--- description: Thanks to a program from WD, there's a safe and free way to recycle hard drives and SSDs. After shredding the drive, all the resulting materials will be title: "How To: Recycle Hard Drives for Free" image: https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/eco-hedge.jpg --- [![Storage Review]()](https://storagereview.com/) --- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [![StorageReview.com](https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Storage-Review-2x.png)](https://www.storagereview.com) ≡ Menu - [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) - [Storage Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/review) - [Consumer Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/consumer) - [Enterprise Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise) - [Ubiquiti Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/best/ubiquiti-reviews) - [SR Merch](https://store.storagereview.com) - [Leaderboards](https://www.storagereview.com/best) - [Best Storage Arrays](https://www.storagereview.com/best/storage-arrays) - [Best Enterprise SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-ssds) - [Best Servers](https://www.storagereview.com/best/servers) - [Best Desktops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktops-local-ai) - [Best Laptops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptops-local-ai) - [Best Local LLM Tools](https://www.storagereview.com/best/local-llm-tools) - [Agentic AI Hardware](https://www.storagereview.com/best/agentic-ai-hardware) - [Best SSDs & Hard Drives](https://www.storagereview.com/best_drives) - [Best Portable SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/portable-ssds) - [Best Business Laptops](https://www.storagereview.com/best/business-laptops) - [Best Mobile Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mobile-workstations) - [Best Desktop Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktop-workstations) - [Best Laptop Battery Life](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptop-battery-life) - [Storage Reference Guide](https://www.storagereview.com/storage-reference-guide) - [About SR](https://www.storagereview.com/about-storagereview) - [StorageReview.com Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-com-sweepstakes-rules-and-regulations) Search [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) » [Review](https://www.storagereview.com/review) » How To: Recycle Hard Drives for Free # How To: Recycle Hard Drives for Free by Lyle Smith on July 24, 2020 [Client HDD](https://www.storagereview.com/consumer/client-hdd)  ◇  [Consumer](https://www.storagereview.com/consumer) Storage devices are more abundant than ever, a number that will continue to increase as new technology hits the market; and at a seriously rapid pace. Coupled with their limited lifespan, this means consumers and businesses constantly replace their old hard drives and SSDs for new ones, which leaves the old drives just sitting around collecting dust or simply thrown out along with the trash. This is a lot of unnecessary potential waste and may put your data at risk. Thanks to a program from WD though, there’s a safe and free way to recycle your hard drives and SSDs. ![Hard Drive Recycling ](https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WD-hard-drive-recycling.jpg) The WD Easy Recycle program allows you to safely dispose of your old internal and external HDDs and SSDs, no matter what brand they might be, via a quick and efficient mailing process. Not only is it free, participants will also receive a promotion from WD, right now that’s 15% off coupon valid on on a $50 purchase or more from the Western Digital Store. This is certainly a win-win situation for consumers. ## **Hard Drive Recycling Process** First, navigate to the [WD Easy Recycle](https://shop.westerndigital.com/campaign/landing/easy-recycle) page, which has everything you need to know about the program. ![Hard Drive Recycling home]() Once you’re there, simply click **Recycle Now**. It will then prompt you to enter your contact information, including your email address. ![Hard Drive Recycling now]() Click submit and you will get a confirmation that the submission was successful. You should receive two emails: one that contains information about the next steps, and the other that contains a link, which takes you to a page where you can print the UPS digital shipping label. ![]() Click the **Get Shipping Label** link from the second email.![]() Here you will have three options: print the label at home, get a mobile code sent to your phone for scanning then printing at a UPS Store, or send the digital package label link to another email address. We simply printed the label off and packaged up the drive. Note that the label is only valid for 7 days. ![]() Be sure to back up your data before sending it in, if the drive still works, as this will be the last you will see of it before the hard drive is recycled. It’s also  important to format the drive if you can, or hammer the drive a little before sending it in, for added data security. After you drop off the package, it should take 5 to 7 days before you get WD’s 15% off coupon code via email. To recycle the hard drives, WD has partnered with [Apto Solutions](https://www.aptosolutions.com/). This company provides a range of services to enterprises (including responsible IT recycling) and guarantees zero electronic waste in landfills for eligible products via this program. WD states that all drives are safely destroyed and recycled, and that they take “strong precautions” to protect your data. After shredding the drive, all the resulting materials will be recycled. This is a nice improvement over other options that usually include mutilating or perhaps placing a high-speed round of lead into the hard drive. WD offers a clean, secure and free way to recycle hard drives or SSDs, which is infinitely better than sending them to a landfill or paying a retail outlet to take the drives off your hands. **Engage with StorageReview** [Newsletter](https://www.storagereview.com/storage_newsletter) |  [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/StorageReview "Opens in a new window") | Podcast  [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/storagereview-com-storage-reviews/id1060681115 "Opens in a new window")/ [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0 "Opens in a new window") |  [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/ "Opens in a new window") |  [Twitter](https://twitter.com/storagereview "Opens in a new window") |  [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview? "Opens in a new window") |  [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) ![]() ### Lyle Smith Lyle is a writer for StorageReview, covering a broad set of end user and enterprise IT topics. 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