A drawer full of junk

Is there a question there? Or perhaps a tip?

Blame technology development and slow to standardize culture. If there is any silver lining, USB C seems to be the agreed upon standard for the moment. I think all of my devices will take USB C for charging, though for my laptop it is not ideal, but phone, tablet, my wife's Chromebook all take USB C, so packing is a breeze. No more 4 different cords and blocks for four devices. I am fine not to struggle with A, Sub, Micro, B, and other versions of USB.
Even Apple is being forced to change to USB C, in Europe at least, as opposed to it's rather unique "Lightning" port.

EU requires USB-C starting next year and I would not be surprised if it becomes the global standard. That will makes things a lot easier.

We have recyclers who periodically run events where they take old cords and chargers and even the wiped phones and make sure they are repurposed or recycled. Phones often go to domestic violence shelters, if they work.

Badger, I agree - I'm glad that Apple is being forced to go with USB-C. I love their products but their stance on proprietary hardware annoys me. Also their stance on SMS texts. I dislike the green bubble when I get messages from my friends with Androids.

I don't understand why there are drawers full of obsolete electronics. Get rid of what you don't absolutely need. Donate or recycle.

Take all that stuff to Best Buy. You can drop it in their box near the front door.

I once went to a costume party as a junk drawer.

BTW good to ask friends and family if any of cables and chargers might work for them. You never know. Other wise donate to Goodwill or see if there is a Best Buy or similar store that offers e recycling.

Women's shelters will sometimes take "obsolete" phones.
Also, my elderly, shut-in friend was given a castoff cellphone through a senior assistance group.

You might check whether there are organizations in your town to take the phones and a matching charger/cable.

I never have to deal with lingering technology, it all gets handed down to my sister. I stay pretty current with the tech, so the hand-me-downs are relatively current as well.

Not sure I could donate the old phones. Most are obsolete (too low G), but I should recycle them.

I will still need a few usb-micro chargers; my pad has a usb-micro charging port (as well as a usb-A port).

I went online to look for usb-A to usb-C charging cables and no one had them available at the stores - shipped only. I guess I'm not the only one who has to "upgrade".

The only advantage that I can see for the C plug is that, like the lightning plugs, it is bi-symetrical (you can't put it in upside down). What's really great is that C is non-propriety; Apple can't charge $5 extra for one that fits their phone only.

I got a set of adapters like these when I bought a new smartphone, so I can plug it into one of my USB-A chargers and then into the wall. Seems to work fine.

Fred Meyer (a Kroger brand) has all this kind of stuff. I got a wall-plug charger that takes both A and C cables, though using both at the same time slows down the charging a lot.

Listen to David Pogue’s most recent ‘Unsung Science’ podcast about USB-C. It can be a little techy as Pogue is want to do, but most informative. The standard should last 10-15 years so say authors. I in particular enjoy the power delivery and data rate capability.

I agree with the "get rid of it", for the simple reason that when you want to travel, you end up taking a cord that no longer works or something. I am now into simplifying, but somehow, I can't shake the Amazon gadget habit... I need help.

I am now into simplifying...

And we all thought technology would make life easier and simpler.