For those who have an “old electronics box” in a basement or simply an iPhone that has seen better days, it’s worth considering recycling.

Where is the best place to recycle old cell phones?

If you don’t want to spend hours looking for the right place to recycle your old cell phoneshere is a list of 10 options. Some are buyback programs or official channels, and others are nonprofit donations.

1. Best Buy

Best buy has recycling kiosks in its U.S. stores and offers free in-store recycling. The company generally limits the number of devices to three per family per day. It works with recycling companies to ensure phones and other electronics don’t end up in landfills.

2. Staples

Staples accepts laptops, mobile phones, batteries, accessories and more. Staples has more than 1,000 stores in the United States and select international countries. Stores offer gift cards in exchange for taking back certain devices. Rewards members can earn points by bringing in devices for recycling.

3. Your carrier or manufacturer

Many carriers or manufacturers offer recycling programs. AT&T has an exchange program for unwanted phones and accessories, regardless of manufacturer or carrier. The owner receives a “promo card” to reduce the price of a new phone or other purchase. Verizon also offers a trade-in program where the owner receives an e-gift card once they send in the phone and have it reviewed.

Apple stores and Google recycle used products for free.

4. Local establishments

Your city undoubtedly has places to recycle old phones. Most government websites, including those in New Yorkoffer instructions on where to recycle phones. Many cities have nonprofit organizations that also donate old phones. The EPA has the ability to find out which electronics you can recycle through mail-in options.

SEE: Recycling of plastics and other waste can be a key element in the life cycle of technological products.

5. Eco-Cell

Eco-Cell is an e-waste recycling company based in Louisville, Kentucky. He partners with nonprofits and organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute. The bins are located at coffee shops and other businesses across the country, where collected phones are shipped to Eco-Cell in Louisville. If the phones are reusable, they resell them and return part of the money to the owner. If they are not reusable, the phones are recycled and the owner receives money for the value of the recycled materials.

6. Medic Phone Donation Program

The Hope Phones campaign was launched in 2009 by Medic Mobile, which works to advance healthcare in 16 countries using mobile technology. Now known as Medic Telephone Donation ProgramIndividuals, non-profit organizations, groups or businesses can donate old phones. Mobile devices are recycled and revalorized, so that the non-profit organization can acquire new technologies for this area. Most older models are priced at $5, but newer smartphones are regularly priced at $80, according to the website. Submit a phone to the program by packaging it and shipping it to the Colorado address listed on the website.

7. Cell phones for soldiers

Cell phones for soldiers is a nonprofit organization that provides free communications services to active duty military and veterans. Profits from telephones are used to purchase international calling cards. New or gently used cell phones are accepted, and each device valued at $5 turns into 2.5 hours of free talk time for Soldiers.

8. Gazelles

Gazelle is one of the most popular trade-in options for old cell phones. The resale company is headquartered in Boston, Louisville, Kentucky and Texas. Select your phone’s brand, model and carrier, describe its shape, then receive an offer. Ship it free and receive a check or gift card to Amazon.com or PayPal after Gazelle assesses its value.

9. Call to Recycle

Call to Recycle is a free recycling program for batteries and cell phones in the United States and Canada. It has collection boxes that can be placed anywhere with shipping permits, making it easy to mail them. Call2Recycle offers bulk shipping if you want to send them recyclables.

10. EcoATM

EcoATM is an automated kiosk that collects your unwanted cell phones and tablets and gives you money in exchange. It’s made by the same people who make CoinStar, so you’ll find them at checkouts at various grocery chains. It accepts devices from any era and in any condition and offers anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars in return. EcoATM partners with R2-certified e-waste recovery facilities to ensure they are recycled or given a second life to phones.

Some users report technical problems with EcoATM machines or receive less money than expected. When recycling monetary devices, be aware that the exchange ecosystem can be volatile. Services provide an initial estimate, but may pay differently once they inspect a specific device.

What to do with old cell phones?

Consider upgrading your old mobile phone’s hardware or software as much as possible before trading it in for a new model, provided everything is working properly. Don’t throw it on the curb if you want to get rid of it. It is illegal to throw electronic devices and their batteries in the trash in some states due to the toxic substances contained in their innards. Batteries, in particular, can be dangerous to dispose of.

How to prepare a cell phone for recycling?

Be sure to turn off your phone service and delete any data you want to keep. You may want to erase a phone using the factory reset option before recycling it to delete your personal data. If you send your device to a program where it will be physically recycled, all personal data on that phone will be destroyed. If a phone is refurbished, personal data will be deleted.