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Some electronics contain hazardous materials, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. You cannot dispose of these electronics, also called e-waste, with your regular trash or recycling.

E-waste includes:

Computers and Computer Accessories

  • Cables, cords, and wiring permanently fixed to a device
  • Desktop towers and monitors
  • Keyboards, mice, and pointing devices
  • Laptops
  • Printers and document scanners
  • Servers (small-scale only)

TV and Video Equipment

  • Cable boxes, cable/satellite receivers, antennas, and digital converter boxes
  • Cables, cords, and wiring permanently fixed to the TV
  • TVs, VCRs, DVD players, and DVRs (digital video recorders)

Portable Electronic Devices

  • Cell phones
  • Digital cameras
  • Tablets (ex: iPads) and e-readers
  • Portable music devices/digital music players (iPod, mp3 player, Walkman)

Home Electronics

  • Electronic keyboards
  • Fax machines
  • Video game consoles

If you need to dispose of an item not listed above, use the How to Get Rid of Lookup online tool to learn how to dispose of it.

Disposal Options

City residents have several options to dispose of e-waste.

You can:

  • Donate them if in working condition
  • Enroll your apartment building to get pickups through the ecycleNYC program
  • Bring them to a drop-off location
  • Return them to the manufacturer or retailer for recycling

Tenants must appropriately discard their electronics. It is not the landlord's responsibility to take or mail back items for reuse or recycling.

Learn more about electronics disposal.

You can search for places in your neighborhood and throughout the City where you can donate working electronics on the donateNYC website.

Visit donateNYC.

The curbside e-waste collection program on Staten Island is suspended as of October 27, 2023. No new appointments can be made.

    Apartment buildings with 10 or more units can participate in ecycleNYC, a free and convenient in-building service to remove and recycle unwanted electronics.

    Service options include:

    • Room clean-outs for buildings with 10 or more units
    • Storage bins for buildings with 100 or more units
    • Building events for buildings with 250 or more units

    Buildings, management companies, or residents can apply to enroll in ecycleNYC online. If you're not sure if your building is already enrolled in this program, check with your building manager.

    Learn more and apply for ecycleNYC.

     Pickups

    If your building is enrolled in ecycleNYC, a building manager or staff member can request pickup of unwanted electronics. Pickup is guaranteed within 5 business days.

    Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

    City Drop-Off Locations

    You can drop off electronics for free at Special Waste Sites or seasonal SAFE Disposal Events. Learn more on the Special Waste Disposal page.

    Other Locations

    View a map of electronics drop-off locations or contact the following businesses or organizations to drop off, recycle, or donate your electronics.

    Please note that some sites charge fees or don't accept certain items. Check the location’s website or contact them to confirm before you drop off the items.

    Best Buy

    Visit Best Buy's website.

    • Agency: Best Buy
    • Phone Number: (888) 237-8289
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Agency: Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey
    • Phone Number: (718) 728-5400
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Agency: Salvation Army
    • Phone Number: (800) 728-7825
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Agency: Staples
    • Phone Number: (800) 333-3330
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

    You can return unwanted electronics to manufacturers for recycling or disposal for free. Electronic manufacturers, such as Samsung, Sony, or Toshiba, must accept electronics from residents at no cost.

    Cell phones can also be dropped off at any store that sells service plans.

    You can find more information about recycling electronics at the store where you purchased the item or at any store that sells the item. You can also call the manufacturer or check your brand's website.

    The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) keeps a list of registered electronics manufacturers and information about their e-waste acceptance programs on its website.

    Find e-waste acceptance programs.

    Store or Manufacturer Complaints

    You make a report to the NYSDEC Tip Line about a:

    • Electronics manufacturer that doesn't accept their products for recycling
    • Store that sells electronics but doesn't have information about electronics recycling

    The NYSDEC Tip Line only takes complaints. It does not provide recycling or disposal locations.

    • Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
    • Division: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Tip Line
    • Phone Number: (800) 847-7332
    • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

    Electronics cannot go in regular recycling or trash. Schools must follow specific guidelines for disposal.

    For more information on electronics disposal for NYC Department of Education schools, you can email your question to WasteSupport@schools.nyc.gov.

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