Despite being serious electronics users, we had never heard of this Amazon Recycling Program in which Amazon will pay the shipping fees for electronics recycling.
The accepted electronics items are sent to Re-Teck, an Amazon partner certified (ISO 9001:2008, 14001:2004), to recycle electronics using responsible practices, unlike many other options abroad.
Amazon accepts a list of 15 electronics types (phones, chargers, cables, etc.), although it has an “other” category. Once you’ve created a list of devices to recycle online and provided your address, Amazon will make a UPS label you can put onto a box. Drop the package at a UPS location, and that’s it.
On that page, Amazon points out that if you have Amazon devices, you might be eligible to trade them in for a discount on a new model purchase. Packaging and dropping off the item might be slightly inconvenient, but the solution seems very handy. Amazon also recycles outside the USA, so check with your local Amazon.
That said, there are other recycling options. We’ve tried donating to Goodwill, and many electronics stores (like Bestbuy) may have a recycling program, too, so it’s worth asking. Too bad that Frys Electronics in the SF Bay is now gone.