Business PickupWhere do old chargers and cables wind up when they’re no longer in use? For many people, they’re stuffed inside a junk drawer, collecting dust. Businesses share the same problem: storage areas often become overcrowded with tangled cords no longer needed by employees.
If you have old chargers and cables you’re no longer using, it’s time to free up space and get rid of them. Yet, that doesn’t mean they should just go in a trash bin with the rest of your garbage. Like other electronics, they need to be handled through environmentally friendly means. Here are a few ideas of what you can do with your old chargers and cables.
Ask others if they need them
First, sort through your cables to determine which cords belong to which devices. You may be able to recognize immediately that some are obsolete. For cables and chargers that power devices that are still in use, consider asking around to see if anyone else may need them first. If you have a spouse, sibling, child, or other family member who’s always misplacing their charger, it may be helpful for them to have a backup on hand. Family members who are on the go may also want to stash an extra charging cord in their backpack or bag for charging at school or in the office.
You may also wish to keep one or two spare cords on hand in a central location in your home for devices that you still use, just in case one breaks or is misplaced. Yet, you certainly don’t need a drawer full of them, so be willing to part ways with others. For the spares you do decide to keep, label them using colored tape and create a key so you know which charger goes with which device.
Donate them
You’ll likely still have some leftover chargers after designating spares. One option for getting rid of them is donation. Some retailers, mobile phone carriers, and other groups have charity programs and accept chargers. In some cases, you may be able to donate your device chargers and cables to support populations in need. For example, tens of thousands of phone chargers were donated to hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis to help healthcare workers and patients stay in touch with loved ones.
Other donation programs may accept chargers without devices in some cases, though many charities seek the devices themselves. If you have other devices you’d like to donate, it’s worth asking if chargers and cables are accepted. For example, Quantum has a donation program for organizations that have unwanted electronics in which credits can be used for turn-key computer equipment donations or cash donations to charities of your choice.
Recycle them
While it’s important to try to get the maximum lifespan out of our electronics including cables and chargers, there comes a point when they’re simply no longer needed. When that’s the case, you can turn to a trusted recycler for safe and environmentally-friendly disposition.
If you’re a homeowner, you can drop chargers, cables, and wires off at your local municipal recycling center. On the other hand, businesses with high volumes of mixed cables can use Quantum’s recycling services. We accept a large variety of cables and wires from several different brands, including Apple, Belkin, Insignia, and others.
To find out more about our services for recycling mixed cables, click here or call 1-888-676-4992 to schedule a pickup for your business’s unwanted electronics.