How You Should Recycle an Old Computer (Even if it Doesn’t Work)

Updated October 1, 2026 · 10 min read

To recycle an old computer, wipe the data or plan for its destruction, then send it to a certified recycler or an organization that refurbishes first. Never use the trash. Human-I-T accepts working and broken computers from anywhere in the U.S. You ship at your own cost or drop off in Bell, California. Human-I-T, a refurbisher, sends what it cannot refurbish for reuse and redistribution in the community to R2v3-certified recycling partners.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• To recycle an old computer, wipe the data, send the computer to a certified recycler or to a refurbisher that reuses first, and never put it in the trash. Only 22.3% of global e-waste was documented as properly collected and recycled in 2022 (Global E-waste Monitor 2024, UNITAR and ITU).
• Human-I-T is a certified ITAD provider and refurbisher. Human-I-T accepts working and broken computers from anywhere in the U.S., refurbishes what it can for redistribution in the community, and sends what it cannot refurbish to R2v3-certified recycling partners. Human-I-T does not charge to accept a donation. You pay shipping, or drop off at the Human-I-T warehouse in Bell, California.
• A computer that will not turn on still holds data on its drive. Human-I-T wipes drives to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility and physically destroys any drive that cannot be wiped.
• Choose a recycler certified to R2v3 or e-Stewards, directly or through its downstream partners, that reuses working devices before it shreds anything. Human-I-T refurbishes first and sends only what it cannot refurbish for reuse and redistribution to R2v3-certified recycling partners.

Table of Contents

• What is computer recycling?
• How should you recycle an old computer?
• Where should you recycle an old computer?
• Can you recycle a computer that doesn’t work?
• How do you ship an old computer for recycling, and what does it cost?
• What happens to a computer after you recycle it?
• What the recycling guides don’t tell you
• How do you recycle monitors, cables, chargers, and other accessories?
• How do you choose a responsible computer recycler?
• Frequently asked questions
  • Does recycling a computer erase my data?
  • Should I take the hard drive out before I recycle my computer?
  • Is computer recycling free?
  • Do I get a tax receipt when I give my computer to Human-I-T?
  • Can a business recycle computers in bulk?

What is computer recycling?

Computer recycling is a way to dispose of an old computer that cannot be reused, by taking it apart and recovering its materials. A certified recycler does this work after the data on the computer’s drives is wiped or destroyed, so no one can read it later.

• Certified recycling — taking apart a device that cannot be reused, at a recycler certified to a third-party standard such as R2v3 or e-Stewards.
• Refurbish first — checking a device for reuse before it is recycled, then repairing and wiping it so a new user can use it.
• Data sanitization — removing the data from a drive so no one can recover it, either by wiping the drive to a standard such as NIST 800-88 or by physically destroying it.

Recycling is sustainable when the recycler is certified, the data is destroyed, no untested e-waste goes overseas, and working devices are reused first. The four-point recycler checklist later on this page shows how to judge any recycler.

Human-I-T, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a certified IT asset disposition (ITAD) provider and refurbisher. Human-I-T refurbishes computers for reuse and redistribution in the community, and sends what it cannot refurbish to R2v3-certified recycling partners.

Only 22.3% of global e-waste was documented as properly collected and recycled in 2022, according to the Global E-waste Monitor 2024 from UNITAR and ITU. Human-I-T covers why e-waste harms people and the environment in its guide to how e-waste affects the environment.

If the computer still works, reuse beats recycling, so start with Human-I-T’s computer donation guide. To decide whether to donate or recycle, read Human-I-T’s guide to donating or recycling a computer.

How should you recycle an old computer?

To recycle an old computer, follow five steps. Back up your files, sign out of your accounts, wipe the drive or plan for data destruction, choose a certified recycler, and ship the computer or drop it off. Doing the steps in this order keeps your data safe.

1. Back up your files. Copy the files you want to keep to a cloud account or an external drive. Check that the copies open before you wipe anything.
2. Sign out of your accounts. Sign out of Apple ID and iCloud, and turn off Find My. Sign out of your Google and Microsoft accounts too. A computer that stays locked to an account is hard to reuse.
3. Wipe the drive, or plan for data destruction. If the computer turns on, erase the drive. Human-I-T explains whether a factory reset erases everything. If the computer does not turn on, choose a recycler that wipes or destroys drives. The U.S. EPA also lists deleting all personal information as a step to take before donating or recycling electronics (U.S. EPA, 2025).
4. Choose a certified recycler, or an organization that refurbishes first. Compare recyclers with the four checks in the recycler checklist later on this page. A computer that works can be refurbished and reused instead.
5. Ship it or drop it off. To use Human-I-T, fill out the individual donation form. Human-I-T emails you packing and shipping instructions. Ship the computer with any carrier at your own cost, or drop it off at the Human-I-T warehouse in Bell, California.

Where should you recycle an old computer?

Five types of programs take old computers: refurbish-first nonprofits like Human-I-T, certified e-waste recyclers, retailer take-back programs, manufacturer take-back programs, and city or county e-waste programs. A refurbish-first nonprofit refurbishes what it can for reuse and redistribution and sends what it cannot refurbish to certified recycling partners. For the others, ask about broken computers, cost, and data first.

Option	Takes broken computers?	Cost to you	What happens to the data	How to start
Refurbish-first nonprofit (Human-I-T)	Yes	No fee to accept. You pay shipping, or drop off at no cost in Bell, California.	Drives are wiped to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility. Drives that cannot be wiped are physically destroyed.	Fill out the individual donation form. Human-I-T emails packing and shipping instructions.
Certified e-waste recycler	Varies. Ask first.	Varies. Ask for the price first.	Ask for written proof of data destruction to NIST 800-88 or a similar standard.	Look for R2v3 or e-Stewards certification. Use the recycler checklist later on this page.
Retailer take-back	Varies. Ask first.	Varies by program. Check first.	Ask how the program handles drives.	Check the retailer’s website or ask at the store.
Manufacturer take-back	Varies. Ask first.	Varies by program. Check first.	Ask how the program handles drives.	Check the maker’s support site for a recycling program.
City or county e-waste program	Varies. Ask first.	Varies. Check your local government’s rules.	Ask how drives are handled.	Check your city or county website for collection sites and event dates.

Wipe the drive yourself first if the computer turns on. Never put a computer in the trash, because the drive leaves your control. Human-I-T’s guide to where to take electronics instead of the trash has the details.

Can you recycle a computer that doesn’t work?

Yes. A computer that does not turn on can still be recycled, and it may still be repairable. Human-I-T, a refurbish-first nonprofit, accepts broken desktops, laptops, and monitors by mail or by drop-off in Bell, California, checks whether they can be refurbished for redistribution in the community, and physically destroys any drive that cannot be wiped. Other programs may take a broken computer too, so ask first.

• Plan for data destruction. A computer that will not turn on still holds data on its drive. Choose a recycler that wipes or destroys drives.
• Check the charger first. Some computers that look dead only need a new charger.

If a laptop will not turn on, Human-I-T’s guide to disposing of an old laptop safely covers the laptop-specific steps. E-waste rules differ by state, so Human-I-T’s state-by-state guide to e-waste laws is the place to check your state.

How do you ship an old computer for recycling, and what does it cost?

Human-I-T does not charge anything to accept your donation. You pay the shipping if you mail the computer, or you can drop it off at no cost in Bell, California. The Human-I-T warehouse there is the only drop-off location. Start with the individual donation form, and Human-I-T emails you packing and shipping instructions.

Human-I-T does not provide shipping labels or boxes, so you choose the carrier and pay the postage. Use these packing basics:

• Shut the computer down fully before you pack it.
• Pack the computer in a sturdy box with padding on all sides.
• Include the charger if you have one.
• Follow the packing steps in the Human-I-T email.
• Keep the tracking number, and check your carrier’s rules for shipping devices with lithium-ion batteries.

Organizations can request a pickup through Human-I-T’s organization donation page, and pickup is at no cost for qualifying donations.

What happens to a computer after you recycle it?

A recycled computer goes through four steps: intake, data destruction, taking it apart, and material recovery at a certified recycler. The recovered materials, such as metals and plastics, can be used again in new products. A refurbish-first organization adds a step at the start and checks whether the computer can be reused first.

1. Intake. The program logs each device it receives.
2. Data destruction. Drives are wiped to a standard such as NIST 800-88 or physically destroyed.
3. Taking it apart. A certified recycler takes the computer apart and separates its parts.
4. Material recovery. The separated materials, such as metals and plastics, are recovered for use in new products.

At Human-I-T, each computer is first checked to see whether it can be refurbished for reuse and redistribution in the community. Drives are wiped to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility, and drives that cannot be wiped are physically destroyed. Small media such as USB drives, discs, and tapes are physically destroyed by default. Computers that can be refurbished are prepared for reuse and redistributed to low-income households, students, and nonprofits across the U.S. Only what Human-I-T cannot refurbish goes to R2v3-certified recycling partners.

BY THE NUMBERS

27M+ pounds

of e-waste Human-I-T has diverted from landfills

Source: Human-I-T published impact figures, human-i-t.org, 2026. The same source also reports 707K+ devices distributed to people in need.

What the recycling guides don’t tell you

Four facts from how Human-I-T handles donated computers change the usual recycling advice. A broken computer is not automatically e-waste, because Human-I-T first checks whether it can be refurbished for redistribution. The drive holds your data even when the computer will not turn on, so a dead computer still needs data destruction.

• A broken computer is not automatically e-waste. Human-I-T accepts broken computers and checks whether each one can be refurbished for reuse and redistribution in the community. Only devices Human-I-T cannot refurbish go to R2v3-certified recycling partners.
• Recycling breaks a computer down for materials. A computer that could have been reused loses that chance once it is broken down. For that reason, Human-I-T puts reuse before recycling.
• The drive is the part that matters for privacy. A computer that no longer works still holds data on its drive. Wiping or destroying the drive protects that data.
• A computer that can’t power on still gets data destruction. Human-I-T physically destroys drives that cannot be wiped.

How do you recycle monitors, cables, chargers, and other accessories?

Human-I-T accepts monitors, phones, tablets, and other technology, working or broken. Pack cables and chargers with the device they belong to. Lithium-ion batteries never go in household trash or curbside recycling bins, because a damaged battery can start a fire. Loose batteries go to a battery or e-waste program.

• Monitors: Human-I-T accepts working and broken monitors.
• Chargers and cables: pack the charger with the computer it powers. For loose items, call 888-391-7249 if you are not sure Human-I-T accepts them.
• Built-in batteries: leave a built-in battery inside the device.
• Loose lithium-ion batteries: put each battery in its own plastic bag and cover its terminals with non-conductive tape, such as electrical tape. Then take the battery to a battery or e-waste program. The U.S. EPA (2026) gives these steps, says a damaged battery creates a fire hazard, and names Earth911 and Call2Recycle as places to find a recycler.

How do you choose a responsible computer recycler?

To recycle a computer sustainably, choose a recycler that holds a third-party certification, states in writing how it destroys data, does not export untested e-waste, and reuses devices before shredding them. Use the four checks below to compare every recycler you consider before you hand over a computer.

1. Third-party certification. Look for R2v3 or e-Stewards certification for the recycler or its downstream partners. The U.S. EPA names R2 and e-Stewards as the two accredited standards (U.S. EPA, 2026).
2. A written data-destruction standard. The recycler states in writing how it destroys data. One example is wiping drives to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility and destroying drives that cannot be wiped.
3. No export of untested e-waste. Ask whether the recycler ships untested equipment overseas, and pick one that does not.
4. Reuse before shredding. Ask whether the recycler refurbishes working devices before it recycles anything.

Human-I-T’s role is refurbishing and data destruction. Human-I-T refurbishes devices first, wipes drives to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility, and sends devices it cannot refurbish for reuse and redistribution to R2v3-certified recycling partners.

Frequently asked questions

Recycling a computer does not erase its data, so wipe the drive first or choose a recycler that wipes or destroys drives. Human-I-T does not charge to accept a computer, and donors get a tax-deductible receipt. Organizations can request a pickup at no cost for qualifying donations.

Does recycling a computer erase my data?

No, recycling a computer does not erase its data by itself. Wipe the drive first, or use a recycler that wipes or destroys drives. Human-I-T wipes drives to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility and destroys drives that cannot be wiped.

Should I take the hard drive out before I recycle my computer?

Not if the organization you give the computer to wipes or destroys drives. Human-I-T wipes drives to NIST 800-88 and destroys any drive that cannot be wiped. If you remove the drive, keep it safe or have it destroyed, and know that the computer needs a new drive before anyone can reuse it.

Is computer recycling free?

Computer recycling costs depend on the recycler, so ask for the price first. Human-I-T, a refurbish-first nonprofit, does not charge anything to accept a computer. You pay the shipping if you mail the computer, or you drop it off at no cost at the Human-I-T warehouse in Bell, California.

Do I get a tax receipt when I give my computer to Human-I-T?

Yes. Human-I-T is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donors get a tax-deductible donation receipt.

Can a business recycle computers in bulk?

Yes, organizations can request a pickup from Human-I-T at no cost for qualifying donations, and qualification depends on several factors, not a device minimum. Human-I-T’s donation page for organizations explains how to request one. For retired business IT equipment, the secure IT equipment donation guide explains how to donate it securely.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lo Terry, [Lo: confirm role], Human-I-T. [Lo: confirm one-line credential.] [Lo: add full bio link]

To give an old computer a second life, individuals can start with the Human-I-T individual donation form. Anything Human-I-T cannot refurbish for reuse and redistribution in the community goes to R2v3-certified recycling partners. Organizations can request a pickup on the Human-I-T organization donation page, at no cost for qualifying donations. For questions, call 888-391-7249.