Where to Recycle Electronics, Batteries and TVs
Best Buy and Staples take many old electronics in store, some for a fee, and the EPA points to locators for batteries. Here is what each page says.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
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Old phones, laptops and TVs should not go in the trash. This page sums up, in our own words, what the EPA and two retailers say about dropping off electronics, read on October 26, 2026. Fees, limits and accepted items change, and the official pages are the ones that apply.
Before you drop anything off
The EPA suggests a few steps before you donate or recycle a device:
- Delete your personal data from phones, computers and tablets.
- Take the batteries out. They may need to be recycled on their own, and the EPA says lithium-ion batteries, and devices that contain them, should not go in household trash or recycling bins.
- Check local options in your state or community.
For finding drop-off points, the EPA names Call2Recycle, Earth911 and Greener Gadgets. Call2Recycle now goes by The Battery Network, and its online locator finds battery drop-off sites by ZIP code.
Store drop-off at a glance
| Item | Best Buy | Staples |
|---|---|---|
| Phones, laptops, tablets | Free | Free |
| Monitors | Free for its own brands up to 50 inches; others have a $29.99 fee | Up to 49 inches, $29.99 each |
| TVs | Free for Insignia and Dynex up to 50 inches; most others up to 50 inches cost $29.99 | Not on its list |
| Printers | Free | $9.99 each |
| Batteries | Stand-alone batteries not accepted; small rechargeables under 100Wh in California and New York only | $2.99 per visit, rechargeable or single-use |
Best Buy
Best Buy says most of its stores take up to ten items per household per day, from residents only. Most categories have tighter limits of three items per household per day, with no more than two TVs or two monitors, and laptops are capped at five. The TV drop-off fee does not apply in California, Connecticut and Hawaii, and shoppers in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan get a $30 Best Buy Gift Card back for the TV or monitor fee. Best Buy does not take stand-alone batteries, except small rechargeable ones in California and New York. For larger TVs, Best Buy offers haul-away: $49.99 when it delivers a replacement, or $199.99 as a standalone service for up to two large products. More in the Best Buy recycling guide.
Staples
Staples lists a long range of tech it recycles in store, including computers, laptops, phones, tablets, hard drives, routers, gaming consoles, cameras and cables, plus ink and toner cartridges. The printer and monitor fees do not apply in California, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The battery fee does not apply in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York and Vermont.
Batteries and other drop-offs
Use The Battery Network locator for battery drop-off sites near you. For home improvement and car items, see the Home Depot recycling guide and the Advance Auto Parts recycling guide.
Sources
Electronics Donation and Recycling, EPA; Electronics and Appliances Recycling, Best Buy; Recycling Services, Staples; Drop-off Locations, The Battery Network. Checked October 26, 2026.