Portable devices
What items can we take?
We can take both working and broken devices. Please return working devices to factory settings if possible! Please clear any Apple devices of their activation lock and remove them from your Apple account. We can also take the chargers that go with your devices, but please save any other chargers for our cords and chargers category!
Cell phones
Tablets
Laptops
E-readers
MP3 players
GPS devices
External hard drives
Cameras
Gaming devices
Remote controls
Modems and routers
Keyboards and mice
Wireless or corded
Headphones and earbuds
Smart watches
What isn’t in this category?
We're just sticking to small devices for this category. Please ask us if you're uncertain.
Smoke detectors
Printer cartridges
TVs
Monitors
Computer towers
Appliances
Lamps & lighting
Cords
Save these for our cords and chargers category!
Electric toothbrushes
Vape pens
Portable devices.
Every year, there is a new upgrade or the next best version of your devices.
Sitting around the house are obsolete tablets, e-readers, phones, laptops, music players, and GPSs that just don't get used anymore.
These devices can still be used by others or broken down to be recycled over and over again. Don't just let your Walkman collect dust!
Why use Ridwell?
Some devices can be reused while others are taken apart to be recycled into new things.
Please return your devices to factory settings if possible, but if you're not able to not then don't worry! Our partners will securely wipe the information from every single device we give them.
Partnering with Free Geek Twin Cities
Free Geek Twin Cities is dedicated to addressing the problems of The Digital Divide and Electronic Waste in their local community through direct, tangible action. The rapid growth in technology has generated a mountain of electronic waste, and Free Geek Twin Cities has been working to keep this electronic waste out of the landfill since 2009. Their goal is to reuse this material and refurbish it into new electronic devices, which are then sold in their thrift store or donated. When electronic waste cannot be reused, they recycle it in an environmentally and socially friendly way.
FAQ
How can I prepare my Apple products for re-use or recycling?
If you'd like the opportunity for your Apple device to be reused, please follow these directions to clear them of their activation lock and remove them from your Apple account. If the activation lock is activated, your Apple devices will need to be recycled.
Where can I responsibly dispose of vape pens/e-cigarettes?
These items should be dropped off at your local Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
Why can't I recycle my Vape Pens/e-cigarettes with Ridwell?
Vape pens and e-cigarettes are considered hazardous waste in Minnesota, which is a material that Ridwell is, sadly, not set up to handle.
Join the movement to build a future without waste.
