Nearly every home and every business have junk drawers full of old tech. They are a boneyard of sorts packed with obsolete and non-working electronic devices, as well as accessories like cords, plugs and wires.
“88% of folks in America have unused technology in their homes, in their workplaces,” says John Joyce, CEO of CRS Technology Consultants. “That number is upwards of 1.3 billion devices in the U.S. alone that aren’t getting used.”
John recently visited the Gulf Coast News studio in Fort Myers to discuss old tech. He was citing research by SellCell.com and SellMobile.com, which estimated the value of those devices at $67 billion. In an article analyzing the same research, Waste360 calls it “electronic device hoarding.”
“Keeping outdated devices at home may seem harmless, but it can lead to clutter, environmental risks and wasted valuable materials. Instead of letting devices collect dust, selling them can yield financial rewards for owners, but still many people leave technology stored in garages, cellars and cupboards,” Sarah McConomy, chief operating officer for SellCell.com and SellMobile.com, was quoted as saying in the article.
John brought several examples to the TV studio to demonstrate the type of devices sitting around collecting dust. One of those was an old Nokia cellphone that is barely recognizable according to today’s smartphone standards.
“It was a phone that made phone calls,” he joked.
What old tech are people hoarding, and why?
The most common unused electronic devices collecting dust inside homes and businesses fall into one of these categories:
- Cellphones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Desktop computers
Reasons vary as to why people keep old tech. They may not know what to do with the devices because it isn’t clear what is recyclable and what is trash. People may think a device has resale value, but don’t know who would buy it or how to sell it. Or, they could be afraid their device could fall into the hands of a tech-savvy criminal who can access their data. Since they’re in doubt, they don’t throw it out.
In the tech industry, this is called “the drawer problem.”
John points out that tech hoarding is potentially dangerous and an environmental hazard. Although it’s rare, batteries can leak chemicals or even cause fires.
What can businesses and individuals do with old tech they’re no longer using? John outlined three options during his Tech Bytes segment at Gulf Coast News.
Option 1: Old tech as collectibles
Collectibles typically feature some element of nostalgia and have sentimental value. Those factors, of course, translate into actual monetary value.
A few examples of high-value collectibles include a 1964 Ford Mustang muscle car, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card or a 1964 GI Joe action figure. Each of those examples has one thing in common; they were the first ones made.
Most electronic devices become obsolete in three to five years because technology evolves at a rapid pace. The most prized electronics collectibles also are the first ones manufactured and sold. The original iPhone, iPod, Sony Walkman and Atari gaming system are great examples. In fact, a 4GB factory-sealed original iPhone sold at auction in 2023 for $190,373. Business Insider noted that was more than 317 times the iPhone’s original price of $599 when it debuted in 2007.
Businesses and consumers don’t typically purchase devices and keep them in the unopened box, though. First-edition, used electronics are worth something on the resale market… but won’t make sellers rich. Amazon, eBay and other online retailers are full of pre-owned electronics priced from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.
In recent years, manufacturers have reintroduced products that bring back a sense of nostalgia. One example is Polaroid’s instant camera. That is not a collectible. It’s equivalent to a high-quality print of artwork – it’s still just a reprint, not the original.
Option 2: Old tech as trade-ins
If a device isn’t a first-generation model or unused piece of electronics, it still can hold value as a trade-in.
Retail stores and manufacturers often have incentives that include trade-ins. The device could be worth $20 or $200 applied to your next purchase. Best Buy, for example, promotes a comprehensive Trade-in Program that offers up to $750 for used cellphones, up to $1,800 for tablets and up to $2,000 for computers.
Trade-in devices don’t always have to be an active device, or even in working order, to qualify for a credit. Every retailer and manufacturer has restrictions, so it’s best to shop around for the best deal.
While not a trade-in, per se, John notes that older-model computers can be salvaged for parts. One component that is particularly valuable now is memory, SSDs and GPUs. PC Gamer calls it a RAMpocalypse, blaming the parts shortage and high retail prices for storage on artificial intelligence consuming so many electronic parts.
Option 3: Old tech as recyclables
Old tech without a useful purpose still isn’t trash. Components inside the device often are recyclable.
Tech experts advise consumers and businesses not to throw obsolete electronics into the trash. Devices contain hazardous chemicals and toxins that can leach from the device and pollute the environment. The World Health Organization notes that electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams in the world.
Locally, waste management departments in Lee and Collier counties each offer electronics recycling programs. Some retailers recycle electronics even if you aren’t planning to buy any new products from the store.
Before recycling a device with embedded data storage, though, consider the risks.
“If I was to recycle this, right inside of it, there is one of those solid state drives,” John said about a computer component. “If you don’t know exactly where to go in and how to remove it, and you just recycle that device, all of your information just went right out the door with it.”
John uses the example of a MacBook Air. The memory component is soldered onto the motherboard, so there is no chip to remove.
Always follow these steps when getting rid of electronic devices with storage:
- Back up data. Transfer documents, photos and videos to a hard drive or cloud storage.
- Log out from all apps and programs to ensure programs won’t automatically restart if the device is powered on.
- Delete files, apps and programs. Double-check download folders and empty the trash bin.
- Perform a factory reset. This restores a device to its original factory settings.
- Reboot the device. This provides a final opportunity to ensure the device is clear.
Then, bring your device to a trusted IT professional to handle the rest.
“Always take responsibility for your own data,” John says. “Wipe it to the best of your abilities. Just don’t let the hardware walk out the door. Put it in the hands of someone that’s going to dispose of it properly. Get evidence of that – a certificate of destruction – and make sure your tax returns and insurance information, or whatever is on that drive, isn’t in someone else’s hands days, weeks or years later.”
LISTEN: Solid State Podcast
