Best Buy recycling for small electronics

I need to check out if they can accept my old vacuums, coffee makes, etc.

http://texastakeback.com/texasrecycles/hard-to-recycle/e-waste-recycling/#smallewaste

Manufacturer-based recycling in Texas

Computers
Televisions
Cellphones
Other electronics

What to do with that old computer, VCR of PlayStation? You can’t toss ‘em in the trash because they contain toxic materials. The emerging solution is a simple but far-reaching concept:manufacturers should take ‘em back. When the producers are responsible for recycling, they have a powerful financial incentive to redesign products for easy recycling and a profit motive to phase out the use of toxic materials. Plus the government doesn’t have to pay for more recycling. This saves our tax dollars and encourages a more sustainable economy — all while helping you get rid of that old boom box. 
Learn more about Producer TakeBack Recycling here.

Caution: many so-called recyclers are actually exporting your electronics to be dumped overseas. That’s not recycling! Manufacturers and retailers are offering new programs for a variety of e-waste, and this site is a how-to clearinghouse to help guide you to the easiest, most convenient options available. But unfortunately many of them don’t partner with the proven, responsible recyclers, leaving you with little assurance that your e-waste isn’t just dumped someplace else. The only way to be 100% certain that your e-waste won’t end up dumped overseas is to take it to an e-Steward recycler. There are only a handful of these in Texas:
Find an e-Steward location here.

Computers

Good: Dell and Goodwill partner in Texas to offer free recycling for any brand of computer equipment at any Goodwill location. Learn more here. Although Dell has a strong policy against exporting e-waste, the company does not disclose its recycling partners — meaning we must take them at their word when they say they’re really recycling your equipment.

Better: Thanks to state legislation passed in 2007, all computer makers selling products in Texas are now required to offer free recycling. Find a list of all manufacturer-based programs here. The problem is, very few of the manufacturers have adopted policies against sending e-waste overseas and none have committed to using only proven, responsible recyclers. To be 100% certain your computer will be recycled, find an e-Steward location here.

Best: Does it still work? Extend its useful life, then, by donating it to someone who can use it. For instance, World Computer Exchange is a global education & environment nonprofit that helps connect youth in 67 developing countries to the skills, opportunities and understanding of theInternet while keeping working computers out of landfills. This group tests all equipment before sending it overseas, ensuring it won’t end up dumped, but not all similar groups take this protective step.

In Houston, the organization Comp-U-Dopttakes yesterday’s computer and uses it for a child’s tomorrow. They provide computers and technology education to enthusiastic, motivated children who do not already have a computer in their home. They encourage a donation of $5 per CPU or monitor to support this program.

Another Houston non-profit, Techs & Trainers, uses your old computers to provide meaningful work for people with barriers to employment and IT equipment to those with special needs.

Televisions

Good: Best Buy is offers free recycling for any brand of TV, up to 32″. Learn more here.Some locations have accepted different equipment, so be sure to call your Best Buy location to confirm before taking in your electronics. 

Better: Thanks to state legislation passed in 2011, all TV makers selling products in Texas are now required to offer free recycling. Find a list of all manufacturer-based programs here.The problem is, not all of the manufacturers have adopted policies against sending e-waste overseas. To be 100% certain your computer will be recycled responsibly, find an e-Steward location here.

Best: Does it still work? Extend its useful life, then, by donating it to someone who can use it. Think the DTV switch made it obsolete? Not so fast — you can get a digital converter box to keep your old analog TV working. Learn more here.

Cell Phones, Pagers, PDAs

Good: Perhaps the easiest option, all Fedex/Kinkos locations accept cell phones and PDAs for free recycling. Find a location here.

Better: Just about every place you can buy a new cell phone will recycle your old one:
Sprint
AT&T
Verizon
Cricket
T-Mobile

Best: Because cell phones have more value than other e-waste, many non-profit organizations raise money through recycling programs. Here are a couple of examples, there are probably more in your community.
March of Dimes
Call to Protect

Small electronics

Good: All Best Buy stores offer free recycling for just about anything electronic. Learn more here. 

Better: If it’s so old or bizarre that no manufacturer or retailer will take it off your hands, you need to find a responsible e-cycler. Caution: many so-called recyclers are actually exporting your electronics to be dumped overseas. That’s not recycling!Unfortunately, the only way to be 100% certain that your e-waste won’t end up dumped overseas is to take it to an e-Stewardrecycler. There are only a handful of these in Texas: Find an e-Steward location here.

Best: Does it still work? Give it to someone who will extend its useful life. Just because it isn’t the newest coolest model doesn’t mean it’s junk. List it in the “free” section of Craigslist, or join your local “Freecycle” network. Freecycling matches people with extra stuff to people who need it: learn more here.

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More details on specific items accepted at BestBuy stores:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025


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