Phone
Erase it and sign out of Find My or Google first. A working phone pays: Swappa gets you the most, Apple and Best Buy trade-in get you store credit with no effort, Back Market mails you a check. A broken or ancient one is still useful to someone: every MPD station lobby has a box for phones that get wiped and handed to domestic-violence survivors for 911 calls. Apple recycles any phone free. Nothing about a phone belongs in the trash.
Last verified October 2026
Updated Friday, October 30, 2026 · real listings, pulled from 130+ sources and reviewed by a person.
Wipe it first: back it up, sign out of Find My or your Google account, then erase it. The FTC's step-by-step.
Drop it off · 5
This is now the ONLY city route for HHW and electronics — there is no walk-in drop-off anymore.
free · You bring it · Must pre-register on Eventbrite · Hazardous-waste processing · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- RFK Stadium parking lots: Lot 8 at 2500 Independence Ave SE or Lot 3 at 2400 E Capitol St NE (varies by date)
- When
- Roughly twice per quarter: one Thursday 10am–2pm and one Saturday 8am–2pm. 2026 dates: Feb 5, Mar 14, Apr 30, May 2, Aug 27, Sep 12, Sep 24, Oct 22; next is Sat Nov 14, 2026 at RFK Lot 3. No entry after 2pm.
Find events by searching dclibrary.libnet.info for "Fix-It DC". The catch: Coaches supply tools, NOT replacement parts.
free · You bring it · Register on Acuity via… · Goes to a person · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- Rotating DCPL branches — 2026 examples: West End Library 2301 L St NW (Jul 15); Shepherd Park Library 7420 Georgia Ave NW (Sep 12); historically MLK Library Fab Lab 901 G St NW
- When
- Irregular, roughly monthly-ish; 2-hour sessions, weekday evenings or Saturday afternoons
Apple Carnegie Library & Apple Georgetown — trade-in / free recycling
★ 3.9 on Google (1384)Free recycling "no matter the model or condition," including accessories; Apple plus many Samsung/Google phones get credit; in-store needs photo ID; in-store valuation can differ from online estimate.
$0 · You bring it · immediate · Recycled · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- 801 K St NW, DC 20001; 1229 Wisconsin Ave NW, DC 20007
- When
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Best Buy Columbia Heights — in-store electronics recycling
★ 4.1 on Google (2902)Tenleytown Best Buy closed in 2018–19 — Columbia Heights is the only DC store.
$0 for most items · You bring it · immediate · Recycled · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- 3100 14th St NW, Ste 203 (DC USA), Washington, DC 20010 Map
- When
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Staples Downtown DC — electronics, ink, battery recycling
★ 3.7 on Google (84)Older Staples page said "small-format stores in NYC and Washington, DC don't accept electronics" and set a 7-item/day limit — call 1250 H St before hauling a desktop.
$0 electronics/ink/toner · You bring it · immediate · Recycled · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- 1250 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005 Map
- When
- Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 12–6pm (third-party listing)
Charity · 2
Goodwill of Greater Washington — New York Ave NE donation center
★ 3.9 on Google (510)The ONLY DC drop-off on Goodwill's current list; South Dakota Ave and Glover Park are no longer listed. The catch: Electronics must work with all cords.
free drop-off · They come to you, for a fee · none for drop-off · Resold · Last verified October 2026
- Drop-off
- 1403 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 Map
- When
- Donations Mon–Sat 9–6:30, Sun 10–5
Used/unwanted cell phones; chargers and batteries welcome.
free · You bring it · none · Goes to a person · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- Donation boxes at every MPD district station and substation; MPD HQ Victim Services, 441 4th St NW; mail to DCCADV, 1101 14th St NW Suite 300, DC 20005
- When
- Station lobbies 24/7; HQ by appointment
Give it away · 1
Only route that reliably moves things charities refuse: mattresses, used cribs/car seats, half-used paint, particleboard furniture, broken-but-fixable electronics, pet gear. The catch: Post a photo, flaws, dimensions; "porch pickup, first to grab" works best; expect no-shows.
free · Not stated · hours–days · Goes to a person · Last verified October 2026
Sell it to a store · 2
Best Buy Trade-In (Columbia Heights, DC USA)
★ 4.1 on Google (2902)Phones, tablets, laptops, consoles, some accessories. The catch: Gift card only.
none · They come to you · immediate · Not stated · Last verified October 2026
- Drop-off
- 3100 14th St NW, Washington DC 20010 Map
- When
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Buyback quotes run 30–50% below private-sale (Swappa) values; offers get revised downward on inspection and you may pay return shipping. The catch: Back Market examples: iPhone 13 Pro Max up to $400, MacBook Pro 2021 up to $900, PS4 Slim $110.
$0 shipping · Not stated · 1–2 weeks · Goes to a person · Last verified October 2026
- Booking
- offer locked 21 days (Back Market); payment 5–6 business days after refurbisher receives; Gazelle PayPal/Amazon 24–48h, check ~14 days
Who refuses phone
- 311 bulk pickup — NOT accepted: electronics/TVs, hazardous/liquids, construction debris, drywall, bricks, dirt, pallets, tree stumps, broken bins, bagged trash.
- Fort Totten — NO electronics, paint, HHW, tires (per reopened page), construction debris, dirt, concrete, roofing, stumps.
- Ward Roll-Off Days — NO hazardous materials, liquid paint, tires, or electronics (some older Roll-Off pages allowed e-cycling — confirm per event).
- Martha's Table — Does NOT accept mattresses, hangers, medical equipment, furniture, household goods, appliances, electronics.
- SOME — REFUSES furniture, exercise equipment, TVs/radios, large appliances, computers/electronics, used Tupperware, decor, books/magazines, DVDs/CDs, games/puzzles, strollers/car seats/cribs, toys, jewelry, paint/chemicals, tools, plants, sporting goods, bikes/scooters, wheelchairs/walkers, medical equipment, pet items.
Other things to get rid of
Baby and kids' gear · Batteries, bulbs · Bike · Books · Clothes, shoes, linens · Computer, tablet · Doors, tile, lumber · Fridge, stove, AC · Mattress · Medication · Paint, chemicals · Papers to shred · Records, instruments · Sofa, chairs, table, dresser · Sports gear · Toys · TV