As we progress further into the digital age, the amount of discarded electronics and computer hardware continues to grow at an exponential rate. Both businesses and consumers cycle through laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, monitors, printers, batteries, cables, and various accessories at ever-quicker intervals. While technological innovation yields new capabilities and conveniences, it also generates a massive amount of waste that can pose environmental hazards if not properly recycled.
Across industries, technology leaders play a key role in developing and supporting sustainable computer hardware recycling programs. These initiatives divert e-waste from landfills, recover valuable raw materials for reuse, provide outlets for consumers and organizations to responsibly recycle devices, and help build more circular technology supply chains. In presenting the top 10 computer hardware recycling programs advancing green, ethical practices at scale, I outline leaders making a sizable impact today, while working to improve systems for managing technology waste into the future.
Their efforts promise to reduce environmental risks, maximize the value of finite natural resources, and pioneer closed-loop solutions as computing capacity continues evolving.
1. Everbex
A technology tools company with a focus on sustainability and renewable energy across markets. Everbex operates a Green Hardware Operator recycling program, acting as the main processor of tech equipment from device bids and scrapping. The program partners with a network of forward-facing IT refurbishers and recyclers to manage the intake, sorting, component reuse, and responsible disposal of devices ranging from PCs, laptops, tablets, printers, and more. Equipment goes through rigorous 11-point decontamination and testing to maximize resale potential and material reuse, while meeting legal standards. Items with reusable life get returned to the market through certified refurbishment vendors.
2. HP Planet Partner Program
As a leading technology manufacturer, HP offers free recycling through the HP Planet Partner Program for businesses and consumers with any brand of old computing equipment. To responsibly manage end-of-life computing hardware, the program includes robust national collection networks, innovative material recovery facilities, and established partnerships with expert recycling vendors globally. Equipment gets properly aggregated and shipped to specialized sites equipped to dismantle and separate commodities like plastics, metals, and circuit boards for responsible recycling. These materials can then serve as manufacturing inputs for new products across industries. Since launching in 1991, HP’s recycling program has steadily grown in scale and impact.
3. NextUse
NextUse operates a closed-loop technology buyback and recycling program primarily for corporate and enterprise customers. The company positions itself as an end-to-end IT asset disposition provider, managing equipment intake, data wiping, repair, refurbishing, reselling, and recycling functions. NextUse offers tailored hardware take-back programs as a service while guaranteeing secure data destruction and maximum value recovery from retired technology assets. The company’s expanding Green Technology Park infrastructure sorts, tests, and prepares devices for a second life through resale to extend usefulness.
4. Techcouncil
Based in Ghana, Techcouncil operates as a non-profit targeting electronics recycling while providing jobs for marginalized populations. The organization sources end-of-life and discarded electronics from businesses, retailers, and consumers to fuel its employment and sustainability initiatives. At Techcouncil’s manual disassembly facilities, disadvantaged groups like rural youth and those with disabilities or mental health conditions safely dismantle and sort equipment into component categories for recycling preparation. These jobs provide marginalized workers with a steady income, technical skills, and a path back into the labor market. Materials separated by workers get aggregated and sold to specialist recycling facilities both locally and abroad.
5. Cadence Design Systems
As a leading electronic design automation software company, Cadence employs a comprehensive e-waste reuse-recycle program most heavily focused on IT equipment like computers, servers, and data center infrastructure. Used electronics get collected from global office locations and are centralized for processing. A third-party partner first sanitizes and tests devices to identify units suitable for reuse, refurbishing those systems for internal donation or resale. Equipment beyond repair gets dismantled into commodity streams like plastics, metals, and circuit boards. Components get aggregated and shipped to specialist facilities equipped to safely recycle and recover these materials in alignment with e-waste regulations.
6. EcoATM
This on-demand tech recycling kiosk provider enables consumers to quickly trade-in used electronics at manned kiosk stations in retail locations across the United States. Users can bring in old smartphones, tablets, and other devices to instantly sell them back, keeping these items from wasting away unused. The kiosks assess device make, model, and condition to provide instant cash offers. Accepted items get wiped off private data and refurbished for resale where possible through third parties, keeping functioning tech in use. Kiosk cameras and ID scans also deter theft.
7. Recyclebank
Recyclebank incentivizes greener consumer and household practices, including responsible electronics recycling, through its rewards platform. The company partners with brands and recyclers to motivate participatory recycling through discounts, charitable contributions, sweepstakes, and other rewards. Recyclebank members can locate nearby e-waste drop-off centers to retire unwanted TVs, PCs, tablets, accessories, and more based on what items are accepted for recycling in their area. Submitting a recycling trip report earns points, which can be redeemed for rewards from brand partners like H&M and Carters.
8. GreenDisk
This Toronto-based IT lifecycle management company operates a closed-loop IT asset recovery program including end-of-life recycling. GreenDisk manages business-to-business processes for retiring IT equipment in a secure, sustainable manner. The company remarkets functional retired systems to extend usable life. For equipment no longer operational, GreenDisk dismantles items into commodities at its processing facilities and aggregates them for responsible recycling in partnerships aligned with e-waste regulations. All data-bearing electronics undergo certified data destruction. GreenDisk’s program strives for a 100% landfill diversion rate.
9. EcoLogic
Operating primarily in Latin America, EcoLogic provides comprehensive IT asset recovery spanning repair, reuse, resale, and recycling. The company manages business-to-business processes for retiring enterprise computing equipment securely and ethically. Functional systems get data wiped and resold locally or internationally to maximize reuse value. For equipment not salvageable, EcoLogic manually dismantles gear to enable commodity level recycling both in-house and through partnerships aligned with regional regulations.
10. EcoWaste International
A global ITAD provider, EcoWaste manages large-scale electronics recycling programs for businesses across asset classes like computers, mobile devices, servers, and networking equipment. The company partners with enterprise customers to secure recycling solutions tailored to business needs and local legal requirements. EcoWaste recycles electronics at its processing facilities, equipped to dismantle commodities, manage hazardous components like batteries and lighting, and aggregate commodities into batches suitable for responsible materials recovery.
