List of Bay Area, California organizations where you can donate or responsibly recycle used laptops, monitors and other computer equipment and electronics. Consumer Reports offers best recycling practices to protect your data (some organizations below offer to wipe out data).
Please Note: Global Stewards does not accept donations
SECTIONS: donation sites and recycling sites
CRC accepts the following from businesses and municipalities. They are not a 501(c), but do donate equipment to nonprofits. They offer either pickups or a PREPAID “ship it to us” option. CRC is an all-volunteer organization that donates computers through its not-for-profit program for use in public charity and community programs. Unusable items are recycled through State Permitted Recyclers to keep them out of landfills. CRC Computer Recycling Center is a program of CRC Technology Lab CA.
Website: crc.org
Pick-Up Services for Businesses: Pick-Up Request Form
Digitunity accepts computers and other technology equipment from corporations and, for individuals, provides a zip code look up tool to find local organizations to donate to. You can likely get a tax write-off for your donations. At Digitunity, we believe that everyone who needs a computer should have one. A single device can open the door to college applications, new job opportunities, skill-building, or essential services. Yet too many people remain disconnected. We’re working to change that by building sustainable systems that make computer ownership possible for all.
Website: Digitunity
How to Donate Equipment: Donation Information
eWasteCollective accepts the following. You can get a tax write-off for your donations. They will attempt to fix your equipment and then donate it to someone who cannot afford to buy a computer. If it cannot be reused, it will be recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.
Cities: Novato, CA and Berkeley, CA
Website: ewastecollective.org
Contact and Drop Off Locations: Contact
Dell Technologies and Goodwill have partnered up to offer Dell Reconnect which accepts the following (accepts any brand in any condition). You can get a tax write-off for your donations. This partnership provides consumers and small businesses with a free and convenient way to recycle their used tech while helping people in our communities receive skills training and job opportunities. In addition, it supports the circular economy by recovering materials from used electronics to make new technology through Dell’s closed-loop process.
Locate a Participating Goodwill: Locator
This program accepts the following. You can get a tax write-off for your donations. They refurbish old computer equipment for Menlo-Atherton students who do not have access to a computer at home. Since the program started in 1999, the M-A High PTA has supplied over 8,000 computers to deserving M-A students.
Cities: Menlo Park, CA and Atherton, CA
Website and Contact: Donations
WEC accepts the following. You can get a tax write-off for your donations. The World Computer Exchange is the largest non-profit provider of reused computers to youth in developing countries. Since 2000, WCE has helped youth in 54 developing countries to gain digital literacy in 3,703 classrooms. By providing computers with educational content and training, WCE empowers schools to maximize technology use as they face the challenges of distance learning.
City: Palo Alto, CA
Website: worldcomputerexchange.org
Contact: [email protected]
Tech Exchange accepts the following (scroll down to section with black background that lists "Acceptable Items"). You can get a tax write-off for your donations. Tech Exchange has been dedicated to championing digital equity and accessibility for under connected families in the Bay Area and surrounding cities since 1995. Their unwavering commitment centers on a sustainable and eco-friendly model, where they refurbish donated computers and put them in the hands of families, schools, and community organizations.
City: Oakland, CA
Web Site: techexchange.org
Contact and Drop Off Locations: Contact
Pick-Up Services for Businesses: Pick-Up Instructions (3 Simple Steps)
World Computer Exchange accepts the following (scroll to What Can I Donate and What Can't I Donate). You can get a tax write-off for your donations. They offer free mail in, drop off at 15 locations, and free pickup for organizations. World Computer Exchange’s mission is to provide underserved communities worldwide with access to technology. Over the last 25 years, we have connected 5 million people in 56 countries with digital resources, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Website: World Computer Exchange
How to Donate: Donation Information
Buying equipment? Consider:
Best Buy accepts a wide variety of electronic equipment. At most Best Buy stores, you can recycle up to three items per household per day. Plus, haul-away options are available for larger items in your home.
Website: Best Buy Recycling
Locate a store: Locator
Call2Recycle accepts a wide variety of batteries and cell phones. You can either drop off or ship your items. Call2Recycle is the country’s largest, most reliable battery recycling program. On behalf of corporate stewards, we optimize collection, share our experience and responsibly manage the end-of-life of batteries and other material.
Website: Call2Recycle
Drop Off Locations: Locator
Recycle anything! With over 350 materials and 100,000+ listings, Earth911 maintains one of North America's most extensive recycling databases. Simply enter in the material you are trying to recycle along with your zip code and click search (or call 1(800)CLEANUP).
Website: Earth911
Find a Local Recycler: Recycling Search
San Francisco's waste collection service accepts the following. You can dispose of up to 30 electronic items per month for free if they are delivered without any other type of material.
City: San Francisco, CA
Website: recology.com
Contact and Drop Off Location: SF Transfer Station
Renew Computers accepts the following. They are the largest independent electronics recycling company in Marin County, California. They have a warehouse facility and service center centrally located in downtown San Rafael where computers and electronics are collected, sorted, repaired, reused or properly recycled. In addition to the recycling center, they operate an onsite discount parts warehouse, retail store and service department. They are a certified Microsoft Registered Refurbisher.
City: San Rafael, CA
Website: renewcomputers.com
Contact and Drop Off/Store Location: Contact
Staples accepts a wide variety of electronic equipment. Speak with an associate at checkout to recycle your items.
Website: Staples Recycling
Locate a Store: Locator