Cleaning up at home, I found a bunch of broken phones, power banks, and charging cables. I was planning to just toss them into the recycling bin, but then I realized these items can actually be exchanged for money. I kind of regret wasting them earlier. Turns out, convenience stores can recycle these items too—7-11 and FamilyMart both accept them. You can get 12 NT dollars off your purchase for each old phone, which is like a bottle of Yakult. For power banks, 7-11 charges by weight—8 NT dollars per 0.5 kg—while FamilyMart offers a flat 2 NT dollars per device. Chargers and cables need to be bundled together to recycle; 7-11 gives 3 NT dollars off per bundle.

If you want more rewards, electronics stores also have trade-in deals. For example, Studio A accepts old cables, chargers, and power banks for recycling, and you can get an 8.8% discount when purchasing selected new products. Jiesheng Communications is also promoting power bank recycling—bring in your old power bank at their stores to get 200 NT dollars off accessories, and they’ll give you a roll of toilet paper with your purchase. When you add it all up, it’s actually pretty cost-effective.

As for high-end brands like Apple phones or earbuds, if they’re still usable, it’s better to get an appraisal from a second-hand buyer. Overall, instead of just throwing things into the trash truck, choosing the right recycling channel can turn your old electronics into cash. Oh, and the same goes for safety helmets and similar items—picking the right recycling method is key.