Goodwill processes donated electronics through refurbishment, resale and recycling programmes, helping keep e-waste out of landfills. This matters because discarded electronics can release toxic materials into soil and waterways, while the United States has no federal e-waste recycling framework.

Goodwill accepts many plugged-in or battery-powered items, including computers, parts, phones, consoles, cables and drives; what happens next depends on the item, its condition and the location. Working or valuable devices may be sold through local shops, auctions or Goodwill’s technology stores, while Dell Reconnect refurbishes salvageable items and recycles or safely disposes of the rest. Goodwill says it can wipe leftover data, and reports that its Grid stores divert about one million pounds of electronics from landfill annually; Dell says its partnership has kept 660 million pounds out of landfill over 20 years. Proceeds support Goodwill community and employment programmes.