Everything’s bigger in Texas – including our responsibility to recycle. Whether you’re in Austin, Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio, Big Sky Recycling makes it simple to responsibly recycle or donate your old cell phones and tablets.
While Texas doesn’t currently have a statewide electronics recycling law, several local programs – like Austin Resource Recovery and Houston Recycles – encourage residents to safely dispose of e-waste. Big Sky Recycling provides an easy statewide mail-in option, so you can recycle responsibly no matter where you live in Texas.
Donate old phones today – shipping is free when you recycle 5 or more devices.
Why Recycle Your Phone in Texas?
When you recycle your used phones with Big Sky Recycling, you help:
- Protect Texas communities and soil from heavy metal contamination.
- Recover reusable materials and reduce mining impact.
- Support charities for veterans, domestic violence survivors, and reforestation.
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Keep electronics out of Texas landfills and incinerators.
Texas doesn’t currently have a statewide electronics recycling law, which makes voluntary programs like Big Sky Recycling even more important.
What Devices We Accept in Texas
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Smartphones (Apple, Samsung, Google, etc.)
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Basic cell phones and flip phones
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iPads and Android tablets
We do not accept desktop computers, monitors, or printers.
How to Recycle Your Electronics in Texas
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Print a Shipping Label – Choose your charity and print a shipping label instantly.
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Package Your Devices – Securely pack phones or tablets (with batteries installed).
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Ship for Free – Drop off at any USPS location or schedule a pickup.
Your devices are securely wiped using NIST 800-88 standards before being reused or recycled.
Frequently Asked Questions – Texas Cell Phone Recycling
Yes! Big Sky Recycling accepts both working and broken phones. Even if your device is cracked or damaged, it still contains valuable materials like gold, copper, and lithium that can be recovered and reused. We make sure every phone is processed responsibly – working devices are tested and refurbished when possible, while non-functional ones are securely wiped and recycled through certified facilities. Recycling broken phones helps reduce electronic waste and prevents toxic materials from entering Texas landfills.
Currently, Texas does not have a statewide electronics recycling law requiring residents to recycle cell phones or other devices. However, manufacturers of computers and televisions are required to offer recycling programs under the Texas Computer and Television Equipment Recycling Programs.
While recycling phones is voluntary, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) strongly encourages responsible disposal. Big Sky Recycling provides a free, easy mail-in option available statewide – ensuring your old phones are securely erased and recycled the right way. Learn more about Texas e-waste initiatives at TCEQ.
Absolutely. Every device sent to Big Sky Recycling is securely wiped using certified data erasure software compliant with NIST 800-88 standards. This process permanently removes all personal information: photos, messages, contacts, and stored data – making recovery impossible.
For phones that can’t be powered on or accessed, we ensure secure physical destruction through our downstream R2-certified recycling partners. Whether your device is reused, refurbished, or responsibly recycled, your data is completely protected from start to finish.
Get Started Today
select a shipping method
SelfPaid Shipping
(1-4 Phones)
Help us by paying for shipping. This allows us to make a larger impact and provide more to charity.
PrePaid Shipping
(5+ Phones)
If you recycle five (5) or more cell phones, Big Sky Recycling will provide a free prepaid shipping label.