Every home or office upgrade leaves behind one familiar piece of tech — the old router. Maybe it’s collecting dust in a drawer, or still plugged in even though you’ve switched to a new model.
What most people don’t realize is that routers are part of the growing e-waste stream, packed with plastic, metals, and tiny circuit boards that don’t belong in landfills.
Recycling your old Wi-Fi router isn’t just a cleanup task — it’s a way to protect your data, preserve valuable materials, and support environmental sustainability. Certified electronics recycling centers can recover copper, aluminum, and plastic from these devices, while ensuring that every unit is processed according to R2 or e-Stewards standards.
More importantly, proper router recycling keeps toxic components out of the environment and supports the circular economy, where materials are reused instead of wasted.
Whether you’re clearing out old networking gear at home or retiring a stack of enterprise routers, choosing a certified recycler ensures both data privacy and eco-friendly disposal.
In this guide, we’ll explore exactly how to recycle routers the right way — from safely wiping your device to finding certified drop-off locations — and briefly touch on what to do with similar equipment like modems.
💡Key Takeaway: How To Recycle Routers
Old routers can be recycled through certified e-waste programs or manufacturer takeback services. Before recycling, perform a factory reset to erase Wi-Fi data. R2 or e-Stewards certified recyclers recover valuable materials like plastic, metal, and circuit boards while preventing landfill pollution. Recycling routers protects data, supports sustainability, and helps reduce the global e-waste footprint.
Ready to Recycle Your Old Router?
Join thousands of Bay Area residents choosing responsible router recycling with GreenCitizen.
Can You Recycle Routers?
Yes — routers are fully recyclable, and nearly every component inside them can be recovered or reused. Devices like Wi-Fi routers fall under small electronics recycling, handled by specialized e-waste recyclers who dismantle and process each part according to strict environmental standards.
During recycling, technicians separate circuit boards, plastic shells, wiring, and metal parts.
Each material follows a different recovery path — copper and aluminum are melted and reused, plastics are shredded for manufacturing, and electronic boards are processed to extract trace precious metals like gold or palladium.
Some recyclers and manufacturers also refurbish functional routers, cleaning and testing them before reintroducing them to the market.
This approach extends device lifespan and aligns with global sustainability goals by reducing new material demand.
When choosing a recycler, always look for R2 or e-Stewards certified facilities — these ensure ethical handling, pollution control, and data security during processing.
Why You Should Never Throw Away Old Routers
Routers might look harmless, but inside that plastic shell are circuit boards, metals, and polymers that make them electronic waste (e-waste). When tossed in the trash, these components can release hazardous materials like lead and flame retardants into soil and groundwater.
According to the EPA, millions of tons of small electronics end up in landfills each year — including old routers that could’ve been recycled for valuable metals and plastics. Each unit you recycle instead of discard helps reduce pollution and supports the circular economy, where materials are recovered and reused rather than wasted.
Beyond environmental impact, improper router disposal can also break e-waste compliance laws, especially for businesses managing network equipment in bulk. Responsible recycling is the only way to protect both the planet and your data integrity.
How To Recycle Routers Safely (Step-by-Step Guide)
Recycling routers isn’t complicated — it just requires a few extra steps to ensure your data stays protected and your device reaches the right recycling stream. Here’s how to do it properly:
1. Disconnect and inspect your router
Unplug the router, remove all cables, and make sure any USB drives or network adapters are detached. These accessories are recycled separately or reused if still functional.
2. Factory reset your device
Routers store your Wi-Fi name, password, and IP settings. Perform a factory reset using the pinhole reset button to erase this data. This step is essential for both privacy and compliance before the router leaves your possession.
3. Find a certified recycler
Search for an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycling center near you. These facilities follow strict protocols for electronics recycling and data destruction, ensuring safe handling and zero landfill waste.
4. Drop off or schedule a pickup
Residential users can usually bring routers to local e-waste collection sites, while businesses should arrange pickups through IT asset disposition (ITAD) services for proper chain-of-custody documentation.
5. Request documentation (optional but recommended)
For business or enterprise routers, always ask for a Certificate of Recycling or Certificate of Data Destruction to verify compliance and traceability.
Following these steps guarantees that your old Wi-Fi router is recycled responsibly — protecting your privacy while keeping valuable materials in the circular economy.
Data Privacy — Wipe Your Router Before Recycling
Before you recycle your router, it’s essential to make sure your personal data is completely erased.
Many people don’t realize that routers store network names (SSIDs), Wi-Fi passwords, IP configurations, and sometimes even login credentials used to access your ISP or smart home devices. Leaving that data behind could expose your network to unauthorized access long after the router leaves your home.
To safely prepare your router for recycling, perform a factory reset. Most routers have a small pinhole button labeled “Reset” — hold it for 10 to 30 seconds until the lights flash, restoring the device to its default settings. This removes saved connections, user accounts, and custom passwords.
If you’re recycling business networking equipment, a reset alone may not be enough. Corporate routers, switches, and gateways often log IP addresses, VPN keys, and internal credentials.
In that case, work with a certified IT asset disposition (ITAD) provider that follows NIST 800-88 data destruction standards. These vendors issue a Certificate of Data Destruction and maintain a chain of custody so every device is traceable through disposal.
Complying with frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, or FACTA isn’t just good practice — it’s required for many organizations that handle regulated data. A certified recycler like GreenCitizen or an ITAD partner ensures your router is cleared, tracked, and recycled securely.
TL;DR — Safe Router Recycling in 5 Steps
To recycle your old router safely, unplug it, remove all cables, and perform a factory reset to erase stored Wi-Fi data. Find an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler like GreenCitizen or an ITAD service that handles small electronics. Drop it off or schedule a pickup, and if it’s business equipment, request a Certificate of Recycling or Data Destruction. These steps protect your privacy while ensuring the device’s materials are reused responsibly.
Where To Recycle Routers Near You
If you’ve reset your router and it’s ready to go, the next step is finding a certified recycler or takeback program that accepts small electronics. Fortunately, most areas offer several options for router recycling, whether you’re an individual or a business.
You can start with your local electronics recycling centers or municipal e-waste collection sites, which typically accept routers alongside other small networking devices.
The EPA website and your city’s waste management portal often list authorized drop-off locations that meet environmental compliance standards.
You can also check with your router’s manufacturer. Brands like Netgear, TP-Link, and Linksys run mail-back or takeback programs, where you can ship old devices directly for eco-friendly disposal or refurbishment.
And if you’re recycling on behalf of an office or organization, consider IT asset disposition (ITAD) services — they provide bulk pickup, asset tracking, and compliance documentation to ensure secure, traceable recycling.
♻️ Router Recycling With GreenCitizen
If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, GreenCitizen provides one of the most reliable router recycling services. Individuals and businesses can drop off old routers at GreenCitizen’s Burlingame EcoCenter or schedule a business pickup.
Each item is processed through GreenCitizen’s GreenCitizen Total Accountability Management System (GTAMS), providing full chain-of-custody tracking, data security, and environmentally responsible recycling.
Whether you’re recycling one device or a full office network, GreenCitizen ensures it’s handled safely and in compliance with EPA, R2, and e-Stewards standards.
Business Router Recycling and ITAD Services
For businesses, router recycling isn’t just about environmental responsibility — it’s a data security and compliance requirement.
Office routers, access points, and network switches often contain sensitive configuration data, login credentials, and sometimes even client records. Improper disposal can expose your company to data breaches and regulatory penalties under frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, or GLBA.
That’s where IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) services come in. Certified ITAD providers manage end-of-life network equipment through a documented, auditable process.
Each router is inventoried, data-wiped, and tracked from collection to final recycling — maintaining a complete chain of custody. Businesses receive a Certificate of Data Destruction or Certificate of Recycling as proof of secure handling.
Beyond compliance, professional ITAD recycling ensures sustainability at scale. Recovered components are processed through R2 or e-Stewards certified recyclers, guaranteeing responsible material recovery and zero landfill waste.
Many ITAD vendors also handle asset refurbishment, extending the usable life of networking equipment before final recycling.
Partnering with a certified ITAD vendor not only safeguards data but also helps companies meet corporate sustainability goals while reducing their environmental footprint.
Ready to Recycle Your Old Router?
Join thousands of Bay Area residents choosing responsible router recycling with GreenCitizen.
What Happens When You Recycle a Router?
Once a router reaches a certified recycling facility, it goes through a multi-stage recovery process designed to safely extract reusable materials while minimizing waste. Every step is monitored for environmental and data security compliance.
First, technicians manually dismantle the router — removing its plastic housing, metal shielding, and internal circuit boards. These parts are then sorted by material type.
The metals (like copper and aluminum) are melted down for reuse in new electronics, while plastics are shredded and repurposed for industrial manufacturing.
Next, printed circuit boards (PCBs) undergo specialized treatment to recover trace precious metals such as gold, palladium, and silver. These elements are small in quantity but highly valuable, making resource recovery a key part of sustainable recycling.
Any routers found to be in good working condition may be refurbished instead of dismantled. Refurbishment extends product life, reduces carbon impact, and supports the circular economy by keeping functional devices in use longer.
Throughout this process, certified recyclers — typically R2 or e-Stewards facilities — maintain strict environmental controls to prevent contamination and ensure all waste streams are handled responsibly.
TL;DR — What Happens to Your Router After Recycling
At a certified facility, routers are dismantled, sorted, and processed to recover reusable materials. Metals are melted down, plastics are repurposed, and circuit boards are refined to extract precious metals. Some routers are even refurbished for reuse. Every step follows R2 or e-Stewards environmental standards, ensuring full resource recovery and zero landfill waste.
The Environmental Benefits of Router Recycling
Every recycled router does more than free up drawer space — it directly contributes to a healthier planet. Routers contain valuable materials that, when recovered, reduce the need for raw material extraction and help conserve natural resources.
By sending your router to a certified e-waste recycler, you’re keeping toxic substances like lead, mercury, and brominated plastics out of the environment. These compounds, if dumped in landfills, can contaminate soil and groundwater for decades.
Recycling also supports the circular economy, where existing materials are kept in use instead of constantly manufacturing new ones. This lowers carbon emissions, reduces energy consumption, and cuts down on industrial waste tied to producing virgin metals and plastics.
On a global scale, responsible e-waste recycling helps curb the growing environmental burden of discarded electronics — now one of the world’s fastest-growing waste streams.
Choosing to recycle your router is a small action with a measurable environmental return, turning potential pollution into sustainable resource recovery.
What About Modems — Can They Be Recycled Too?
Yes — modems can be recycled just like routers. They’re built from similar components such as circuit boards, copper wiring, and plastic casings, all of which can be safely recovered and reused through certified e-waste recycling centers.
The easiest way to recycle a modem is often through your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Many ISPs, including Comcast, AT&T, and Spectrum, have equipment return or takeback programs that refurbish old modems for new customers. Returning them directly to your provider ensures proper data clearance and reuse within the same network system.
If your modem isn’t owned by your ISP, you can drop it off at any R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler or at retail takeback locations like Best Buy and Staples. Some local recycling events also accept modems under small electronics recycling categories.
While modems don’t store as much personal data as routers, they still log connection and device information. Performing a quick factory reset before recycling adds an extra layer of security.
Recycling modems the right way supports sustainability and ensures valuable materials — like copper and high-grade plastic — are given a second life instead of ending up in a landfill.
Ready to Recycle Your Old Routers and Modems?
Join thousands of Bay Area residents choosing responsible router and modem recycling with GreenCitizen.
FAQs About Router Recycling
Yes — if your router still works, donation is a great way to extend its life. Schools, community centers, and non-profits often accept working Wi-Fi routers for reuse. Just make sure to factory reset it first to erase your network data.
Even non-functioning routers can be recycled. Certified e-waste recyclers dismantle them and recover valuable materials like copper, aluminum, and plastic, keeping harmful components out of landfills.
No — routers are classified as electronic waste (e-waste). Throwing them in regular trash is unsafe and may even violate local recycling laws. Always use an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler or an EPA-approved collection site.
Yes. Routers save your Wi-Fi name, password, and device history. Before recycling or donating, perform a factory reset to clear your credentials and protect your data.
Router recycling focuses on safely dismantling and recovering materials from individual devices. ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) services, on the other hand, handle bulk equipment from businesses — ensuring full data destruction, chain of custody, and compliance documentation.
Yes! Many retailers like Best Buy and Staples offer free takeback programs, and some local governments organize community e-waste collection events. Check your city’s recycling program or the EPA website for upcoming drop-offs.
Turning Old Routers Into New Opportunities
Routers have quietly become a part of nearly every home and office — but like all technology, they eventually reach the end of their life. How we handle them at that point matters.
Tossing them in the trash contributes to the global e-waste problem, while recycling turns each device into a chance to recover valuable materials and reduce environmental harm.
Recycling routers responsibly isn’t complicated. With a quick factory reset and a drop-off at a certified e-waste recycler, you protect both your data privacy and the environment.
For businesses, working with an IT asset disposition (ITAD) partner adds the assurance of chain-of-custody documentation and compliance with frameworks like HIPAA or GDPR.
Organizations like GreenCitizen make this process even easier, combining accountability, transparency, and eco-friendly handling through their R2 and e-Stewards certified recycling services.
In a world increasingly defined by connectivity, how we retire our old tech is part of that same responsibility. By choosing to recycle, you’re not just disposing of a router — you’re taking part in a more sustainable, circular future for technology.
