The drawer problem: Why so many of us can’t let go of our old electronics, and what we can do about it

People don’t usually plan to hold onto their old devices, but that’s what many end up doing. Better information about recycling and reselling options could change that.

By: Eric Williams, Rochester Institute of Technology; Payam Saeedi, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Stacey Watson, University of Waterloo, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 18, 2026

Words: 790

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Eric Williams, Rochester Institute of Technology; Payam Saeedi, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Stacey Watson, University of Waterloo

Think about the last smartphone, tablet or smartwatch you stopped using. Odds are it is not in a recycling bin or a new owner’s hands; it is sitting in a drawer.

From our survey of 4,000 American consumers, we found the single most common thing people did with a device they were finished with was nothing …

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