How to get rid of old computers and electronics

Step 1: Back up what you need

Copy photos, documents and anything else you want to keep to an external drive or a cloud account. Check old email and saved passwords too. Once the machine leaves, you will not get it back.

Step 2: Wipe the data

Use the reset option built into the operating system to erase the drive and return the computer to factory settings. Sign out of accounts first. For an old machine that will not boot, you can remove the hard drive and keep it, or physically destroy it. Phones and tablets should be signed out of their accounts and reset too.

Step 3: Decide where it goes

• Still works: a family member, school group or local listing may want it.
• Old or broken: electronics recycling, not the trash. Many towns run an electronics drop-off or collection day.
• Several pieces, or part of a bigger cleanout: add them to a pickup.

Why not the trash?

Monitors, TVs and computers contain materials that should not go in household trash, and Maine has an electronics recycling program for many of them. Treat them as electronics, not garbage.

What counts as electronics

Desktop towers, laptops, monitors, printers, keyboards, speakers, game consoles, cable boxes and old TVs. Batteries should be removed from devices where you can, and loose batteries kept out of the pile.

Posted prices

Every job starts from the same posted price card. A single item is $64. A small job, up to about 1.5 cubic yards, is $119. A medium job, about 3 cubic yards or roughly a room, is $189. A large job, about 5 cubic yards or roughly a garage bay, is $239. An extra-large job, about 10 cubic yards, is $479, and anything past 10 cubic yards is $45 per yard. A mattress or box spring is $64 alone or $20 each on a job. A washer, dryer, stove or dishwasher is $69 alone and free on a job. A fridge, freezer, air conditioner or dehumidifier is $99 alone or $35 on a job. A TV or monitor is a $15 add-on. Construction debris is the job price plus 20%. Estate cleanouts start at $499 and hoarding cleanouts at $599. The full list is on the pricing page.

Offices and home offices

Clearing a home office or a small business often means desks, chairs, filing cabinets and a stack of computers at once. That is priced as one job by size, with monitors at $15 each. Businesses can be invoiced. We do not shred documents, so handle files before the pickup.

Old laptops and tablets

Laptops and tablets are small, but they still hold your data. Reset them, remove any memory cards, and keep chargers and cords together so nothing is left behind.

Printers, cords and accessories

Printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, routers and boxes of cables can all go with the computers. Put them in one box or bin so the crew can see everything in your photos. Remove ink and toner cartridges if you want to recycle them separately. Old phones and tablets should be reset and signed out before they leave the house.

How booking works

Send photos through the quote form or text them to (207) 333-1422. No card is needed to ask. Caden looks at the photos and sends your price. If it works for you, you pay from the link he sends and that confirms the slot. The price we send is the price you pay unless the pile changes. If you add things after the price goes out, the price is updated before work starts, not after.

Related: TV and electronics disposal in Auburn, office cleanouts, posted prices

If you want it handled for you, start with our electronics removal page. Related reading: How to get rid of old furniture.