Ranked: The 5 Best Places to Recycle Your Electronics

When you stop and think about it, the modern era of smartphones is really an amazing time to be alive. We are all walking around with supercomputers in our pockets. Computing power is cheaper than ever before. Even during the past few years of high inflation, prices of many electronic devices have gone down. But one drawback of cheap electronics is: lots of electronic waste!

Also called "e-waste," this vast pile of old computers, laptops, and "planned obsolescence" phones causes big damage to the environment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2019, only 17.4% of all electronic waste was formally recycled. When electronic waste gets disposed of in the wrong ways -- like being dumped into landfills or burned -- it can release toxic substances into the environment, damaging human health. That's because many consumer electronics devices contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals, like lead and mercury.

Electronic waste needs to be carefully handled and correctly recycled. Don't just put it in the trash bin to go to the landfill! Every time you upgrade your smartphone or buy a new laptop, TV, or tablet, you should make the effort to properly recycle the old model. Electronics recycling is important to protect the planet and it can even put some extra "green" in your wallet.

Here are a few of the best places to recycle your electronics -- for money, gift cards, or just the warm happy feeling of being a good citizen.

1. Apple, Amazon, or Android device manufacturers

If you have an old iPhone or Android phone, Amazon device, or any other electronic device like a tablet or laptop, you might want to start by checking with the manufacturer for trade-in values. Apple offers trade-in values of $30-$620 for used iPhones, and you can use the trade-in as a credit toward purchase of a new Apple product, or an Apple gift card.

Amazon's trade-in program will give you an Amazon gift card and a discount of up to 20% off your next Amazon device when you trade in your old electronics. Samsung also offers a similar trade-in program that gives you credit for trading in your old device when you purchase a new Samsung device.

The exact trade-in value you get will depend on the age and condition of your used device. Even if your old phone or laptop is in less-than-perfect condition, don't assume that it's worthless. Device manufacturers might give you enough credit for your used device to make your next purchase a little more affordable.

How much I could get for my old phone: I did a test run to see how much money I could get for my iPhone 11, and Apple offered me: $180 of credit toward a new Apple purchase, or a $165 Apple gift card. Amazon offered me $161 of trade-in value.

2. Sellcell

If you'd rather get cash for your old phone instead of company credit, try Sellcell (sellcell.com). This website compiles offers from more than 40 used electronics buyback companies and promises to give you "the most cash for your phone guaranteed." Phones aren't the only device that you can sell on Sellcell. The site also gives you cash offers for a wide range of used electronics, like tablets, gaming consoles, smartwatches, and more.

How much I could get for my old phone: Sellcell found a few cash offers for my old iPhone 11, and the top price was $194.75.

3. GadgetGone

GadgetGone (gadgetgone.com) is an electronics recycling company that gives you an instant cash offer for your old devices. It even pays money for some broken devices. GadgetGone says that if you get a better offer for your device from other buyback companies, it will beat their prices. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has strong customer reviews, with 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.

How much I could get for my old phone: Assuming that my old iPhone 11 is still in "flawless" condition (and it probably is; I never take it out of its Otterbox protective covering), GadgetGone made me an offer of $166.

4. Cellphone service carriers

If you love your cellphone provider and you like to buy new smartphones while signing up for a new mobile phone contract, you might want to try trading in your old phone with your phone company. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have electronics recycling trade-in programs where you can get a discount on a new phone (or get company credit or a gift card) by trading in your old device.

How much I could get for my old phone: I checked with T-Mobile, and its trade-in program offered me $95 of trade-in value for my old iPhone 11.

5. Retailers like Best Buy and Target

Major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart will give you a store gift card in exchange for recycling electronic devices. Exact amount of the gift card depends on the device's condition, age, and overall value on the second-hand market. You can get an instant quote online and take your electronics devices to a local store for trade-in.

How much I could get for my old phone: Best Buy's website offered me a $90 store gift card for my old iPhone 11.

Bottom line

Your old smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices might be worth more money than you think. Don't put your old electronics in the trash -- trade them in for cash, credit, or gift cards, and let them get sold to a new owner or recycled properly to protect the environment. Electronics recycling can be a win-win for the planet and your personal finances.