In today’s gadget market, consumers always want the next best thing as soon as it’s released. I recently found myself in a situation when it came time to upgrade my Phone to the newest model but I also wanted to sell my phone.

Once I had my awesome new device in my hand, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with my old phone. A few months ago, I ran into the same issue with an old game console. Obviously, I can’t just throw my old items in the trash can – I would probably become physically ill if I were to throw my $649 cell phone in a trash can like it’s no big deal.

Where could I take my old gadgets? Could I sell my phone instead of throwing it away? What are the safest ways to dispose of these things without potentially harming the environment?

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Sell my phone or trade it?

You always have the option to try and sell electronics. You may not get what you want for it, but there’s always someone out there willing to buy your old device. When it comes to my old phone, I don’t feel comfortable just Recycling it. It still works great and looks almost new; it’s just a little over a year old. Luckily, there are a few places where I can trade or sell my phone.

Online

Online sites like Glyde, uSell and the Amazon Trade-In Program are great options for selling or trading devices we don’t use anymore. Glyde and uSell are pretty straightforward, but only support cell phones at the moment.

You log in to the site, select the device you are selling and its condition, then the site does the rest. Just send in your device, and if your assessment is correct, the site sends you a check.

The Amazon Trade-In Program is a little broader. The process for sell my phone works the same way, but the program supports all types of electronics. Also, instead of receiving a check, you get an Amazon gift card to use toward whatever you want.

Manufacturer Sites

Companies like Apple and Samsung have programs in place for consumers to give back their old devices and use the trade-in credit toward a newer device. These sites work just like Glyde and uSell, except you are using the credit toward that specific manufacturer’s product.

This is a way for the companies to recycle or resell their products, as well as make sure the consumer is staying loyal to their product.

Recycle

Recycling your old devices is a way to safely get rid of gadgets or consoles you no longer need or use. We also have a plethora of options for recycling, too.

Devices like my old game console, which I know I won’t get any money for, are perfect candidates for safely recycling. Gadget and phone recycle programs can be found all over, from retailers to non-profit organizations.

Non-Profit Organizations

The National Cristina Foundation is an example of a non-profit organization that offers a program to recycle your devices safely. The foundation then uses the device to refurbish and resell, or donate to other companies and receive a voucher to help the organization raise money for its operations.

Many organizations like this exist, and I look for these organizations when I am recycling my devices. It’s a way to safely dispose of what you no longer use, as well as helps organizations continue to help others.

Retailers

Many retail companies, mainly ones that sell electronics, have their own recycling programs. Best Buy, for instance, has a station inside the front doors of every store where you can recycle old cell phones, cameras, batteries, and more.

The recycled devices are then disposed of properly instead of ending up in a landfill and becoming potentially toxic to the environment. Other retailers with similar programs include Target, Wal-Mart, and Staples. With so many options, gadget and phone recycle programs are not hard to come by.

INFORMATION: on iPhones and their accessories 

Recycling Online

If you don’t have a car, or never leave your house, you still have an option for recycling your devices from the comfort of your own sofa.

Using recycling programs like Freecycle allows you to post your device on a forum for your neighbors to see. It works like a safer version of Craigslist. Just post your item, let people check out your posting, then they come and pick up your old device.

While posting on the forum from your sofa is a cool thing, I recommend meeting in public when it comes time to give up your old gadget.

Electronic waste, or e-waste, makes up only 2% of all of our overall garbage, but it accounts for a whopping 70% of toxic landfill waste.

If we all start doing our part and recycling or reselling our old devices properly, we will see a decrease in these numbers, and we won’t have to sacrifice our constant desire for the next best thing.