Can old chargers and cables go in recycling?

That drawer full of dead phone chargers, mystery USB cables, laptop bricks, earbuds, and adapters feels recyclable. It is metal and plastic. It looks useful. It also somehow multiplies every time you clean the kitchen junk drawer.

But most old chargers and cables should not go in your curbside recycling bin. They are usually handled through e-waste drop-off, retail takeback, special collection events, or, in some places, trash if no better option exists.

Direct answer

Old chargers and loose cables usually do not go in curbside recycling.

The better option is usually:

• E-waste drop-off for chargers, power adapters, laptop bricks, USB cables, HDMI cords, Ethernet cables, and similar electronics accessories
• Retail electronics recycling bins if a local store accepts small electronics or cords
• Municipal special collection if your city or county runs e-waste events
• Trash only if your local rules allow it and the item has no battery

Do not put cords, cables, or chargers in the recycling bin just because they contain metal. In many curbside systems, cords are treated as “tanglers.” They can wrap around sorting equipment and create problems at the recycling facility.

A simple USB cable is different from a power bank, wireless earbud case, or battery pack. If the item stores power, treat it like a battery-containing device and look for an e-waste or battery drop-off option. If you are dealing with loose household batteries too, see Trash or drop-off: household batteries.

Why the answer is not obvious

Chargers and cables sit in an awkward category. They are not food packaging. They are not bottles, cans, or paper. But they are also not just ordinary trash.

That is where people get tripped up.

A charging cable has copper or aluminum inside. A power adapter has metal, plastic, and small electronic components. A laptop charger may have a larger power supply brick. These materials can be recoverable, but curbside recycling programs are not built to pull apart cords and electronics accessories one by one.

Curbside recycling is designed for common packaging and paper. It works best when items are the right shape, size, and material for the sorting line. A floppy cord is basically the recycling plant version of throwing spaghetti into a fan. Not ideal.

So the issue is not whether a cord contains recyclable material. It is whether your curbside system can safely and efficiently handle it. Most cannot.

Common mistakes

The biggest mistake is tossing cables into the recycling bin loose.

It feels harmless. One little cable. One dead charger. One ancient iPhone cord from a phone you no longer own. But cords can tangle with other items and machinery. Recycling facilities often call them tanglers for a reason.

Another mistake is assuming every electronics store takes every cord. Some stores accept small electronics and accessories. Some only accept certain items. Some have limits. Some programs change over time. Check before making the trip if you are bringing a bag full of old tech spaghetti.

People also mix up chargers with battery-containing devices. A plain wall charger is not the same as a power bank. A USB cable is not the same as a wireless earbud case. Anything with a built-in rechargeable battery needs more caution and usually belongs in a battery or e-waste stream, not the trash and not curbside recycling.

A fourth mistake is donating unusable cables. Donation is great when the item still works and someone can realistically use it. But a cracked charger, frayed cable, missing laptop power supply, or mystery adapter from 2009 is not a gift. It is a chore you handed to a thrift store.

If your item is closer to a power strip, outdoor cord, or heavier electrical cord, the same curbside problem usually applies. See Can you recycle extension cords? for that version of the problem.

Quick checklist

Use this before you toss anything:

• Is it a loose charging cable, HDMI cable, Ethernet cable, or USB cord? Use e-waste drop-off if available.
• Is it a wall charger, laptop brick, or power adapter? Use e-waste drop-off or electronics takeback.
• Does it have a built-in battery? Do not put it in curbside recycling. Look for battery or e-waste drop-off.
• Is the cord frayed, burnt, swollen, leaking, or damaged? Keep it out of donation and handle it through a proper drop-off option.
• Does your city specifically accept cords in curbside recycling? Follow that local rule, but do not assume it.
• Are you unsure what the cable even belongs to? If it is not useful, treat it as e-waste rather than wishcycling it.

Local-rule caveat

Local rules matter a lot with electronics.

Some cities ban certain electronics from trash. Some allow small cords in trash but prefer drop-off. Some counties run occasional e-waste events. Some areas have permanent recycling centers. Retail takeback programs also vary by store and by item.

So the safe general rule is: do not put old chargers and cables in curbside recycling unless your local program clearly says they accept them there.

If your local waste site has a search tool, look up terms like “electronics,” “e-waste,” “cords,” “chargers,” “power adapters,” or “computer accessories.” Those pages are often more accurate than the generic recycling symbol logic people use in the kitchen.

Also, remove cords from devices before disposal if your local program asks for that. Some e-waste collectors want accessories bundled separately. Others accept everything together. Annoying? Yes. But still better than feeding a recycling truck a knot of cables and hoping for the best.

Practical takeaway

Old chargers and cables are usually drop-off items, not curbside recycling.

If it is a plain cable or wall charger, look for e-waste collection, electronics retail takeback, or a local recycling center. If it contains a battery, treat it with more care and use a battery or e-waste drop-off route. If there is no local drop-off option and the item has no battery, trash may be allowed in some places, but check your local rules first.

The quick household move: make one small bag or box labeled “e-waste,” toss dead cords and chargers in there, and empty it when you are already going near a drop-off spot. Much better than letting the junk drawer become a museum of obsolete ports.

Not sure what bin something belongs in? Look it up with What Bin Is This before you guess.