Recycling Computers in New York

A free guide to finding your technology disposal solution

In New York, you can’t recycle your computers with your regular trash or recycling. Some electronics contain hazardous materials, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.

This is a list of items that must be sent back to the manufacturer, picked up by a certified electronics recycler, or sent to a special recycling program:

• TVs
• Monitors
• Computers
• Laptops
• Small servers
• Printers/scanners
• Tablets/e-readers
• MP3 Players
• VCRs/DVDs/DVR players
• Fax machines
• Video game consoles
• Cable/satellite boxes
• Computer Mice
• Keyboards

Recycling Regulations in NY

New York does not have particularly stringent computer recycling regulations.  However, the regulations do require that the recycling of computers in New York must be handled by a qualified recycler. NY, along with all other 49 states, has adopted the US EPA “Universal Waste” handling regulations.  Interstate commerce regulations dealing with waste disposal state, “It is not the regulations of the state the disposal originally occurred in but the state regulations where the final disposal occurs that you must comply with”. This means that if a business in NY hires a recycling company in New Jersey to recycle their computers, that recycler needs to be fully licensed in New Jersey.

According the NY Department of Sanitation, “Tossing out electronics is bad for the environment and illegal.  We make it easy for you to dispose of electronics safely.”

We’ve put together a list of some top choices for businesses and households looking to get rid of their electronic devices. Whether you need to destroy your hard drives, recycle your PCs, dispose of a single laptop, or you want to donate an item to a worthy cause, here are our recommendations:

For small, medium, and large size businesses:

1. Back Thru The Future (www.backthruthefuture.com) – Back Thru The Future provides businesses, manufacturers, and organization a unique blend of electronic recycling credentials and hard drive shredding experience and capabilities. They are unmatched by any other company in the secure data destruction industry. They are a fully licensed and secure facility with a NJDEP Class D license, NAID AAA, R2, and a certified Women Owned Small Business. Back Thru The Future is a federal and state registered “Universal Waste Consumer Electronics Destination Facility”. They provide secure data destruction, computer recycling, onsite or offsite drive shredding, onsite asset inventory validation, solid state storage destruction, data center relocation and closure services, and medical device destruction.

For households and small businesses:

1. The Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) is proud to offer Hudson County residents and small businesses with the opportunity to recycle their electronic waste for free at collection sites located across Hudson County. With Drop-Off Locations throughout Hudson County in Bayonne, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, Kearny, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City and West New York, there are plenty of options to dispose of unwanted and unneeded electronics. Accepted items include:

• Cell Phones & Tablets
• Computers & Laptops
• Computer Monitors
• Desktop Fax Machines
• Desktop Printers
• Electronic Devices
• Keyboards
• Televisions

2. You can drop off electronics at Special Waste Sites and SAFE Disposal Events. Learn more on the Special Waste Disposal page.

For apartment building residents:

1. Enroll in the ecycleNYC recycling program for apartment buildings with 10 or more units. Tenants must appropriately discard their electronics. It is not the landlord’s responsibility to take or mail back items for reuse or recycling.

For all:

1. Donate your devices. By donating and reusing goods, you can reduce waste, conserve energy, save money, and help provide jobs and services for New Yorkers in need. Visit donateNYC for more information: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/donate/site/