You could be throwing away money if you toss your old tech in the trash — here's what to do instead (2024)

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• Old gadgets you don't use anymore can be worth some money or trade in credit at a store.
• I never throw away old tech I don't use anymore in the trash because it's bad for the environment.
• If my old tech isn't worth anything, I donate it, or dispose of it properly at e-waste facilities.

Old tech that's been replaced with new models or simply not used anymore might actually be worth some decent money. And the longer you wait to do something about it, the less valuable it becomes.

Dated gadgets can be pretty much anything that runs on power and has processing chips. The list includes, phones, tablets, computers, monitors, TVs, printers, audio devices, smart home devices, cameras, gaming consoles and accessories, etcetera and so on.

As I write this, there are three old Mac laptops cluttering my home — that's probably a few hundred dollars just collecting dust. One of them is literally on my desk, taking up actual valuable space. And if no one wants to pay for them, so be it! While they may not perform well enough for me, they still work, and I guarantee that someone out there can get much better use out of them.

Having reviewed technology for eight years, I have found five ways you can get rid of older tech to make some cash or simply declutter. However, I want to start with the one thing you shouldn't do.

Don't throw out your old tech in the trash!

I like the Earth, and throwing away old tech in the trash is a sure way to pollute it.

Electronics are full of toxic materials that are harmful to the environment and have no place in a landfill, where those toxins can leach into the surrounding nature.

You can make money from your old tech by selling it.

There's always the chance that someone out there may actually want your old tech, no matter how ancient or defunct it may seem to you. The easiest way to reach those people is online via online marketplaces like Decluttr, Sella, or Gazelle.

You could also try selling your old tech through eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, where you'll be negotiating directly with a buyer. There's a possibility that you might get a little more money this way, but it can involve more work and time on your part, like compiling the listing, taking photos for the listing, and shipping or meeting up with the person, whereas the options above are quick and hassle-free.

I haven't tried selling on Decluttr, Sella, or Gazelle, but I used to sell my old gadgets I didn't need anymore on eBay and Craigslist quite often. Nowadays, I'd personally rather do the following.

Trade in your old tech to get store credit and help pay for shiny new tech.

Trading in old devices has boomed in popularity recently, as popular companies like Amazon, Apple, Samsung, and Best Buy have developed their trade-in programs. Your mobile carrier also offers trade-ins, but their programs are likely limited to phones and tablets. Trading in is even easier than listing your old tech on online marketplaces.

The caveat is that you usually get store credit for the specific store you trade in with, so it's a good idea to trade in your old tech with a store you usually shop at. Trading in might also mean that trade-in credit can only be applied directly to a newer model of the device you're selling, which can either be limiting or exactly what you're after.

The other caveat is that you might not get as much as selling a device yourself — you're basically sacrificing a little profit for the convenience of trading in. I've personally opted for trading in for the convenience factor.

Turn your old tech into art.

If you've held on to old tech for nostalgic reasons, you can pay them homage by turning them into art rather than collecting dust in storage. A company called Xreart sells kits to disassemble your old tech, tastefully lay out individual components, and frame them into beautiful, nerdy pieces of art.

This can also be a great gift idea. The Xreart's $60 DIY kits cover the very first iPhone to the iPhone X, the Nintendo Gameboys, and Apple Watches.

I haven't tried this yet, but it looks like a fun option regardless. I have some old iPhones and other devices laying around that I plan on testing this out with.

Donate your old tech if you can't get money from it, as long as it still works.

As long as it's still functional, old tech that doesn't meet your demands can meet the needs of those who are less fortunate or incapable of buying tech. Some older devices that aren't worth any money or trade-in value that can still perform simple-yet-essential tasks like web browsing are good for donating.

For example, a local organization in my area had a donation drive specifically for old functional tech to give to senior citizens. The organization would refurbish the devices and repair them if needed or possible, and it would teach its beneficiaries how to use them. I plan on donating a first-generation iPad that's not worth much money or trade-in value to the organization during its next drive. While some apps may not be compatible with it anymore, it can still connect to the internet and browse the web.

And don't forget your own family and friends, too. Ask them if they want an older phone, tablet, TV, computer, or anything else with chips inside of it.

Recycle your old, broken tech that won't get you any sort of compensation.

If it's clearly broken, and it's not worth anything in marketplaces or for trade-in, the best thing to do is dispose of it properly. You can find local places online that will take in your e-waste for free, and some organizations even offer pickup.

My local waste facility, affectionately known as "the dump," has an e-waste program that I can go to any day of the week.

Your local Best Buy will also gladly take in most common gadgets for responsible disposal or recycling free of charge.

There's one very important thing you should do before selling, donating, or disposing of your old gadgets.

If possible, perform a factory reset before selling, donating, or disposing of your old tech to wipe the devices' storage. That applies especially to devices like phones, tablets, and computers. The storage of those devices needs to be completely erased to prevent anyone else from accessing your personal or professional data that you've stored during your ownership of the device.

If your device is broken and you can't perform a factory reset, you might consider bringing the device to a local tech repair shop, like uBreakiFix, that might be able to help you erase your data before you dispose of it properly.