How to Dispose of a Laptop: Wipe, Recycle, or Trade In

How to dispose of a laptop has two parts that matter more than where it ends up: protecting the data on it and keeping its lithium-ion battery out of a trash truck. Get those right and the rest is easy. Working laptops can be sold, traded in, or donated. Dead ones belong at an electronics recycler, and in many states that is the law, not just a good idea.

Back up and wipe the data first

A laptop holds saved passwords, photos, tax files, and browser sessions that stay signed in. Before it leaves your hands:

1. Copy what you want to keep to an external drive or cloud account, and check that the copy opens.
2. Sign out of accounts tied to the device, such as your operating system account, cloud storage, music, and messaging apps. On many laptops, this also turns off device-lock features that would stop the next owner from using it.
3. Run the built-in reset. Current Windows and macOS versions include a reset that erases the drive and reinstalls the system. On most modern laptops with encrypted solid-state drives, this makes the old data unrecoverable for practical purposes.
4. If the laptop will not boot, you can remove the drive and keep it, destroy it, or ask the recycler whether they offer certified data destruction. Our guide to retiring an old hard drive covers the options.

Handle the battery with care

Laptop batteries are lithium-ion. A cracked, punctured, or crushed pack can short internally and catch fire, which is why they cause fires in garbage trucks and recycling plants. Keep the laptop intact for the trip if you can. If the battery is removable, many recyclers want it out and bagged on its own, with tape over the contacts. If the case is bulging or the trackpad is being pushed up, the battery is swelling. Do not press on it, charge it, or try to pry it out. Set it on a non-flammable surface away from anything that burns and take it to a battery or electronics drop-off soon.

Where a laptop can go

• Trade-in or buyback. Many laptop makers and electronics retailers run trade-in programs that give credit for newer working models and free recycling for the rest.
• Retail take-back. Several large electronics and office supply chains accept laptops for recycling at the store, often at no charge. Call ahead about limits.
• County or city e-waste drop-off. Many transfer stations and recycling centers have an electronics bin or an e-waste collection day.
• Certified electronics recyclers. Look for one that says it follows a recognized recycling standard, especially for business equipment.
• Donation. Schools, libraries, and nonprofits sometimes take newer working laptops. Ask first, since many cannot use older machines.

Why not the trash?

About half of U.S. states have electronics recycling laws, and many of them ban laptops and other devices from landfills or household trash. Even where it is not banned, the battery makes the trash a poor choice. Laptops also contain circuit boards with small amounts of metals worth recovering and some that should not end up in a landfill.

Chargers, docks, and accessories

Power bricks, cords, docks, mice, and keyboards can usually go in the same electronics bin. Keep chargers with a working laptop if you are selling or donating it, since a missing charger is the most common reason a used machine goes unsold.

How to dispose of a laptop FAQ

Can I throw a laptop in the trash?

In many states, no. Laptops are covered by electronics recycling laws in about half the states, and their lithium batteries can start fires in trash trucks. Recycle it instead.

Does a factory reset erase everything on a laptop?

On most modern laptops with encrypted solid-state drives, the built-in reset makes old data practically unrecoverable. For older machines with spinning hard drives, removing or destroying the drive gives more certainty.

Should I remove the battery before recycling a laptop?

If it is designed to be removed, many recyclers prefer it bagged separately with taped contacts. If it is built in or swollen, leave it in place and tell the recycler.

Do stores take old laptops?

Many electronics and office supply retailers accept laptops for recycling, and laptop makers often run trade-in programs. Call ahead to confirm limits and fees.

What should I do with a laptop that will not turn on?

Remove the drive if you can, or ask the recycler about data destruction, then drop the laptop at an e-waste site or retailer take-back.

The bottom line

How to dispose of a laptop safely comes down to wiping it, protecting the battery, and taking it to a place that recycles electronics. Back up and reset the machine, or pull the drive if it will not start. Keep the battery uncrushed, and handle a swollen one with extra care. Then trade it in, drop it at a retailer or county e-waste site, or donate it if it still works. Use the map to find a nearby drop-off that lists electronics.