Guides · 2026-08-12
# How to dispose of e-waste in the U.S.
E-waste is electronics: TVs, computers, monitors, printers, phones, tablets, and mixed peripherals. Many states and cities **ban** these from landfill carts. Even where a ban is soft, blue bins are the wrong place — circuit boards and CRTs break and contaminate paper and plastic streams.
What counts as e-waste
- Televisions and computer monitors (CRTs are the hardest)
- Laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones
- Printers and peripherals
- Mixed boxes of cables and small electronics — see mixed e-waste
Appliances with Freon (fridges, ACs) are usually **not** standard e-waste — see Freon appliances.
Data security before you recycle
- Sign out of accounts; remove SIM and memory cards
- Factory-reset phones and tablets
- Wipe or remove hard drives from PCs if you need stronger assurance
- Shred or physically destroy drives when policy requires it
A recycler is not your backup plan for uncleared cloud sessions — do that first.
Where e-waste actually goes
Municipal e-waste drop-off or events
Cities publish free or fee-based electronics days. CRTs sometimes cost extra or are refused. Bring ID if residency-limited.
Retailer take-back
Electronics retailers and some carriers take phones, tablets, and select accessories. TV acceptance is narrower. Ask about manufacturer mail-back for printers and ink — see ink / toner.
Certified recyclers
Look for responsible recycling certifications when you have business volumes or old servers. Residential users can still ask municipal sites where material is processed.
CRT TVs and monitors
Cathode-ray tubes are leaded glass. Many “free e-waste” events exclude them or charge. Do not abandon a CRT on the curb hoping bulk day covers it — check the accepted list.
What not to do
- Put a TV in the blue cart
- Smash a CRT in the driveway
- Leave a pile of computers at a closed event gate
- Donate non-working electronics to thrift stores that only want tested goods
- Skip the wipe on a laptop that still powers on
How to use DumpRegistry
- Start at mixed e-waste or the specific device hub
- City electronics guides: New York, Houston, Sacramento, Los Angeles
- Filter Centers
Pair e-waste day with lithium batteries and fluorescent bulbs if those are sitting in the same closet.
City-sourced guides
Official program links we verified — pick the metro you are actually in.
Browse verified cities · Find drop-off centers · Materials encyclopedia