I save them up to make a broth for soups

Recently I’ve found a place called ‘Free Geek’ that is pretty much a tech-specific thrift shop/non-profit aiming to help eliminate digital divides.

When I first started learning I would go to a lot of second hand stores and just buy old systems to take them apart and see what could be made for a few bucks each, now that I have plenty of my own it’s time to give back to such places.

I try to repurpose as much of my old electronics as I can.

One old laptop and an old iMac are now Pi-Holes running Ubuntu Core, blocking ads and ensuring that if one of them goes down, the other will be there to take requests.

I have a couple old desktop PCs running stuff, too. I have turned one into a basic NAS with TrueNAS and have another for testing various setups before moving them to “production.”

I have an old SteamLink still kicking and still using it as a SteamLink, works great.

Old phones I turned into webcams placed in numerous places so I can have the camera’s “follow” me throughout my place during a video-chat.

I turned an RCA Cambio tablet into a “television” for my tiny kitchen, mounted on the wall and always connected to my Plex server.

Sooooooooo many electronics still work when they’re past useful as a “daily driver.” I try my best to find places for them, and I hold on to extra parts that still work and sometimes build PCs for people who can’t afford one. That way they can have something relatively recent and functioning. With older hardware, you can still get modern operating systems on there with the likes of Xubuntu and Lubuntu, both which run pretty well on older/underpowered hardware (Lubuntu for real old low end stuff).

There used to be a great local electronics recycler here that I would drop off stuff that was officially End of Life in that it stopped working, but they went out of business during COVID and I haven’t found a proper replacement yet. Best Buy only takes limited items and only a limited amount.

Here in France, most of the hardware stores have bins to drop old/defected/unused elecronics and batteries (and if bins are not available to the customers, simply ask the main helpdesk usualy they will take your old stuff). I imagine there is some kind of repurposing/recycling organization (usually it’s the store itself to earn a bit of material sell, and for the rest, some non profit org. based sorting and recycling centers)

I’m a big fan of taking old electroics, taking them apart, and then organizing them neatly in a frame, like this example.

If you are going to keep electronics however, I definitely recommend removing the battery and recycling it. Phones aren’t fire hazards but batteries definitely are, especially the ones in the old iPods.

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Keep them in a drawer because “I’ll need them some day”(I don’t think I’ll actually need them)

Check your local recycling centers to see if they take it. My local one takes ewaste for free (as well as water-based paint, motor oil, cardboard, paper, metal, and probably others). The local garbage company takes old batteries for free, you just need to put them in a Ziplock bag on top of the bin on collection day.

Depending on generation the iPod touch sells for $60-300 on EBay. I always check first if I can sell on EBay or Craigslist. I just sold an ancient Toshiba laptop for $100.

Most places that sell Electronics in my country will take ewaste and recycle them for you for free

In a bag. Under the stairs. Know as the tech graveyard

I know that there’s a place at UCLA where you can drop them on certain days, run by the LA Sanitation Department, but I tried googling and it was buried under listings that, like you said, charge a fee and cater to businesses. (They’re interested in 20 computers, not your meager hoard.) So maybe your city does have something but it’s listed under Hazardous Waste. If you already know where to drop old solvents and meds, it might be there or they might know.

I recall official (not 3rd party) Verizon stores having a receptacle for old phone disposal. Even try AT&T or T Mobile as old electronic disposal is quite routine for all three.

I keep a few old phones as spares but if I don’t use them, they get recycled. I have a ton of electronics that aren’t used, but could still be for the right project. It’s nice to have parts whenever you need them.

You may be able to find scrapping places around you (e.g. metal scrappers) - my local scrapping place also takes circuit boards. Which gets me ~$1/lb or so. But they also just take misc. electronics for like $0.10/lb, phones are like $5/lb, etc. there’s prices for it all. Best part is, this way you can actually get paid for your trash, instead of doing it the other way around.