Americans own approximately 24 devices per household according to the Consumer Electronics Association. U.S. landfills receive more than 2.4 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) each year according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Many old electronics are full of toxic materials that should not be disposed of in a landfill like arsenic, lead, and cadmium. If those materials are disposed of improperly, they can potentially leak into our ecosystem, damaging plant and animal life!
In addition to toxins, electronic products such as TVs, computers and monitors also contain valuable resources and materials, including precious metals, copper, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling electronics not only keeps your old electronics out of our landfills, but also:
Electronic Recycling, or e-Recycling, is the responsible recycling of electronics like old computers, monitors, and televisions. Certified e-Recycling facilities securely wipe computers of all personal information and safely complete the deconstruction of electronic devices so that toxins and valuable resources are recovered and handled properly.
Rapidly changing, low initial costs, and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of computers and other electronic devices around the globe. Obsolete computers, TVs, and monitors are valuable sources for secondary raw materials if recycled. Computer parts are stripped of their most valuable components and sold for scrap. Metals like copper, aluminum, lead, gold, and palladium are recovered from computers, televisions, and other personal electronic devices. When electronics are not properly recycled, they end up in our landfills and become a source of toxins and carcinogens to our environment and us.
Your personal information can be retrieved from a computer dumped in the landfill. BUT, if disposed of through a certified electronics recycler or take-back program, your personal information is securely destroyed!
Use the map below to find a take-back location near you.
If you are aware of an electronic recycling location that is not on the map, enter/update your information here.
In partnership with manufacturers, electronics can be safely recycled at a convenient take-back location such as Staples or Best Buy.
To find out about local government drop-off stations check with your city's website:
You can look for other e-recycle options in your area for computers or TVs at:
