Ask Kim: What do I do with old tech?

old tech gadgets
© Volodymyr Pishchanyi | Dreamstime.com

We moved and have a box filled with old flip phones and non-working calculators. I would rather not just dump them in the local landfill. Do you know anyone who recycles or uses the material in the devices?

— Harvey in Tucson

Glad you’re not just tossing them in the trash! Earth911 is a great site to find recycling centers for different types of products. Type in what you’ve got (do one search for calculators and one for phones) and your ZIP code to find a nearby drop-off. 

Options generally include city or town programs, retailers and private recycling companies. I even found a place in Phoenix called Treasures 4 Teachers, Inc. that takes a ton of old stuff to use in classrooms. Neat!

Tags: devices, old, old tech, phones, recycling, retailers, tech gadgets