Ask Andy: E-cycling - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

By Andy Wise - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Recycling is good for the environment, but e-cycling could help you get the most bang for your old electronics.

With RadioShack's trade and save program, you can get store credit for your old gadgets.  Store Manager Darrell Joppy said he sees phone trade-ins the most.

"We do an appraisal here on the computer," said Joppy.  "You want to make sure that the phone can power up, there's no type of visible damage to the outside of the phone.  We also check to make sure there is no water damage to the phone."

To get the most money out of your old phone, be sure to bring the power cord.  RadioShack will take up to five devices at a time.

"If we can't find the actual phone on our list, we do give you a recycling price of $10," said Joppy.  "You're getting some value for that phone that you haven't used for the past two years."

Staples recycles millions of ink and toner cartridges each year, and reward members can cash in on the program.  Customers can bring in 10 ink and toner cartridges per month and receive a three dollar credit for each one.

Best Buy began its e-cycling program and accepts almost anything electronic, including transistor radios, computers, cell phones, batteries and televisions.

Best Buy allows customers to bring in three items a day.  For larger items, like televisions over 32 inches and computer monitors, there is a fee.

"It's $10, but we offset that with a $10 gift card here to the store," said a Best Buy manager.

For privacy reasons, you will need to remove hard drives from computers and wipe all contact information from cell phones before recycling them.

You can also unload your old batteries, cell phones and ink cartridges for free at Best Buy's in-store recycling kiosk.

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