How to Dispose of a Modem and Router Safely

How to dispose of a modem and router starts with one question: do you own it, or does your internet provider? Leased equipment has to go back to the provider, or you may keep paying for it. Equipment you own should be factory reset so it does not carry your Wi-Fi password and settings to the next person, then recycled as electronics. Modems and routers have circuit boards and power supplies that belong in electronics recycling, not the trash.

Check whether it is leased

Look at your internet bill for an equipment rental charge, or check the label on the device for the provider’s name. If it is leased:

• Return it by mail with a prepaid label or at a store location, following the provider’s instructions.
• Get a receipt or tracking number. Unreturned equipment can lead to fees.
• Do not recycle it yourself. The provider owns it.

Reset devices you own

Routers store your network name and password, admin login, connected-device lists, and sometimes settings for remote access. Before giving away, selling, or recycling one:

1. Log in and note any settings you want to copy to a new router.
2. Press and hold the reset button, usually a small recessed button on the back, for the time listed in the manual, often 10 to 30 seconds.
3. Confirm it rebooted to factory defaults by checking that your old network name no longer appears.

Mesh systems and routers linked to a phone app may also need to be removed from your account in the app.

Reuse before recycling

A working router can serve as a Wi-Fi extender, a guest network, or a starter router for a friend or relative. Check whether it still gets security updates from the manufacturer; very old routers without updates are better recycled than reused on a home network.

Where to recycle them

• Electronics retailers often take modems, routers, and cables for recycling.
• County or city e-waste drop-offs and household hazardous waste facilities that accept electronics.
• Manufacturer take-back programs for some brands.
• Electronics recycling events held by cities, schools, or nonprofits.

Bring the power adapter and cables along; they can usually go in the same bin.

Batteries in some equipment

Some cable and fiber modems that support phone service include a backup battery. If yours has a battery compartment, remove the battery and recycle it separately at a battery drop-off, with the terminals taped. Our battery recycling guide covers where to take it.

Why not the trash?

Many states restrict electronics in household trash, and circuit boards contain metals that are worth recovering and some that should not end up in landfills. A modem or router is small enough to drop off on your next trip to a store with a take-back bin.

How to dispose of a modem and router FAQ

Do I have to return my modem to my internet provider?

If it is leased, yes. Unreturned equipment can lead to fees. Check your bill or the label to see who owns it.

How do I wipe a router before getting rid of it?

Hold the reset button for the time in the manual to restore factory settings, and remove it from any linked app account.

Can I throw a router in the trash?

It is better to recycle it as electronics. Many states restrict electronics in household trash.

Where can I recycle an old modem?

At electronics retailers with take-back bins, county e-waste drop-offs, recycling events, or manufacturer programs.

Do modems have batteries?

Some modems with phone service have backup batteries. Remove and recycle them separately at a battery drop-off.

The bottom line

How to dispose of a modem and router is quick once you know who owns it. Send leased equipment back to the provider and keep proof. Factory reset any device you own, reuse it if it still gets updates, and otherwise drop it at an electronics recycler, retailer take-back, or e-waste event with its power adapter and cables.