The term recycling means the equipment is disassembled and the components--such as plastic, glass, and metals--are recovered and used to manufacture new products. Some organizations are involved in both reuse and recycling while others focus on one activity.

Options

What should be done with old electronic products? Computer monitors, televisions and other electronic equipment should NOT be disposed of with regular garbage. Working TVs, monitors, computers and other consumer electronics can be sold or donated thereby prolonging their useful life. Nonfunctioning TVs and computer monitors should be recycled by an organization equipped to handle them.

A first step in properly managing electronic products at the end of their useful life is to look in your Yellow Pages under Computer Dealers--Used and Recycled; Environmental and Ecological Services; Recycling Equipment and Services; Scrap Metals; Waste Disposal--Hazardous; or Waste Disposal, Reduction and Recycling.

Electronics: A New Opportunity for Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling, published by the U.S. EPA, includes information on how to properly manage electronics.

What if no appropriate recycling or disposal option is readily available? One word: Patience. Laws and policies are rapidly evolving and may subject portions of your equipment to hazardous waste regulation. It is important to correctly manage these materials, and as the laws evolve, so too will options for managing your e-waste.

Many local governments, nonprofit organizations, industry groups, and other organizations can help you handle your electronic products. These programs are central to increasing the reuse and recycling of electronic products. If you know of a program or event that is not included here, please contact us.  See an E-Drive in action.

Business Options

What should be done with Corporate or Business Scrap? Generally, all the above is true with even more requirements facing businesses.  They should NOT be disposed of with regular garbage. In almost all business scenarios, there is a wide variety of E-Scrap produced and almost all this scrap has some residual value.  Time is of the essence.  The longer a company "closets" this waste the less it is worth eventually costing the business dollars to dispose of it. ATR's business services can be as basic as picking up equipment at the dock, or on-site personnel assisting in a migration and taking PC's directly from the desktop while your resources deploy new assets.

A first step in properly managing electronic products at the end of their useful life is to partner with a company that can assist you in the remarketing, reclamation, and eventually recycling of these assets. Check these companies out, since they are not all created equal.  Things to look for in a reputable E-Scrap Company:

• Established Brick and Mortar Company, Not Export Brokers
• Data Tracking Systems to Minimize Reporting Errors and Risk
• No Landfill Policy Companies
• Do they actually Process? or Simply "skim the cream" from the top and dispose of the rest?
• Fiscally Sound
• Local County, State, and Federally Listed and Approved

Compiled Resources

For Illinois, we have compiled a list of electronic product reuse and recycling locations. It is important that generators of discarded equipment determine which options are appropriate for particular equipment and check references to evaluate past performance.

You should also check with your community's waste reduction coordinator to determine if there is a program available to you. Often that role is served by your local public works or environmental health department. If you need help tracking down a local contact, check with our County List.      See an E-Drive in action.

Nationwide Directories

The Directory of the North American Scrap Electronics Recycling Industry is available for a fee from Resource Recycling. The Directory contains extensive details about firms and organizations that acquire and process obsolete computers, peripherals TVs and other electronics.

The Electronics Industry Alliance maintains a national list searchable by state.

The International Association of Electronic Recyclers Directory of the Electronics Recycling Industry allows you to search for organizations that are involved in electronics recycling. Most of the database focuses on companies that provide recycling services for electronic products. 

National Recycling Coalition (NRC) hosts the National Database of Electronics Recyclers, Reuse Organizations, and Municipal Programs.

Last updated: July 08, 2009