You have a dead television, a stack of old laptops, a printer that jammed for the last time, and a drawer of tangled charging cables. None of it fits in your recycling bin and all of it is too large or too complex for your regular trash. Can it go in the bulk trash pile? In most cases — and most states — no.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing waste categories in the U.S. and one of the most regulated. TVs, monitors, computers, tablets, and most consumer electronics are banned from landfills in more than 25 states. Even where they're not explicitly banned, city bulk pickup programs almost universally exclude them because of the toxic materials inside and the specific recycling process they require.
This guide explains the regulations, lists which states have mandatory e-waste programs, and gives you concrete options for disposal — most of them free.
In 25+ states, throwing electronics in any trash stream — including bulk pickup — is illegal. In all remaining states, city bulk pickup programs exclude them by policy even without a state ban. If you're holding an old TV or computer, bulk pickup is not your disposal path. But free options exist in every market.
Why Electronics Are Excluded from Bulk Pickup
Consumer electronics contain a concentrated mix of materials that make standard waste disposal both legally problematic and practically challenging:
- Lead — CRT monitors and TVs (the thick boxy kind made before 2010) contain 4–8 pounds of lead per unit in the glass alone. Lead leaches from landfills into groundwater.
- Mercury — LCD backlights contain mercury, as do some fluorescent components. Mercury is one of the most persistent environmental toxins.
- Cadmium — Found in older rechargeable batteries and some circuit boards.
- Beryllium — Used in some electronics components; a carcinogen when disturbed or burned.
- Rare earth metals — Valuable and recoverable, but only through specialized recycling processes.
Standard waste compactor trucks break electronics into fragments, releasing these materials. Standard landfills aren't designed to contain them. The result is groundwater contamination — which is why state-level bans have spread across the country.
States with Mandatory E-Waste Recycling Laws
The following states have enacted Electronic Waste Recycling Acts or similar legislation that restricts or bans disposal of covered electronics in standard trash streams. In these states, improper disposal can result in fines:
| State | Covered Devices | Notable Program Features |
|---|---|---|
| California | TVs, monitors, computers, laptops, tablets, phones | CEW fee at purchase; free drop-off at certified collectors statewide |
| New York | Computers, TVs, monitors, printers, tablets, keyboards | Manufacturer take-back required; drop-off sites at retail locations |
| Texas | Computers, monitors, TVs | Manufacturer registered recyclers; drop-off sites vary by manufacturer |
| Washington | Computers, monitors, TVs, laptops | E-Cycles Washington; 200+ drop-off locations, free for residents |
| Oregon | TVs, computers, monitors, printers, peripherals | Oregon E-Cycles; free statewide drop-off network |
| Minnesota | TVs, computers, monitors, printers, tablets, phones | Manufacturer funded; 230+ free drop-off sites statewide |
| Illinois | TVs, computers, monitors, small electronics | Illinois E-Waste program; county-run drop-off events |
| Michigan | Computers, monitors, TVs | Manufacturer take-back; retail drop-off options |
| New Jersey | TVs, computers, monitors, covered devices | Free county drop-off; curbside ban strictly enforced |
| Maryland | Computers, monitors, TVs | County-run drop-off; manufacturer take-back required |
| Connecticut | TVs, computers, monitors, mice, keyboards | Statewide manufacturer program; free municipal drop-off |
| Massachusetts | Cathode ray tube devices (CRTs), TVs, computers | MassDEP registered collectors; county collection events |
States not listed may not have a comprehensive ban but often have county-level programs, utility-sponsored events, or retail drop-off options that accomplish the same goal. No U.S. state lacks any e-waste disposal option — the difference is whether the state makes it free and convenient by law.
Free Disposal Options Available Everywhere
Even in states without mandatory recycling laws, you have free options in virtually every metro area:
Retail Drop-Off Programs
Several major retailers accept electronics at their service desks year-round, at no charge for most items:
- Best Buy — Accepts a wide range of electronics including TVs (limit one per household per day), computers, phones, tablets, cameras, gaming equipment, and small appliances. Most items are free; large TVs (over 32 inches) carry a $30 fee at many locations. Best Buy operates one of the largest private e-recycling programs in the U.S. Find locations at bestbuy.com/recycling.
- Staples — Accepts computers, laptops, monitors, printers, and accessories. Free for most items. Also accepts ink/toner cartridges.
- Office Depot / OfficeMax — Similar to Staples; accepts computers, monitors, printers, and related equipment.
Manufacturer Take-Back Programs
Most major electronics manufacturers are required (in many states) or choose (everywhere) to operate take-back programs for their own products:
- Apple — Free in-store trade-in or mail-in recycling for any Apple device, regardless of condition. Non-Apple electronics can be submitted for recycling through Apple's program at apple.com/shop/trade-in.
- Dell — Dell Reconnect program recycles any brand of electronics, not just Dell, through Goodwill drop-off locations. Free for all items.
- HP — HP Planet Partners program accepts HP products for recycling via mail. Some in-store options also available.
- Samsung — Galaxy Upcycling and mail-in recycling program available for Samsung devices. Some retail partners accept Samsung products.
Community and County Events
Most counties hold electronics recycling events quarterly or annually — often on the same days as Household Hazardous Waste collection events. These are open to all county residents, accept virtually any electronics regardless of brand, and are free. Search "[your county] electronics recycling event 2025" to find the next one near you.
Goodwill and Thrift Stores (for Working Devices)
Working electronics — especially computers less than 5 years old, gaming systems, and smartphones — may be accepted by Goodwill, Salvation Army, or local thrift stores for resale. This is a better outcome environmentally than recycling. Call ahead to confirm what your local store accepts.
Rules for Specific Devices
CRT Televisions and Monitors
Old-style boxy TVs and monitors with cathode ray tubes are the most problematic e-waste item to dispose of because of their high lead content and the complexity of processing CRT glass. They're accepted in most take-back programs but may carry a $10–$30 fee at retail drop-offs because the recycling cost is high and there's no commodity value to offset it. County events typically take them free.
Flat-Screen TVs (LCD, OLED, QLED)
Flat-screen TVs are more valuable for recycling because they contain aluminum, copper, and rare earth elements. Best Buy accepts these for a $30 fee (large sizes); some state programs accept them free. When you buy a new TV from a retailer that offers delivery, ask about old-TV haul-away — many retailers now offer this service.
Smartphones and Tablets
Working smartphones have significant resale value through trade-in programs (Apple, Samsung, Verizon, AT&T, and many retailers offer credits). Even broken phones are accepted by carrier stores for recycling. Phones should never go in any trash stream because of the lithium battery — a lithium fire in a garbage truck is a genuine hazard.
Batteries
Standalone batteries — AA, AAA, 9V, rechargeable — can be dropped off at many hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowe's), office supply stores, and electronics retailers. Call2Recycle has a locator tool at call2recycle.org for finding local battery drop-off points. Car batteries are accepted at auto parts stores (AutoZone, O'Reilly, NAPA) for a core charge credit.
Printers
Printers contain circuit boards, ink systems, and sometimes mercury-containing fluorescent components. Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot all accept printers for recycling. Some printer manufacturers (HP, Epson, Canon) offer mail-in programs. A working printer can often find a home through Facebook Marketplace.
Data Security Before Recycling Electronics
Before any electronic device leaves your hands — recycled, donated, or resold — it should be wiped of personal data. This is not optional from a security standpoint:
- Computers (Windows): Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything → "Remove files and clean the drive." This writes zeros to all sectors before reset.
- Computers (Mac): Restart in Recovery Mode (hold ⌘R on startup) → Disk Utility → Erase → reinstall macOS for donation, or stop at erase for recycling.
- Smartphones: Factory reset through Settings → General Management → Reset. On iPhones, sign out of iCloud first (Settings → [your name] → Sign Out), then erase.
- Hard drives being recycled (not donated): Physical destruction is the most secure option — drilling through the platter is sufficient. Many recyclers offer this as a service.
For business equipment or devices containing sensitive data, reputable e-waste recyclers (certified through e-Stewards or R2/RIOS programs) provide a certificate of data destruction. This is important for HIPAA, GDPR, or FERPA compliance. Never use an uncertified recycler for business equipment — some "recyclers" export e-waste to overseas informal processing sites, where data can be extracted.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In most states with e-waste laws — no. The ban is on the device type, not its size or condition. Breaking it down doesn't change what the material is. Beyond legality, it's genuinely dangerous — CRT TVs contain lead-laden glass under vacuum pressure; breaking one releases lead dust and can implode unpredictably. LCD TVs contain mercury-vapor backlights that should never be broken manually. Even in states without explicit bans, landfills often refuse to accept electronics regardless of how they arrive.
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Selling a used device is legal, but you should honestly represent its condition. "As-is" sales of broken electronics are common and legal as long as you accurately describe what you're selling. Don't claim a device works if it doesn't. Selling non-working electronics as parts or for recycling is common practice and completely acceptable — just label them accurately in your listing.
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Most city bulk pickup events explicitly exclude electronics — they don't have the equipment to handle e-waste compliantly. However, many cities hold separate e-waste collection events, sometimes on the same weekend. Check your city's website or the event announcement carefully for what's accepted. If the event specifically says electronics are accepted, that's a separately managed e-waste event within the broader cleanup, and it's fine to bring them.
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Yes. Certified e-waste recyclers (find R2-certified companies at sustainableelectronics.org) offer business pickup services for bulk electronics. Most charge by weight, by item, or by pallet load — but volume discounts make it cost-effective for office cleanouts. Companies like ERI, Sims Lifecycle Services, and local certified recyclers serve businesses. For nonprofit organizations, many e-waste companies offer discounted or free pickup as a community service.
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CDs and DVDs are recyclable but rarely accepted in standard curbside recycling because they require specialized processing. GreenDisk (greendisk.com) operates a mail-in program specifically for optical media. Many libraries accept used DVDs for their collections or sales. Thrift stores accept CDs and DVDs. Video game cartridges and discs can be traded in at GameStop or sold online. For large quantities, companies like TerraCycle have programs specifically for optical media.