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How To Reuse or Recycle Electronics
Electronics Recycling Questions and Answers
- General Information About Electronics
- Information for Households, Businesses, Organizations, and Government Agencies
- Information About Electronics Recyclers
- Where Can I Recycle My Old Electronics?
- Information About Electronics Retailers and Manufacturers
- Information for Recyclers
- State Requirements for Electronics Retailers and Recyclers
- Information About the Digital Conversion for Televisions
- Listen to an excellent EPA podcast about cell phone recycling
Should I Reuse or Recycle My Old Electronics?
Yes. When you outgrow your computers, cell phones and other electronic equipment, and pass them on to a new user — that's reuse. We encourage everyone to reuse or donate reusable electronic equipment first, then recycle what can’t be reused or donated.
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VISIT THE SITES BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION
- Techsoup
– The Technology Place for Non-Profits
What If I Want To Donate My Old Electronics?
Donating used electronics prevents waste, and preventing waste in the first place is the best waste management option available. Here are tips for donating computers.
If you are a Government office, you should follow your State’s surplus and asset management policies.
We encourage you to inform recipients of donated electronics of the importance of properly managing the electronics at the end of their useful life.
How Do I Choose A Reputable Recycler?
It is important to ask the right questions before you choose an electronics recycler. Here is a Guide to help you ask the right questions.
VISIT THE SITES BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION
- Techsoup – The Technology Place for Non-Profits
- U.S. EPA eCycling – How to reduce Waste Electronics
What Should I Do With My Old Equipment?
Do not throw away your old electronics. Instead, take your old equipment to a local recycling center or to an electronics collection event. To find a collection location near you, go to your state environmental agency Web site.
You may also donate still-working electronics to educational institutions and community organizations. Check with the school or the community organization to find out if they accept donations of electronic equipment.
Use the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) , a purchasing tool designed to help all purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides a clear and consistent set of performance criteria for the design of products, and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for their efforts to reduce the negative environmental impacts of their products.
Visit the manufacturer’s Web site for environmental attributes of the manufacturer’s electronic products.