DONATE WITH US

Thank you for your interest in donating to Free Geek Twin Cities!

Our program begins with collecting computers and other electronics. We use your donations to build new computers and refurbish other devices, or recycle the materials responsibly. All donations are tax deductible!

Details about what we Do/Do Not Accept + additional donation resources below.

Questions? Send us a note: Contact

ACCEPTED - NO FEES:

All categories include both Modern & Retro items of ANY age or condition. There’s no such thing as too old!

Computers

  • Desktops, Laptops, All-In-One Systems, Servers, Thin Clients, etc. (can be broken, missing parts, etc.)

Computer Parts

  • Internal & External Storage Devices (hard drives, solid state drives, IDE drives, USB flash drives, Zip and Floppy disk drives)

  • Cases, motherboards, power supplies, expansion cards, CPUs/processors, RAM sticks, GPU/video cards, optical and media drives, fans, internal cables, etc.

Computer Peripherals

  • Keyboards, mice, chargers, USB hubs, docking stations, and related accessories.

  • Webcams, Microphones, Headsets, Headphones, etc.

Cables (can be broken or cut)

Smart Mobile Devices: Tablets, iPads, iPods, iPhones, Android Phones

Old Cell Phones and VoIP Phones

Networking Equipment

  • Routers, Switches, Modems, Wifi Extenders, Ethernet Cables, related equipment.

A.V. / Stereo Equipment

  • Home & Pro Audio: recievers/amps, speakers, tuners/radios, equalizers, mixers, effects, wires, etc.

  • Turntables/record players, tape players (cassette, 8-track, reel-to-reel), CD players, boomboxes

  • DVD/CD players, Blu-Ray players, VCRs, projectors, recorders

  • Smart TV devices: Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, etc.

  • Musical & recording equipment- keyboards, audio interfaces, mixers, amps, speakers, PA

Video Game Equipment

  • Game Consoles, Video Games, controllers, memory cards, related cables and accessories, etc.

Media:

We do not recycle any media - we accept only original media that we can reuse and redistribute.

  • Donating a computer? Any media that came with it

  • Original media for any age games, operating systems, or productivity software

  • Sealed (unused) CDs, DVDs, VHS, Cassettes, Floppies, Zip/Floptical disks

  • VHS, CD, DVD, Blue-ray, audio tapes, etc with original content (movies and albums)

  • Flash drives, memory cards, video game cartridges

Other:

  • Film and Digital cameras and related accessories

  • Electronic Toys, Games, and Children’s Devices

  • Calculators

  • Ballasts (electrical)

  • Batteries

ACCEPTED - MANDATORY $5 DONATION:

The following items cost money to dispose of responsibly. This is why Free Geek has implemented $5 mandatory donations and quantity limits for these items. We accept all forms of payment.

Printers:

  • Limited to 2 printers per household

  • No freestanding/ large printers or plotters allowed

  • Printers must be no larger than anything that can fit on top of a desk

  • Mandatory $5 donation for each item

Scanners:

  • Limited to 2 scanners per household

  • No freestanding/ large commercial scanners allowed

  • Scanners must be no larger than anything that can fit on top of a desk

  • Mandatory $5 for each item

Monitors:

  • Limited to 2 flat screen monitors per household

  • All-In-One Computer systems are * not included in this policy *

  • Mandatory $5 for each item

TVs:

  • Limited to 2 flat screen TVs per household

  • No TVs larger than 55” allowed

  • Mandatory $5 for each item

CRTs:

  • Limited to 2 CRTs per household

  • CRTs included as part of a computer set are not restricted to quantity limits.

  • Visibly broken or damaged CRTs will not be accepted.

  • Mandatory $5 for each item

NOT ACCEPTED

Consumer Electronics :

  • Solar Panels

Household Items:

  • TVs larger than 55”

  • Printers and Scanners too large to fit on a desktop

  • Small household appliances (lamps, vacuum cleaners, microwaves & food appliances etc)

  • Large household appliances (stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers)

  • Light bulbs (Fluorescent, incandescent etc)

  • Light Fixtures

  • Sewing machines

  • Styrofoam, boxes, books, magazines

  • Anything that is pressurized, we will not take.

Items with Hazardous Materials:

  • Electronics or appliances that contain refrigerants (such as Freon). This includes air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, ice making machines etc.

  • Electric toothbrushes

  • Broken or damaged CRT TVs and monitors

  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

  • Devices containing liquid mercury

  • Gas powered devices such as Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers etc.

  • Radioactive materials

BUSINESS DONATIONS

We are ready to accept larger donations from our corporate partners and I.T. teams!

These items can be general I.T. devices, large amounts of computers, laptops, or tablets, or networking equipment (excluding devices not normally accepted)

Please get in contact with support@freegeektwincities.org with a general list of what you’d like to drop off so we may plan ahead!

DROP OFF

We are open for donations anytime during our business hours Wednesday-Sunday from 12pm-6pm.

Need help finding us? Find our location and get directions: FGTC Location

When you arrive, please park in a way that makes unloading donations easy. Ring the doorbell and we will come out to assist you. Donation receipts are available!

PREPARING TO DONATE

Recycling electronics is no small task. We need your help to speed up our processing of the equipment!

  • Untangle cords and cables as best you can. Coil them up nicely if you’re able.

  • Attach power adapters securely to their associated equipment–we recommend painters tape and gently placing them in a cardboard box.

  • Attach remote controls securely to the device it came with (TV, audio receiver, etc.)–we recommend painters tape and gently placing them in a cardboard box.

WE DON’T ACCEPT IT- NOW WHAT?

INDIVIDUALS / HOUSEHOLDS

Household Items, Appliances, Tools, Building Materials, etc: Try these home-improvement centered Reuse warehouses, both of which are right in our neighborhood.

Better Futures MN- https://betterfuturesminnesota.com/reuse-warehouse/

Habitat for Humanity Restore- https://restore.tchabitat.org/

Hennepin County Residents:

https://www.hennepin.us/residents/recycling-hazardous-waste/drop-off-facilities

Individual residents can recycle certain electronics with the county at their Bloomington and Brooklyn Park Recycling facilities. *ID required at dropoff.

Printers: Residents can recycle up to 5 printers per year for FREE

TVs/ Monitors: $10 fee per item, no more than 5 per item/year


Ramsey County Residents:

https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/electronics-recycling

Individual residents can recycle certain electronics for free at Repowered’s St. Paul facility. 

Printers: FREE recycling for residents

TVs/ Monitors: FREE recycling for residents


Greater Minnesota Residents: 

Anoka County has a great list of recyclers for the North Metro Area: 

https://www.anokacountymn.gov/1653/Search-the-Recycling-and-Disposal-Direct


Most Best Buy Locations accept items for recycling

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/services/recycling/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025


The Recycling Zone in Dakota County: 

https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/RecyclingZone

Accepts TVs and Monitors for $10 each

Accepts desktop printers and scanners for no fee

*ID required at dropoff


BUSINESSES

Businesses will almost always incur recycling fees, depending on what's donated. Some recyclers will waive fees if certain computers are included in the donation. 

Repowered

Accepts recycling from businesses for a fee. They also offer pickup services. 

860 Vandalia St. 

St. Paul, MN 55114

763-432-3117

https://getrepowered.org/

Electronics Recycling of Minnesota:

Accepts recycling from businesses for a fee. They also offer pickup services. 

1034 3rd Ave NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

612-444-7388

https://ecyclemn.com/


The Recycling Zone in Dakota County: 

https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/RecyclingZone

Accepts recycling from individuals + businesses in Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Dakota counties. Drop-off Only. Requires ID.

Still can’t find a place to donate? Contact Us