While mobile phones are the first personal device that's periodically tossed, this list looks at other items you may have recently replaced and purchased or thrown out this past Valentine's Day: tablets, earbuds, smartwatches, chargers, cables and the drawer of mystery remotes.
Wipe it, then drop it
Sign out of every account, run a factory reset, and remove memory cards before recycling. Then bring devices to any Tidecrest drop-off center — e-waste is accepted free, data-bearing items go into locked collection safes.
Working gadgets get a second life
If it powers on, don't recycle it — rehome it. Our community depot shelf puts working phones, tablets and laptops directly into the hands of schools and shelters. Last year customers rehomed over 4,000 devices this way.
Batteries ride separately
Tape the terminals of loose lithium batteries and hand them to staff — never toss them in a bin or cart. Swollen batteries go in the fire-safe drum at the hazmat bay, no questions asked.
Sophia Barry coordinates Tidecrest's e-waste partnerships. ← Back to all articles