4 Electronics Thrift Stores Won't Accept—and What to Do With Them Instead

Clearing out old electronics? You might want to pause before donating them to your local thrift store. Oftentimes, secondhand retailers have strict criteria for what they can accept. (There’s a focus on only taking items that are safe and sellable.) If a device is broken, outdated, or poses a data security risk, it’s generally turned away.

Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to ensure your old electronics are responsibly repurposed or recycled. We consulted with a thrift store manager and a technology expert who explained which electronics thrift stores usually decline—plus, how to dispose of them safely. 

CRT TVs and Monitors

Bulky TVs and monitors were commonplace in the early 2000s—but with the evolution of flat screen technology, they’re now essentially defunct. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these bulky electronics (otherwise known as CRTs, standing for cathode ray tubes) contain hazardous materials in the funnel glass, which makes disposing of them especially tricky.   

“CRT televisions and monitors top the list of refusals from nearly every thrift store,” tech expert Paul DeMott explains. “This is because they contain lead and other dangerous materials that make them costly and legally complicated to get rid of if they don't sell. Most thrift stores don't have the budget or infrastructure to deal with that liability.” 

DeMott explains that thrift stores prioritize placing items on the shelf that’ll turn a profit (versus something that’ll sit for months). And most folks aren’t racing to own a CRT TV, even if it still turns on and works. “If the item has no realistic resale path, contains regulated materials, or creates any kind of liability for the store, it's not worth their time to accept it,” DeMott adds. 

How to Dispose

It’s not advisable to throw your CRT TV in the trash or expect the usual curbside recycling to take care of it. Instead, look online for your area’s specialized municipal hazardous waste program. You’ll be able to find where you can safely dispose of the item and if there are any costs associated with the drop-off (some facilities charge a small fee for recycling items like this). 

Old Cellphones

Tempted to drop off old cellphones at the thrift store? Our experts advise against this, especially if you haven’t wiped the data from the phone. Most thrift stores don’t have the infrastructure required to properly wipe data from donated devices, so you’re putting your information at risk. 

Before getting rid of any devices, remove your SIM card, sign out of all accounts, and perform a factory reset to protect your personal information.

How to Dispose

If your phone is in working condition, Colette Kemery, thrift store manager at The Place, recommends checking if a charity near you can repurpose it. Nonprofits like Secure the Call, Cell Phones for Soldiers, and Medic often provide prepaid shipping labels to make the process seamless. (Plus, your phones will be going to a good cause). 

For those who’d prefer to recycle their device, DeMott recommends checking with the manufacturer's take-back programs. “Apple, Dell, Samsung, and most major brands have free recycling programs for their own devices, and some even offer credit toward a new purchase in exchange for recycling them,” DeMott says.

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Broken Printers

Printers seem like a no-brainer donation, but most thrift stores won’t put them on the sales floor—or even accept them. “They look useful, but ink costs and compatibility issues make them extremely hard to sell, so most stores stopped taking them altogether,” DeMott explains. 

This is especially true for printers with broken components or features that don’t work. “We typically will test any incoming items to ensure that they are in working condition,” Kemery says. “If an item isn’t in good working condition, unfortunately, we cannot accept it.” 

How to Dispose

Because of their mixed materials and electronic components, printers aren’t ideal candidates for curbside disposal. Instead, DeMott recommends using Earth 911 to search by zip code and device type to find EPA-certified drop-off points in your area. “All it takes is 30 seconds, and you will find several recycling centers in your area that you were likely unaware of,” DeMott says. 

Defunct Laptops and Desktops

That old Apple desktop you once used for computer games or work? It likely won’t be accepted at your local thrift store, even if it’s miraculously still functional. “Old laptops and desktops get turned away all the time,” DeMott says. “I've been there myself, handling hardware in distributed engineering teams. The problem is not always the device itself, but the fact that most people don't wipe the drive when they donate the technology.”

Beyond data security concerns, resale value is another major factor. Outdated operating systems, slow processing speeds, and missing components make older computers difficult to refurbish and even harder to sell for thrift stores. 

How to Dispose

For devices still in working condition, consider donating them to a local school or nonprofit (but only after performing a full factory reset and removing any personal info). With devices that are no longer usable, recycling is the safest and most practical option.

If you have a Best Buy nearby, the process is especially easy to recycle. “Best Buy takes a wide variety of electronics for recycling, no matter where you purchased them, and most locations do it free of charge,” DeMott says. “That includes old laptops, tablets, and cables, and small appliances. For the majority of people, it's the most accessible option as you don't have to make an appointment, and they are everywhere.”