Is U-Verse equipment of any use?

If they don't want them back, that tells you what you need to know. They deprecate equipment (to avoid troubleshooting costs I think) at a great rate, unless of course, it's the fiber bridge that sat in my old house for seven years without any upgrade.

I'd suggest you put them in a box, and a year after you switch, put them in the recycling bin.

Try bestbuy for recycling.