Quick Takeaways
- The world generated a record 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022, and only 22.3% of it was documented as properly collected and recycled.
- Devices thrown out that year held an estimated US $91 billion in metals, including about US $15 billion in gold and US $19 billion in copper.
- A factory reset hides data from view without fully erasing it, so sanitizing a device and removing its SIM and memory cards are important steps before letting it go.
- Lithium-ion batteries need their own drop-off, since they can start fires in household trash and curbside bins.
Upgrading to a new phone or laptop is exciting, and the old device sitting in a drawer still has real value. Preparing it carefully and taking it to a dedicated recycler lets the metals inside return to use while keeping your personal information safe.
For Toronto residents, Canada Iron & Metal has been recycling metal and electronics since 1937, and its yard near Jane and Dundas accepts items such as old computers, televisions, keyboards and circuit boards. Bringing retired tech to a recycler like this keeps valuable materials in circulation and frees up welcome space at home.
Your Drawer Is Full of Hidden Metals
A United Nations report found that the world produced 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022, an increase of 82% since 2010. Only 22.3% of that total was documented as properly collected and recycled, which means a large share of useful material has a great opportunity to find its way back into new products.
The materials inside these devices are worth a great deal. The report estimates that discarded electronics from 2022 held about US $91 billion in metals, including roughly US $19 billion in copper and US $15 billion in gold. Circuit boards and wiring are especially rich in these metals, so each old desktop tower or laptop helps return useful copper and gold to the supply chain.
Wipe Your Data Before You Let Go
Personal data deserves careful attention before any device leaves your home. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security explains that files moved to the trash can often be recovered, and that a factory reset hides data from the device’s interface without truly erasing it.
Back Up What Matters
Copy your photos and documents to a new device or a cloud account before you begin. A fresh backup protects the memories you want to keep in case something is removed by mistake during the wipe.
Sign Out and Sanitize
Disconnect the device from your online accounts, then use a sanitization method that permanently removes the stored data. For a device that was encrypted from the start of its life, the Cyber Centre notes that destroying the encryption key leaves the remaining data unreadable and unrecoverable.
Remove SIM and Memory Cards
A factory reset leaves SIM cards and memory cards untouched, so it is a good habit to pop them out and keep or destroy them separately. Devices that once held highly sensitive information can be sanitized first and then sent to a trusted destruction facility for extra peace of mind.
Give Lithium-Ion Batteries Their Own Trip
Rechargeable batteries power almost every modern gadget, and they need special handling at the end of their life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that these batteries can start fires in household trash and curbside recycling bins, and its research identified more than 240 fires at 64 waste facilities between 2013 and 2020.
Before dropping off a laptop or tablet, it helps to ask whether the recycler accepts devices with built-in batteries, since many metal recyclers prefer to receive them with the battery already removed. The EPA recommends bagging each loose battery individually with its terminals taped, then bringing it to a household hazardous waste depot or an electronics drop-off that accepts batteries.
A Simple Plan for Your Next Upgrade
A little preparation turns an old gadget into a resource for the next generation of technology. Back up your files, sanitize the device and set the battery aside, and your retired electronics will be ready for a responsible and rewarding new chapter.
