Here's how to recycle those old laptops, iPhones and earbuds lying around
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Most consumers are guilty of the same habit — filling drawers or closets with devices such as old laptops, cellphones, fitness trackers and other electronics once those things are no longer needed
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Here's how to recycle those old laptops, iPhones and earbuds lying around Most consumers are guilty of the same habit — filling drawers or closets with devices such as old laptops, cellphones, fitness trackers and other electronics once those things are no longer needed By ALEXA ST. JOHN Associated Press and KIKI SIDERIS Associated Press March 24, 2026, 9:02 AM Many consumers are guilty of filling drawers or closets with old laptops, cellphones, fitness trackers and other electronic devices once they are no longer needed. It's hard to know where to recycle those items, or it seems costly and inconvenient. The world generates millions of tons of electronic waste — also called e-waste — each year. According to the United Nations' most recent estimate, people worldwide produced 137 billion pounds (62 million metric tons) of e-waste in 2022, and only about 22% of it was properly recycled . The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that less than a quarter of e-waste is recycled in the U.S. each year. Keeping e-waste out of landfills is important because the devices contain materials that can harm the environment. Electronics can also contain precious metals and rare earths that are hard to source, making recycling valuable to businesses. “The way that we’re creating and using and disposing of these devices has generated this completely unsustainable waste stream,” said Rick Neitzel, an environmental health sciences professor at the University of Michigan. “And there’s no signs of that abating at all. In fact, the trend continues to accelerate.” Experts say that if more consumers recycle their e-waste, it could even drive down the cost of some electronics. Here are some tips. While all recycling comes with challenges, it is often more confusing to recycle e-waste than a plastic bottle or cardboard box. Common containers can be recycled curbside or in public bins, but it often takes some research to figure out where to take an electronic device. “Cardboard comes in ma...
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