Have an old cell phone or tablet sitting in a drawer? Recycling it the right way protects your personal data and keeps hazardous battery materials out of Arizona landfills. Arizona Computer Recycling offers free, secure recycling for phones and tablets in Peoria, AZ and throughout Maricopa County.
Why Cell Phones and Tablets Need Special Handling
Smartphones and tablets contain lithium-ion batteries that can catch fire or explode if crushed, punctured, or tossed in a regular trash or recycling bin. Waste haulers see battery fires in their trucks every year because a phone was thrown away instead of recycled properly. On top of the fire risk, these devices also store your most sensitive personal data: photos, banking apps, saved passwords, emails, and text messages.
What We Do With Your Old Device
- Certified data destruction that wipes storage beyond recovery
- Safe removal and recycling of the lithium-ion battery
- Recovery of gold, silver, copper, and other valuable materials from the circuit board
- Responsible processing of plastics and glass instead of landfill disposal
Do I Need to Wipe My Phone First?
You don’t have to, but it’s a good habit before handing over any device. We perform certified data destruction on every phone and tablet we receive, so your information is fully wiped as part of our process even if you forget to do it yourself.
How to Recycle Your Phone or Tablet in Peoria, AZ
Drop off your device at our Peoria facility at 7642 W Vogel Ave, Bldg #3, Peoria, AZ 85345, or request a free pickup if you have a larger batch of electronics to recycle. Call 602-324-0747 with any questions, or visit our pickup request page to schedule a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just throw away an old cell phone?
No. Cell phones contain lithium-ion batteries that are classified as hazardous in the trash and can cause fires in garbage trucks and landfills. Arizona Computer Recycling accepts phones for free, proper recycling.
Do I need to factory reset my phone before recycling it?
It’s not required. We perform certified data destruction on every device we receive, which wipes your personal data beyond recovery as part of our standard process.
What happens to a working phone I recycle?
Devices are evaluated for responsible refurbishing or material recovery. Either way, your data is destroyed first, and functional components or materials like gold, silver, and copper are recovered rather than landfilled.
Can I recycle a phone that’s broken or won’t turn on?
Yes. Broken, cracked, or non-functioning phones and tablets are still accepted. We safely remove the battery and recover valuable materials from the components.
