GoKawiilMy iPhone 14 Pro's poor battery life forced me to upgrade to a new smartphone recently. Now the old phone is sitting in my house while I figure out a plan for it. I could trade it in with my cellphone provider or donate it to a charity. But the longer I wait, the more new phones are coming out, such as the iPhone 17E, which lowers the value of my 4-year-old phone. I've also thought about recycling it.
You've likely considered trading in, donating or just tossing your old smartphone or tablet. But if you think most US adults are responsibly recycling their e-waste, think again. CNET recently asked 2,638 US adults about their typical plan for getting rid of old tech, and the results are concerning: 22% throw away items and less than half (39%) recycle their devices. Tossing it may be illegal in your state and, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, contributes to air and water pollution. Donating or recycling your electronic waste is the recommended route.
Some companies, including Apple, are doing their part to support a more sustainable environment by using recycled materials to build new products. Apple said 30% of the material used in its products that were shipped last year came from recycled sources. Microsoft uses recycled materials for its Surface laptops and includes more replaceable components.
Based on survey findings, here's what most US adults are doing with their old personal tech, and what the typical e-waste plan is. We're also including a list of recycling locations to help give your old tech new life.
Key findings ♻️ Less than half (39%) of US adults recycle tech they no longer use. Some US adults keep old devices at home (29%), while 10% don't know what to do with them.
♻️ 22% of US adults still throw old tech in the trash, which is illegal in some states.
♻️ National retailers, including Best Buy and Staples, offer recycling programs to safely dispose of your unwanted appliances and gadgets.
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