TECH Signal 46
How To Safely Recycle Your Old USB Cables
↗
Discarded cables in landfills release harmful substances from their plastics and rubber, while their copper and aluminum can be recovered and reused—reducing the energy and water cost of mining new materials. Engineers managing hardware turnover or device labs can use retailer recycling programs to dispose of bulk cables responsibly.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
Retailers like Staples and Best Buy accept cables for recycling at service desks or via mail-in boxes, with Staples imposing a limit of seven items per day.
Cables contain copper and aluminum that can be recovered and returned to production, and their plastics and rubber can release harmful pollutants if landfilled or burned.
It is worth retaining a few legacy cables—USB-A, mini USB, micro USB—since older devices still require them, and some first-party cables retain resale or donation value.
THE CLUSTER