With the seemingly never-ending release cycle of peripherals like keyboards with the latest tech innovations, mice with long-lasting batteries, and feature-packed gaming headsets, we've all probably got a drawer (or two) full of old and unused tech devices at home. While you could try your luck putting them up on various online marketplaces, sometimes that's not worth the effort.

But it's also not appropriate to just throw them into the landfill. That's where big-box stores like Best Buy come in. They have recycling programs where you can give them your old peripherals or other tech, and they'll dispose of them for you in an environmentally friendly way. What's more, some of these stores will give you discounts on your next accessories as well, so that you can save money and the planet at the same time.

Even if you can't make it into the store, some companies, such as Logitech, have a mail-in service for old or broken PC peripherals and accessories. These can be dismantled, and any recyclable parts can be removed and used to make new, environmentally-conscious devices. It's a win for everyone when these predominantly plastic peripherals stay out of landfills, especially when they reduce the need for creating more plastic or mining metal.

Why you should recycle your old peripherals

Recycling helps everyone everywhere

Put simply, e-waste is a huge problem, and it's growing every year. In 2022, the world created 62 million metric tons of electronic waste, according to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor. That much waste produced in 1 year would fill up enough Peterbilts, Scanias, Macks, Volvos, and other such haulage trucks to form a line that would stretch the whole way around the planet at the equator.

Now, you can see the scale of the problem. But that's only part of it because it's not just plastics and other undesirables that are going into landfills. It's also toxic chemicals and dangerous metals like lithium, mercury, and lead, as well as potentially recyclable materials like gold, aluminum, copper, and rare earth metals. Most of these came from deep under the ground, where they were compounded in non-hazardous forms. After they're refined for manufacturing, they are often toxic to wildlife or local plants.

Peripherals have some of the lowest recycling rates, partly because of their size, which makes them easy to throw into a municipal collection bin. That's not good for anyone, so it's a win all around to be able to drop them off at big-box retail stores, which are trying to make e-waste recycling a more common (and convenient) practice.

Types of devices you should recycle

Almost everything from peripherals to laptops, but some things need processing at specific locations

Whatever old tech you have stored at home, you can likely recycle it easily at Best Buy or other big-box stores in the US. Larger items like air conditioners, appliances, televisions, and some types of batteries can't be recycled there, so check before you go. Depending on what you have and where you are located, you might even manage to get them to come pick things up from you, saving you the trip.

If you're in the UK, check out Recycle Your Electricals for a list of local recycling facilities near you. Perhaps even your local council will come to your home and pick up your unwanted tech. You'll also want to check out any restrictions on how many devices you can recycle per day and any tips about removing your personal data, batteries, or other miscellaneous things that you should know before going to the store.

The process is fairly simple if you're recycling peripherals or accessories. It gets more complex if you're recycling a laptop, phone, or tablet. You'll want to remove any Apple devices from Find My and any Android devices from Find My Device before factory resetting them to ensure they get fully removed from your account. If you've got PC hardware lying around, maybe think about some projects you could turn things into with a little bit of research. By upcycling, you can both save money and avoid generating e-waste.

Some stores will give you coupon codes for recycling

Time to turn trash into cash for your next setup

As an added incentive to recycle your e-waste instead of letting it languish tucked away somewhere, many tech companies offer discounts you'll get if you drop off your old peripherals at certain stores. Best Buy has a collection of offers, including 20% off select Logitech accessories if you recycle any PC or PC gaming accessory. That coupon can be used for up to four peripherals or accessories from any range of Logitech or Logitech G mice, keyboards, webcams, headsets, and speakers.

If you can't get into a store, many companies like Logitech and others have mail-back programs. In these programs, you can return small accessories and peripherals by mail so they can be appropriately recycled and disposed of. You're not likely to get any discount coupons for doing so, but you don't have to leave your house, which makes recycling more convenient.

• Logitech G Astro A50 X Lightspeed

  Microphone

  Omnidirectional

  Compatibility

  PC, Xbox, PlayStation, MacOS

  What's Included

  Base station, USB-A to USB-C cable, USB-C power combo cable, AC Adapter

  Weight

  12.8 oz, or 363 grams

  Battery Life

  24 hours playtime

  Spatial Audio

  Dolby Atmos + Windows Sonic Spatial Audio Compatible 3D Audio on PS5

  The Logitech G Astro 50 X Lightspeed is a gaming headset for multi-platform gamers with a twist-it uses HDMI to get the audio signal from your device so works with PC, PlayStation and Xbox.

  $380 at Logitech $380 at Best Buy

• Logitech MX Creative Console

  Connectivity

  USB-C (button controller) and Bluetooth (dial)

  Integrations

  Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro, Audition, After Effects, Teams, Spotify, Apple Music, and more

  Programmable Buttons

  Yes

  Wireless

  Bluetooth (only for the dialpad)

  Price

  $200

  Keypad

  Nine programmable buttons and two fixed-function for changing pages

  The Logitech MX Creative Console is a great way to take physical control over the creative process, especially if you're deep into the Adobe ecosystem.

  $200 at Logitech $200 at Best Buy

• Logitech G Pro X Superlight

  The Logitech G Pro X Superlight stays on top of the pack if you're looking for the best wireless gaming mouse. It's super light, offers an excellent design for all sorts of grips and Logitech's lag-free Lightspeed wireless connectivity. It also supports wireless charging, but only through Logitech G’s Powerplay mousepad.

  $160 at Logitech $160 at Best Buy

Use your old peripherals to save on your new ones

Whether your old accessories and peripherals are worn out or you just have an itch to upgrade, don't toss them into the trash or leave them around gathering dust. Take them into your local retail store that offers e-waste recycling services, and put those resources back into the manufacturing stream where they belong. You might even get a little incentive to sweeten the deal, making the cost of your upgrades a little lower in the process.