You know the drawer. The one filled with tangled charging cables, dead earbuds, ancient phones and random electronics you’re pretty sure you haven’t used since 2019.
You know you probably shouldn’t throw it in the trash. But what are you supposed to do with it? We’re here to help.
Tech Has a Waste Problem
We love our technology. Phones, laptops, headphones, chargers, watches, tablets—the list keeps getting longer. But every new device eventually becomes an old device. And as technology gets cheaper, smaller and easier to replace, the pile gets bigger.
That’s what International E-Waste Day is all about: raising awareness around what happens to our electronics when we’re finished with them.
Because here’s the thing: tech doesn’t disappear when we’re done with it. When electronics end up in the trash, valuable materials are lost and harmful substances can end up where they shouldn’t.
There’s a better way.
Good for the Planet Has Always Been Part of Nimble
When we started Nimble, we wanted to make technology better for the planet. That meant looking at the whole life of a product—not just what goes into it, but what happens when you’re finished with it.
Today, that work comes down to three things: Recovery. Materials. Packaging. We work to recover old tech. We use certified recycled materials and less virgin material in our products. And we make our packaging without plastic.
Because selling you something new without taking responsibility for the old stuff is how we ended up here. And we’re not going to pretend we’ve solved it. Not perfect. Better and still improving.
Old Tech Needs a Better Exit
That’s why, in 2018, we started our partnership with Homeboy Electronics Recycling.
Homeboy is an R2-certified electronics recycler and social enterprise based in Los Angeles. They give old electronics a more responsible next step through reuse, refurbishment and recycling—while creating meaningful employment opportunities for people facing systemic barriers to work.
When your old tech reaches Homeboy, it doesn’t simply disappear into a recycling bin. Devices are sorted and evaluated. Working electronics may be refurbished or remarketed. Materials that have reached the end of their useful life are separated for recovery. And data-bearing devices are securely handled, including drive wiping and physical destruction when necessary.
That’s what responsible recycling looks like: knowing where your stuff goes and what happens next. And we’ve got the receipts.
Our Impact With Homeboy
25,044 lbs.
of e-waste diverted
432 lbs.
of toxic metals diverted
20,966 lbs.
of greenhouse gas emissions reduced
313
job hours created*
*Impact metrics from our partnership with Homeboy Electronics Recycling, 2018–2025.
Not bad for a bunch of stuff that was probably sitting in somebody’s junk drawer.
And Homeboy is just part of the bigger picture. Since launching our recycling program, Nimble has helped divert more than 4.2 million pounds of waste.
Okay, But How Do I Recycle My Old Tech?
This is the easy part.
With a qualifying Nimble purchase, you get a prepaid shipping label for up to 1 lb. of old electronics.
That can include:
- Cell phones, smartphones and tablets
- Cords, cables and wires
- Headphones and earbuds
- Wall adapters and car chargers
- Digital cameras
- Wearables and fitness trackers
- Handheld gaming devices
- Hard drives and storage devices
- Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
Pack up your eligible electronics, print your free shipping label, send it in and our certified recycling partner will take it from there.
Have more than 1 lb. to recycle? You can find additional recycling options through Homeboy and local certified collection programs.
We Can’t Fix Tech’s Waste Problem Alone
We know recycling isn’t going to solve the entire e-waste problem. And we’re not going to pretend that putting something in a recycling bin means every piece magically becomes something new.
It doesn’t.
But responsible recycling can help keep useful materials in circulation, reduce what ends up in landfills and make sure the stuff that can’t be reused is handled responsibly.
So, What Do You Do With Your Old Tech?
Don’t put it in the trash. Don’t let it live in your junk drawer forever.
Recycle it.
And if you have a qualifying Nimble purchase, we’ll help you do it for free. Because technology should be good for the planet—even when you’re done with it.