Wipe Your Data Before You Drop-Off

Recycling starts with a data wipe—make it part of your e-waste routine

Before recycling your laptop, desktop, or other data-storing device, we strongly recommend wiping all personal data. Once your e-waste is dropped off, it cannot be retrieved, as it is immediately entered into a secure recycling process.

Drop-Off Locations

A Final Step Before
You Recycle

Before you drop off a computer, hard drive, or USB at one of our Ecycle Solutions collection points, we recommend taking a moment to remove any personal data from your device.

Once your item is dropped off, it can’t be retrieved—it goes straight into the recycling process, where it’s dismantled and sorted for material recovery. That process doesn’t include wiping your data, so it’s important to clear it beforehand.

Need a hand? Check out the helpful resources below for tips on how to wipe your data safely.

How to Wipe Your Data Before Recycling

Before wiping your device, it’s a good idea to check if there’s anything you’d like to keep

Step 1: Back Up Your Files

Save anything important to an external hard drive or cloud storage (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive).

Step 2: Factory Reset Your Device

This will erase all files and settings from your computer.

For Windows 10/11:

    1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery
    2. Under “Reset this PC,” click Get Started
    3. Choose Remove everything

For macOS:

    1. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R
    2. Select Disk Utility and erase the disk
    3. Reinstall macOS from macOS Utilities

Note: Sign out of iCloud, iTunes & other accounts before resetting.

Step 3: Wipe the Hard Drive (Optional for Extra Security)

Use a trusted third-party tool to overwrite the data.

Examples:

  • Windows: DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke), Eraser
  • Mac: Built-in secure erase option in Disk Utility (older macOS)
  • Paid tools: Blancco, CCleaner

This step ensures data cannot be recovered even with forensic tools.

Step 4: Confirm It's Clean

Turn the computer back on briefly to ensure it shows the setup/startup screen or a blank OS.

Now it’s ready for drop-off.

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