It likely won’t be worth a fortune, but you can at least make some cash off old cables that you’re never going to use again. Any metal recycling center will accept your copper-cored wires, and will likely accept most of your small electronics, in addition to other wires and cables.
Can you recycle old cables and Chargers?
One of the easiest ways to recycle any old electronics, including cables and chargers, is through Best Buy. Every Best Buy location in the US has a kiosk for recycling just inside the door. According to their site, they accept "rechargeable batteries, wires, cords, cables and plastic bags," as well as a host of electronic devices.
What to do with old electrical cables?
If removed from the sheath, pure copper wire can be sold for salvage. It likely won't be a fortune, but you could at least make some cash off old cables that you're never going to use again. Not everyone upgrades computers or other electronics as quickly as you do.
Can you make money off of old electrical wires?
It likely won’t be worth a fortune, but you can at least make some cash off old cables that you’re never going to use again. Any metal recycling center will accept your copper-cored wires, and will likely accept most of your small electronics, in addition to other wires and cables. You can also sell or recycle your used electronics.
Are micro-USB cables still worth keeping?
We simply can’t deny that the Micro-USB connection is still as popular as ever, so they’re definitely worth keeping. Business laptops, older televisions, and several computer monitors still use the standard DisplayPort. Although not as common as HDMI cables, they’re still used in typical A/V systems so it may be too soon to toss them.
What should I do with old computer cables?
Dispose of electronics Cords, chargers, plugs and old devices shouldn't be thrown in the trash. They can often be recycled at stores such as Best Buy or at local businesses. Also keep an eye out for local e-cycling events. But if you want to get rid of the old items quickly, you can take them to a dump for disposal.
Can old computer cords be recycled?
Computer and television cables are just as recyclable as the items they power. In fact, some might argue they are even easier to recycle. They contain fewer materials, have fewer parts and are not made with any toxic materials.
Do I need to keep old Ethernet cables?
Ethernet is the lifeline of Internet access and you should always have at least one spare around. There are different types of Ethernet, the most common being Cat5e. The writing on the outside of the cable will say what type it is. If you have an older Cat5 cable it can be thrown away, but keep everything else.
Are electrical cords worth anything?
As a precious metal known to us all, the copper are an amazing valuable source. It is a reusable, recyclable material. Most scrap yards pay more for pre-stripped wires, and non-stripped power cords are heavily discounted by scrap yards so that you will get less payment.
Does Best Buy take old wires?
Best Buy operates the largest retail collection program in the country, having collected and responsibly disposed of more than 1.5 billion pounds of electronics and appliances. And there's no charge to recycle most items. That means you can bring in your old cords, cables, VCRs — you name it.
Can you throw cables in the bin?
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) should not be placed in your general waste bin. The reason is because electrical equipment often contains hazardous substances and requires separate collection and recycling.
Are Cat 8 cables worth it?
The primary benefit of Cat8 cabling is faster throughput over short distances: 40 Gbps up to 78' and 25 Gbps up to 100'. From 100' to 328', Cat8 provides the same 10Gbps throughput as Cat6A cabling.
How old is Cat6 cable?
Category 6 Ethernet cables, also known simply as Cat6 cables, were first released back in 2002. That may seem like a lifetime ago in terms of technological advancements, which makes it even more impressive that Cat6 Ethernet cables are still one of the preferred options 15 years later.
What is the difference between CAT 5 and Cat6?
Compared to Cat5/5e cables, Cat6 cables have stricter performance specifications and significantly higher data transfer speeds at greater distances. They are more tightly wound than Cat5 cables, and the cable conductors and cable sheath are thicker as well.
Do computer cables have copper?
Computer Wire – Most wires from computers and power cables from computers are low copper content which is why we named the category computer wire. This category also has many other types of wire in it because of the percentage of copper this category is for insulated wire with a copper content of around 30 -37%.
Can you sell cable?
How to Recycle Old Wires and Cables in Your Area. Copper is selling for a little over $3 a pound. Any metal recycling center will be happy to accept your copper-cored wires, and the more the better. BestBuy, Staples and other stores that electronics will help out with electronics recycling, too.
How much copper is in a power cable?
The copper content of nonmetallic (NM) cable is between 55% and 56%. Double-insulated heavy-duty home wiring.
What type of cable do I use for my laptop?
DisplayPort Cable. (Image Source: Amazon) Business laptops, older televisions, and several computer monitors still use the standard DisplayPort. Although not as common as HDMI cables, they’re still used in typical A/V systems so it may be too soon to toss them.
Why is HDMI cable useless?
For the most part, widespread incompatibility with various electronic equipment and inferior technology is rendering this cable useless. Most of us are using HDMI on our computer monitors because they are far superior display connectors than DVI. Safe to say, this video-only connector is practically obsolete.
What is a spade shaped USB cable?
These are the classic USB cables with a “house-shaped” connector on one end and a rectangular, spade-shaped connector on the other. This is commonly utilized in printers, old hard drives, and even some audio devices. Hang on to a couple of these for now, especially when you own the gadgets we’ve just mentioned.
What devices use aux cables?
Any audio-enabled device you have uses an aux cable. Think about computers, car stereos, smartphones, home theaters, tablets, TVs, monitors, and even armrests on airline seats. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the micro-plug used in analog headphone ports. So it won’t hurt to keep a few of these around the house.
Is there an analog cable for video?
An old analog connector for standard definition videos has no place in a world where high-definition is the norm. Yes, we’re referring to the S-Video cable. There’s a high probability that you don’t have any more equipment that works with this largely obsolete technology.
Do camera chargers use cable?
Unfortunately, they’re not as common nowadays. Although camera chargers still use this cable, they’re not the only one. Others like multi-phone chargers use them, too. With that, it certainly wouldn’t hurt having one stored just in case.
Can you use a VGA cable with a LCD monitor?
If you don’t have one, there’s no point keeping this around. VGA is already an old analog technology and you won’t find any more devices using it nowadays. Worse, the cable doesn’t work well with the widely used LCD monitors.
What is USB A to B?
Keep: USB A to B. That odd looking, boxy cable you found in a drawer that doesn't seem to fit anything is probably a USB A to B cable, most commonly used in printers. Keep. It's good to have one of these on hand, especially for printers or audio interfaces.
Is S-Video cable deprecated?
You've seen this cable a million times in your cable drawer, but you don't know what it goes to: it's S-Video and it's completely deprecated. It's an old analog connector for standard-definition video.
Is DisplayPort still popular?
Keep. While it's not as ubiquitous as HDMI, DisplayPort is still popular in the audio/video space and it's too soon to write it off. It can support multiple video streams over a single connection and, with the new 1.3 specification, it can support up to 8K.
Can VGA play on LCD?
It's virtually aged out and won't be found on many devices at all anymore. It doesn't play well with LCD monitors and should probably be avoided, if possible.
Do you need a two prong cord for a camera charger?
Keep. You may never need one of these 2-prong cables, but having one on hand won't hurt.
Can you use a SATa cable to recover data?
SATA cables can be a total life saver when something catastrophic happens to your computer. If your motherboard dies or, for some reason you can't power on your computer, you can remove the hard drive and still recover the data with a SATA cable. Even better is a SATA to USB cable, but either way, it's worth it to keep a SATA cable around.
Is electronic waste bad for the planet?
Electronic waste is the fastest growing sector of the waste stream. In fact, 85% of our e-waste is sent to landfills and incinerators, and that’s not good for the planet.
Is copper a conductor?
Though other rare metals are used to manufacture wires and cable as well, copper is ultimately the most widely used electrical and electronic conductor on Earth. In the past few years, copper has become scarce, leading to higher prices, which in turns raises our cost of buying electronics, as well as more copper mines.
Sell Them On Online Forums
Depending on how recent your parts are, there may be folks willing to buy them. But, instead of heading to Craigslist or eBay, the first place we'd check is a hardware-based forum with a dedicated selling section, like Hard Forum, AnandTech's classifieds, the Overclock.net Marketplace, or Reddit's /r/hardwareswap.
Join a User Group or Computer Club and Sell Your Old Parts There
Local user groups and computer clubs used to be the primary way for like-minded tweakers and system builders to gather, discuss, trade parts, and share knowledge. Many of those clubs are long gone, but some still exist online, and still retain their local roots.
Sell to an Electronics Recycler or Reprocessor
Another solid option is to find a computer recycler or component reprocessing company that's willing to buy your old gear.
Check With Your Local Hackerspace
Hackerspaces are another place where people often need or make use of old electronics. We've shown you how to find and get involved with nearby hackerspaces, but even if you're not a member the space may be interested in your old electronics.
Check with Local Schools, Libraries, or even Local Governments
Schools, libraries, and local governments are all usually willing to accept donations, but not necessarily sales. You may have to jump through some legal or registration hoops in order to sell old equipment to a school or library, even if you have a garage full of stuff, so be ready for that if that's the avenue you want to take.
How much of e-waste is recycled?
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15 to 20 percent of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills, incinerators and are illegally exported to developing countries.
Can you use an electronic device for a while?
Common practice is to use an electronic device for a while and discard it once the new model comes out . Unfortunately, if the new model or device has a different charging port it renders your old collection of charging cables virtually useless.
Can you sell copper wire?
When removed from the sheath, pure copper wire can be sold for salvage. It likely won’t be worth a fortune, but you can at least make some cash off old cables that you’re never going to use again. Any metal recycling center will accept your copper-cored wires, and will likely accept most of your small electronics, in addition to other wires and cables. You can also sell or recycle your used electronics.
Does Best Buy accept plastic bags?
According to the Best Buy website, they accept “rechargeable batteries, wires, cords, cables and plastic bags.”. Check out their website to see if Best Buy will accept what you want to recycle.
Can you use home entertainment cords with other devices?
Additionally, with the exception of some Apple products, most home entertainment cords and cables can be used with other devices.
STEM programs
Schools and even groups like Boy Scouts of America have STEM programs or projects that often use older technology. Make a few phone calls to nearby troops or high schools to see if they are in need of some older cables or wires. They very well may not be so outdated for educational purposes.
Best Buy
One of the easiest ways to recycle any old electronics, including cables and chargers, is through Best Buy. Every Best Buy location in the US has a kiosk for recycling just inside the door. According to their site, they accept "rechargeable batteries, wires, cords, cables and plastic bags," as well as a host of electronic devices.
Repurpose it for yourself
You can also consider doing what Instructables user brucedamoose16 did. He clipped off the ends of an old D-sub cable and stripped the wire of its sheathing. This provided over 200 feet (61 meters) of color-coded hookup wire and he used the braided shield wire as desoldering braid.
Salvage
If removed from the sheath, pure copper wire can be sold for salvage. It likely won't be a fortune, but you could at least make some cash off old cables that you're never going to use again.
A friend or family member
Not everyone upgrades computers or other electronics as quickly as you do. Before discarding a giant collection of cables, make sure to ask your friends and family members if they might be able to use them.
Where do old electronics get recycled?
Many of them get recycled but there are quite a few that get boxed up and stored in the attic or the basement for what is likely an eternity until they are thrown out. If you’ve got boxes of old electronics stored somewhere in your home, you may want to take them out now.
How much did Henry Ford pay for the Apple I?
In October 2014, Henry Ford paid over $900,000 for an Apple I, and the next month, one was sold at a Christie’s auction for $365,000. 2. Original 128k Macintosh. In 1984, Apple released their original Macintosh to great fanfare. For the exorbitant price of $2,495 (over $5,000 in today’s money), the cute all-in-one computer could be yours.
How much did Texas Instruments speak and spell cost in 1978?
The Texas Instruments Speak & Spell cost $50 in 1978, which is almost $200 in today’s dollars. These days, a working Speak & Spell can be found on eBay for anywhere from $30 to well over $100 if it’s in really good shape. There’s even a market for Speak & Spell parts, and broken models can even bring in $10 or $15. 9.
