4 Ways to Recycle Computers for Money

What do you do with your old PC when you replace it with a new one? Don’t bring it to the junkyard just yet.

Instead, consider one of the available options to recycle computers and other electronic items for cash.

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How to Recycle Computers for Cash

If you drop your old PC off at the local junkyard, you won’t get any money for it, and they may even charge you to dispose of it.

Instead of paying someone else to take your old computer or other electronic devices, consider one of these ways to make money by recycling your old PC.

1. Repair and Resell Computers

Many times, computers that no longer function need a simple and inexpensive replacement part or a good cleaning. If you know a bit about computers, you can fix them and sell them for a profit.

Clean them out, replace any non-working parts, and resell them online through a site such as Craigslist. You can also advertise your available stock to family and friends.

Refurbished PCs and laptops are good sellers as they sell for a fraction of what they did at retail.

We bought a refurbished laptop computer a few years back for just $450. It originally retailed for $1,000, but we still own it today, and it’s still running well.

If you know how to repair and refurbish used computers, this could be a great source of side hustle income.

2. Sell Individual Parts from Computers

Many people look to save money on computers by building their own computers with various parts they can purchase. If you collect unwanted computers from a variety of sources, you’ll soon have a large inventory of computer parts.

You can then list those parts for individual sale on sites like eBay, where tech-savvy consumers are searching for hardware and other internal parts they can use to repair their existing computers or build new ones to keep or sell to others.

3. Sell Your Parts to Scrap Yards

As with recycled aluminum cans and other metals, there are many local scrap yards that will pay you for certain electronic items and parts you bring in to their shops.

The items and parts that electronics scrap yards will let you bring in for cash vary.

Here is a short list of items to sell:

Cell phones
Mouse/Keyboards
Hard drives
Disk drives
Low-grade boards
Medium grade boards
High-grade boards
CPU towers
Power supplies
Printers
Laptops
Processors
Whole computers

If you google “electronic scrap yards near me” you should be able to come up with a few places close to you that will pay you for electronic scrap items.

The price for electronic scrap sold to scrap yards varies based on the individual scrap yard and the item you’re selling. In my research, I found that you should be able to get anywhere from a few dollars a pound for items such as motherboards to $30, $40, $50, and more per pound for more valuable items such as CPUs.

Since all scrap yards pay different prices, it’s important to be clear with the employee at the yard on what they will pay you before agreeing to turn your electronics parts in.

Also, most scrap yards pay on the spot, but if you’re dealing with a yard that makes you wait for payment, be sure to get the agreed-upon amount for your electronics scrap in writing before you leave the scrap yard.

It won’t hurt either to check the prices of several of the scrap yards in your area as you begin your business to see who pays the best price for discarded computers or computer parts.

If you decide to make computer recycling a regular source of extra income, you’ll want to be able to make the most money possible for your work by knowing which scrap yard pays the best.

4. Trade in Your Used Computers

Several stores and websites will allow you to trade in old computers, laptops and other electronic devices in exchange for cash payments or store gift cards.

This can be a great way to make money recycling computers. Here are some of the most popular trade-in stores and sites people use to make money by recycling electronics.

Gazelle

According to their website, Gazelle is the “leading reCommerce company that buys and sells pre-owned consumer electronics.” They purchase used desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones.

If you’re interested in recycling computers with Gazelle, you can simply send them in with the free prepaid shipping label. When Gazelle accepts your recycled computers, it will pay you in the form of an Amazon gift card, PayPal, or check.

Amazon

Amazon has a trade-in program that allows consumers to send in their old personal computers, laptops, and more. They’ll send you a prepaid shipping label to send in your item and there are no fees charged.

They also have a search engine that shows you what similar items are getting back for trade-in.

Target and Best Buy

Target and Best Buy stores have programs similar to the Amazon program. Best Buy allows you to trade in personal computers, laptops and a variety of other products just like Amazon does, and they pay you in the form of a Best Buy gift card.

Target currently only accepts tablets and phones for trade-in, and they pay you with a Target gift card.

This Target webpage will help determine which stores participate in their electronics recycling program.

Cash for Electronic Scrap USA

CFES USA buys back large volumes of IT equipment and electronic scrap. First, you submit your contact information and a brief description of your unwanted tech items.

Next, you can receive a buyback estimate and schedule a free pickup. You will receive a certificate verifying that your scrap is properly recycled and disposed of to prevent landfill waste and environmental hazards.

It’s also possible to securely sanitize old hard drives, but you must pay for this service.

You can receive payment by certified check or PayPal. However, the PayPal method incurs a 2.9% processing fee.

This buyback vendor is a subsidiary of CJ Environmental, Inc. Some of the other offshoots include Cash for Gold USA and Diamonds USA.

Where do I Find Old Computers and Other Devices?

You probably don’t have dozens of old computers lying around, but there are other ways to get discarded computers.

Send out a mass email asking friends and family members for their old, unwanted computers, tablets, phones, or other devices
Put an ad on Craigslist offering to take others’ unwanted PCs and electronic devices.
Distribute flyers in neighborhoods offering to have an electronics recycling day and spend a day picking up PCs, laptops, and other electronic devices people leave on their curb

Once you’ve collected your computers and other items, you can make money by recycling them in one of these four different ways.

Summary

Recycling computers, wood pallets, and electronics parts are all viable ways to own and run a serious business.

People and organizations now realize the importance of protecting our environment from overflowing landfills by finding ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle items.

If you’re looking to earn extra income, recycle computers and other electronic items for money.

It will also give you access to free computers and other electronics you can resell as a profitable side business.

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