A new survey funded by the National Science Foundation suggests that most Americans do not recycle or resell old electronics; instead, they store devices in what researchers call a “junk drawer.” Researchers analyzing responses from 4,000 consumers found that 39% simply stored devices, while recycling and reselling each accounted for about 1 in 10. The study attributes retention primarily to data security anxiety and lack of awareness about where to recycle. People worried that recycling or reselling would compromise personal data were significantly more likely to hold onto devices. The findings also point to a mismatch between stated intentions and actual behavior: respondents’ security fears appear strongest when they face the real-world decision to hand off a device without wiping and removing account links. The work names Best Buy as a key recycling option and cites vendors such as Back Market and Gazelle for reselling.