- THE PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONICS
- Problem Overview
- Quickly Obsolete
- Hard to Recycle
- E-Waste Badly Managed
- OUR WORK FOR SOLUTIONS
- Overview
- Producer Takeback
- Green Design
- Responsible Recycling
- Legislation and Policy
This is too complicated. Why don't I just put it in the trash?!
Learn about the toxics in our electronics, and why they don't belong in the trash.
Recycle Your Rechargeable Batteries and Cell phones
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp (RBRC) is now an e-Steward.
They will recycle your old rechargeable dry cell batteris and cell phones. Click here to find the closest RBRC drop off location near you.
Remove Your Data Before You Recycle a Computer
None of the consumer recycling programs will clean the data off your computer hard drive (except HP’s trade in program, for a $15 fee.) These services are provided under the asset management programs (to businesses and institutions) but what should consumers do before they send back their computers?
There are several products which clean data off hard drives. We don’t endorse any brand of software, but here are some options.
PC World Magazine Recommendations, Feb 2006 Software Reviews
Goodwill Lists Free Data Cleaning Software You Can Download
The e-Stewards program
In 2010, the e-Stewards program began to offer a fully accredited certification program, with third party auditing. The program began as a US certification program and will expand to be a global standard for electronics recycling.
Learn More about e-Stewards certification.
Manufacturer Takeback Programs
About the manufacturer recycling programs
Most of the computer companies and some TV companies have voluntary takeback programs. Here's a quick summary of their programs. For more details on a program, including the "fine print," click on the More info links.
Are we endorsing these programs?
No. We can only endorse takeback programs which use certified e-Stewards - recyclers which have been audited by accredited independent auditors to the high e-Stewards standard, which does not allow these programs to export e-waste to developing countries. It's a new program, and we hope these manufacturers will require their recyclers to become e-Steward certified. Learn more about e-Stewards.
Currently, none of these companies are only using certified e-Stewards. Some of these manufacturers have public policies stating that they are not exporting, but the only way we can be sure is if these companies use recyclers who are certified e-Stewards. See more information on these companies' export policies, and how you can help encourage them to use vendors who do not export.
| Company | TAKEBACK PROGRAM summary |
|---|---|
| Acer | Acer does not have a takeback program for the Acer brand.
Gateway and eMachines (recently acquired by Acer) will recycle their brands using the Dealtree trade-in program, mailback. If your item has no trade in value, they will recycle it for free if it's a Gateway, Gateway 2000, or eMachine. |
| Apple | Computers. Apple takes back any computer (free mail back) if you are buying a new Apple computer, but with lots of restrictions.
iPods and iPhones. They accept iPods for recycling in their stores. Or you can mail back iPods and cell phones for free. Download mailing label for iPods and cell phones.
Residents of Oklahoma, Texas, and Virgina may recycle their Apple or NeXT computers/monitors/mice/keyboards by filling out the request form to receive free shipping, because of laws passed in those states. Details.
More information on Apple's takeback program . |
| Best buy | Best Buy's house brands (ones they manufacture) are Insignia, Dynex, and VPR Matrix. Best Buy will take back those brands of electronics for free at any Best Buy store. Details. |
| Dell | Dell takes back anything with Dell's name on it for free, via it's mailback program (free shipping).
Dell also provides local drop-off options via partnerships with Staples. You can drop off Dell computers, monitors, laptops, printers, and faxes for free, or other brands for $10.
Dell also partners with Goodwill in many cities, accepting used computer equipment under their Reconnect program. Check here for participating Goodwill locations and a list of what they accept.
More information on Dell's takeback program. |
| Goldstar | For GoldStar TV recycling, see LG (which owns GoldStar). |
| Hitachi | Hitachi has no voluntary takeback program. |
| HP | HP has a buy-back program for old products, which they hope to resell or use for parts. You can use their online calculator to see if your products (any brand) have value. If they do, you ship them for free, and HP will send you a check. If not, they will recycle HP and Compaq branded products for free, and other brands for a fee. (No free shipping for other brands.)
More information on HP's takeback program. |
| JVC | JVC has no voluntary takeback program. |
| Lenovo | Lenovo has a buy back program similar to HPs. You might get money back. If not, they will recycle old Lenovo or IBM equipment for free. Shipping is free for Lenovo or IBM equipment.
More information on Lenovo's takeback program. |
| lg | LG's program includes takeback of Zenith and GoldStar TVs. To recycle an LG, Zenith or GoldStar TV for free, you must drop off products at LG's designated collection sites.
More information on LG's takeback program. |
| mitsubishi | Mitsubishi now participates in the MRM recycling system. To recycle a Mistubishi TV for free, you must drop it off at an MRM collection site.
|
| Panasonic | Recycle Panasonic Toughbooks using their mail back program here.
To recycle Panasonic TVs or other Panasonic consumer electronics for free, you must take them to one of the collection sites operated by the MRM recycling program. (Panasonic owns MRM along with Sharp and Toshiba.)
|
| Philips | Philips has no voluntary takeback program. |
| Samsung | Consumer electronics - Televisions, Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Theater, Blu-ray and DVD players, printers, monitors, notebooks. To recycle Samsung TVs and other items listed above for free, you must take them to one of Samsung's recycling locations. Find Samsung recycling locations.
Monitors and printers can also be mailed back to Samsung. Details here.
For business equipment recycling, see Samsung's business recycling program here. View Samsung's recycling website for more info.
More information on Samsung's recycling program. |
| Sharp | To recycle Sharp TVs and other Sharp consumer electronics for free, you must take them to one of the collection sites operated by the MRM recycling program. (Sharp owns MRM along with Panasonic and Toshiba.)
|
| Sony | Small electronics collection: Sony has installed “GreenFill” collection boxes in retail stores across the country, where you can take your small electronics (any brand, not just Sony) for free recycling. They accept cameras, camcorders, cordless phones, cell phones, PDAs, game devices, digital picture frames, GPS, recorders and microphones, small laptops, alarm clocks and small audio, rechargeable batteries.
TVs and large electronics collection: To recycle Sony TVs and other large electronics, you must take them to a Sony product drop off sites around the country. Sony will take back its own branded products for free (and other brands for a fee) at these locations.
Find Sony recycling locations. View Sony's recycling website for more info.
Residents of TX, WV, OK, RI, VA - Sony offers mail back computer recycling in some states, which require manufacturer takeback programs by law. Learn about Sony's ECO Mail Back Program in TX, WV, OK, RI, VA.
More information on Sony's recycling program. |
| Target | Target makes its own house brand of electronics, but Target has no takeback program for those products. (Note - both Best Buy and Walmart will take back their house brands for free.) |
| Toshiba | Small electronics: Toshiba takes back laptops and other smaller electronics using a company called Dealtree (now owned by Best Buy) which allows you to trade in your products for cash. You pay to ship them to Dealtree, and if they have value, they send you a check. Dealtree has no information on its website about what they do with products that can't be reused and must be recycled, however.
TVs and large electronics: To recycle Toshiba TVs and other larger Toshiba electronics for free, you must take them to one of the collection sites operated by the MRM recycling program. (Toshiba owns MRM along with Panasonic and Sharp.)
|
| vizio | Vizio now participates in the MRM recycling system. To recycle a Vizio TV for free, you must drop it off at an MRM collection site.
|
| Westing- HOUSE |
Westinghouse has no voluntary takeback program. |
| Zenith | For Zenith TV recycling, see LG (which owns Zenith). |
