers a repair service for all of its products that includes ear buds and speakers.  Get started at their support page.  

  • Best Buy offers in-store repairs for various devices, check with your local Geek Squad to see if they can repair your audio device.  â€‹

Recycle

Return To Sender

  • Dell Reconnect is a free program that accepts electronics in any condition at Goodwill locations across the US or mail-in option also available.

  • Apple's recycling program accepts Apple products for recycling through the mail and at Apple stores; they offer store credit for participating

  • Microsoft's recycling program gives you cash back for eligible devices; and responsibly recycles those without any value.  

  • Google's recycling program makes it easy, just request a free shipping label, wipe your data and drop it in the mail. Start at the link provided. 

  • LG's Recycling Service accepts all LG branded electronics via free shipping or at drop off locations across the country.  

Avoid the Landfill

  • Best Buy offers free recycling for most consumer electronics both in their stores and with through a mail-in program.  

  • Staple's will accept up to 7 electronics items per day at any one of their stores.  Earn Staples Rewards for participation.  

  • Green Squared offers fast, easy, and free recycling for cell phones and other small devices.  Just print and ship for easy return.  

  • Greener Gadget's website offers an extensive map of local electronics recyclers; find a drop center to take your non-functional console.

  • The Electronics Recycling page on the U.S. EPA website offers instructions on how to responsibly recycle and donate electronics.

Repurposing Ideas

  1. Pillow Speaker: Disassemble your headphones to remove the speakers. Attach them to the underside of your pillow facing down for a comfortable listening experience in bed.

  2. Audio for a Computer Setup: Enhance your computer setup by using the soundbar or speaker as an external speaker system.

  3. DIY Home Theatre System: Combine your soundbar with other speakers and a subwoofer to create a custom home theater audio system. It can serve as the central hub for audio or as part of surround sound in a dedicated entertainment room.

  4. DIY White Noise Machine: Convert your soundbar into a white noise machine using nature sounds or ambient music from your phone.

  5. Dedicated Gaming Speaker: The immersive sound of a soundbar can enhance your gaming experience.

Make this process easier next time, start with a product that was designed for the circular economy.

We welcome your ideas! If you have a solution that's not listed, please share.

audio

Audio

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