Costco's electronics recycling is members-only and centers around their Concierge Services trade-in program (cell phones, laptops, tablets, TVs) and mattress haul-away with delivery. Costco does NOT operate a general e-waste drop-off kiosk like Best Buy. This guide covers what Costco accepts, the Concierge Services trade-in process, and how members can get cash back on old electronics.
What Costco accepts (US, 2026 - members only)
| Item | Where | Payment / Cost |
|---|
| Cell phones (working) | Costco Concierge Trade-In | $5-$500 cash back |
| Laptops + notebooks (working) | Costco Concierge Trade-In | $30-$800 cash back |
| Tablets + iPads (working) | Costco Concierge Trade-In | $20-$500 cash back |
| Working TVs (less than 7 years old) | Costco Concierge Trade-In | Variable; depends on model + size |
| Game consoles (working, recent) | Costco Concierge Trade-In | $50-$400 cash back |
| Smartwatches + wearables | Costco Concierge Trade-In | $10-$200 cash back |
| Plastic bags + film | In-store bin at every Costco | Free (no payment) |
| Mattress (with delivery) | Costco Mattress Take-Back | Free with new mattress purchase |
| Tire recycling (4 tire fee) | Costco Auto Center | $1.50 per tire fee |
| Wholesale + business electronics | Costco Business Center | Bulk programs, varies |
| Laptops, computers, broken | NO | Take to Best Buy, Staples, HHW |
| TVs (CRT or non-working) | NO | Take to Best Buy ($25-$50 CRT fee) or HHW |
| Light bulbs (CFL, LED) | NO | Take to Home Depot, Lowes, IKEA |
| Single-use batteries | NO | Take to Staples, Best Buy, County HHW |
| Large appliances (washer, dryer, fridge) | NO | Use haul-away with new purchase OR ScrapRunners |
Costco Concierge Services Trade-In Program
Available to all Costco members at no additional fee. Process:
- Online quote: Costco.com → Concierge Services → Trade-In
- Enter device details: make, model, condition (excellent/good/fair/broken)
- Get instant quote: payment via Costco Cash Card or PayPal
- Ship in prepaid envelope (USPS or FedEx)
- Receive quote confirmation within 5-10 business days after inspection
- Payment within 14 days of confirmation
The program partners with Hyla Mobile (industry leader, also used by Walmart). Quotes are competitive with Gazelle, BackMarket.
Typical Costco Concierge Trade-In values (May 2026):
| Device | Excellent | Good | Fair | Broken |
|---|
| iPhone 14 Pro (256GB) | $620 | $480 | $280 | $75 |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB) | $450 | $350 | $200 | $50 |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro (256GB) | $400 | $300 | $175 | $40 |
| iPad Pro 11" (2022, 256GB) | $480 | $380 | $220 | $80 |
| MacBook Pro 14" M2 (2023) | $1,100 | $880 | $520 | $180 |
| Dell XPS 13 (2022) | $400 | $320 | $180 | $50 |
| Nintendo Switch OLED | $200 | $160 | $100 | $30 |
| PlayStation 5 | $300 | $250 | $150 | $50 |
Why Costco doesn't do general e-waste drop-off
Costco's membership model is built around bulk purchases + Concierge Services, not free retail services to non-customers. The Concierge Trade-In program makes sense because:
- Concierge Services is a member benefit
- Trade-in directly drives new Costco TV/laptop/phone purchases
- Hyla Mobile partnership keeps costs low
- No retail floor space needed for e-waste kiosk
For general e-waste recycling (any brand, any condition), Best Buy + Staples + HHW are the better options.
Costco plastic bag + film recycling
Every US Costco has a plastic film + bag collection bin at the entrance:
- Grocery bags
- Costco product wrap (around bulk items)
- Bubble wrap + air pillows (from delivery)
- Bread + product wrap
- Clean Ziploc bags
- Newspaper bags
The bins are emptied weekly + sent to plastic-film recyclers (Trex composite lumber + closed-loop bag production).
Costco mattress take-back
When ordering a new mattress with Costco delivery service:
- Free haul-away of your old mattress
- Routed to local mattress recyclers (DR3 Recycling or regional)
- Some donated to non-profits (when condition allows)
- Last resort: landfill
For mattresses without new Costco purchase: take to County HHW or MRC drop-off if in CA/CT/RI.
Costco Auto Center tire recycling
Costco Tire Centers charge $1.50 per tire disposal fee when installing new tires. The fee is collected at install + tires are routed to local tire recyclers (typically scrap recyclers or biomass-fuel producers).
For tires not purchased through Costco: take to TireRack, Discount Tire, or local tire shop (typically $2-$15 per tire).
How Costco compares to Best Buy + Staples for recycling
| Feature | Costco | Best Buy | Staples |
|---|
| General e-waste kiosk | NO (Concierge only) | YES (every store) | YES (every store) |
| Members-only | YES | NO | NO |
| Cell phone trade-in | YES (Hyla Mobile) | YES (in-house) | YES (gift card only) |
| TV recycling | Concierge only (working TVs) | YES ($25-$50 CRT fee) | YES |
| CFL/LED bulb recycling | NO | YES | NO |
| Battery recycling | NO | YES | YES |
| Mattress take-back | YES (with delivery) | NO | NO |
| Tire recycling | YES (at Tire Center) | NO | NO |
| Plastic film + bags | YES | NO | NO |
Cost benchmarks (USA, May 2026)
- Costco Concierge Trade-In: variable ($5-$1,200 depending on device)
- Costco plastic film/bottle drop-off: free
- Costco mattress haul-away: free with new mattress delivery
- Costco tire recycling: $1.50 per tire at install
- Replacement smartphone (mid-range): $200-$600
- Replacement laptop (mid-range): $400-$1,000
- Replacement TV (55-inch 4K): $300-$1,500
Sources
- Costco Sustainability Report 2024 (corporate.costco.com/sustainability)
- Costco Concierge Services Trade-In program
- Hyla Mobile (Costco trade-in partner) data
- DR3 Recycling national mattress recycler
Last verified: 2026-05-23. Costco Concierge Trade-In values + Mattress program vary - confirm at costco.com/concierge or your local Costco before transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Costco recycle electronics?
Limited to members - Costco offers a Concierge Services Trade-In program for working cell phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, game consoles, smartwatches ($5-$1,200 cash back). Costco does NOT have a general e-waste kiosk like Best Buy. For broken electronics or non-Costco-purchased items: use Best Buy, Staples, or County HHW (all free).
How does Costco's trade-in work?
Members access Costco.com → Concierge Services → Trade-In. Enter device make + model + condition (excellent/good/fair/broken), get instant quote, ship in prepaid envelope. Payment via Costco Cash Card or PayPal within 14 days after inspection. Partners with Hyla Mobile (industry leader, also used by Walmart). Quotes competitive with Decluttr + Gazelle + BackMarket.
How much does Costco pay for old phones?
Typical Concierge Trade-In values (May 2026): iPhone 14 Pro (256GB) Excellent $620, Good $480, Fair $280, Broken $75. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Excellent $450, Good $350. Google Pixel 8 Pro Excellent $400, Good $300. Working iPads, MacBooks, gaming consoles also accepted - $20-$1,100 depending on model + condition.
Can non-members use Costco's recycling?
No - Concierge Services Trade-In is members-only. The plastic film + bag bin at every Costco entrance IS open to non-members (no Costco membership required for plastic recycling). For non-members needing electronics recycling: Best Buy, Staples (both free + open to all), Apple Store, County HHW all good alternatives.
Does Costco take old TVs?
Working TVs less than 7 years old: yes via Concierge Trade-In (members only). Costco does NOT accept broken TVs, CRT TVs, or large/heavy TVs for free recycling. For broken or non-working TVs: Best Buy (free for flat-panel, $25-$50 CRT fee), County HHW (always free), Sims Recycling. For working older TVs: try donation (Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army).
Does Costco take old mattresses?
Yes when ordering a new mattress with Costco delivery service - free haul-away. The old mattress goes to local mattress recyclers (DR3 or regional), donation when condition allows, or last resort landfill. For mattresses without new Costco purchase: County HHW or MRC drop-off if in CA/CT/RI. See /guides/mattress-recycling-near-you.
How does Costco's tire recycling work?
When installing new tires at Costco Tire Center, $1.50 per tire disposal fee is added to the purchase. Tires are routed to local tire recyclers (typically scrap recyclers or biomass-fuel producers). For tires not purchased through Costco: $2-$15 per tire at TireRack, Discount Tire, or local tire shops.
Does Costco recycle plastic bags?
Yes - every US Costco has a plastic film + bag collection bin at the entrance, open to all (not just members). Accepts: grocery bags, Costco product wrap, bubble wrap, air pillows, bread + product wrap, clean Ziploc bags, newspaper bags. NOT accepted: garbage bags (too thick), Saran wrap (too thin), multi-material laminates.
Why doesn't Costco have a general e-waste kiosk?
Costco's membership model centers on bulk purchases + Concierge Services, not free retail services to non-members. The Concierge Trade-In program drives new device purchases (member-only benefit), the plastic bin captures their packaging waste, mattress haul-away ties to delivery service. General e-waste would require retail floor space + acceptance of non-Costco items - doesn't fit the model.
What about business electronics at Costco?
Costco Business Center handles bulk programs for small + medium business customers - varies by location. For B2B electronics decommissioning with NIST 800-88 compliance + Certificate of Destruction, use a certified ITAD provider (Iron Mountain, Sims, ERI) rather than Costco - see /guides/data-security-during-electronics-recycling for full B2B recycling guide.