Computer disposal, donation, and recycle information

Quick links

Introduction
Organization notice
Recycling batteries
Computer dismantle
Monitor dismantle
Recycling used printer ink cartridges
Computer donation
Cleaning computer components

Introduction

E-wasteThis page has been created as a location to find additional information about properly disposing your computer equipment and batteries as well as donation information for working computers and electronics. Users who have older working computers may also want to review document CH000719 for ideas suggestions on what can be done with older computers.

Organization notice

If you are with a company or organization who accepts donations or properly dismantles computers, electronics, or batteries, edit this page and suggest your company or organization. We request all submissions contain all the company's information and highly recommend that the company has a web page.

Recycling batteries

Because of the large amounts of batteries being used today with computers and other electronics, it is important that you dispose the batteries not only properly but safely to help the environment and other beings. In addition, there are now over 500 recycling laws in the United States and not disposing of the batteries appropriately may cost you or your company.

In addition to the below list of companies who specialize in recycling batteries some major electronic retail stores in the United States also accept used ink cartridges. Below is a listing of some of these companies.

Below are a few of the several hundred available companies that can help provide you with information or help you recycle your batteries.

Phone: (734) 467-9110
Fax: (734) 467-9104
Batteries Recycled:  Able to manage every spent battery manufactured today.

Phone: (352) 376-5135
Fax: (352)376-5942
Batteries Recycled: Ni-Cad (visit website to find local Ni-Cad drop off locations).

U.S. Phone: (888)438-5865
Canada (English) Phone: (800)267-7581
Canada (French) Phone: (800)-231-9081
Batteries Recycled: Lead-Acid Batteries

Caution: In no instance can a battery be incinerated. Disposing a battery by burning will cause them to explode.

Important: In case of rupture, leaking electrolyte or any other cause of skin or eye exposure to the electrolyte, immediately flush with water. If eye exposure, flush with water for 15 minutes and consult physician.

Additional information on batteries can be found on our battery information page.

Computer dismantle

If you have a computer or computer equipment that you believe is beyond repair or is too old to be useful we recommend one of the below services, which can dismantle the equipment properly to obtain all usable parts and materials. If you have a usable good computer you may want to consider donating the computer instead of dismantling or recycling it.

Many computer manufacturers and computer hardware manufactures also have their own recycling or trade in programs. Below is a list of some of the major manufactures and links to their recycling programs.

Below is a short list of some of the major recycling companies capable of recycling computers.

Phone:(503) 693-8939 or (703) 378-5500
Fax: (503) 693-8693 or (703) 378-5515
Address:
1600 NE 25th Ave Suite C
Hillsboro, OR 97124

4116-G Walney RD,
Chantilly, VA 20151
Note: Company capable of recycling computers, monitors, telephones, and related equipment, and various other electronic items.

Phone: (604) 607-1117
Fax: (604) 533-2537

Address:
19632 40th  Avenue
Langley, B.C. V3A 6L7
Note: Company who's capable of recycling all computers, printers, monitors, phones, and numerous other electronic components.

Phone: (888) SHOP-IBM (Reference part number 06P7513)
Note: IBM can recycle any manufacturer's PCs, including system units, monitors, printers, and optional attachments for $29.99 which includes shipping.
Parts capable of recycling: any manufacturer's PC, monitors, printers, and optional attachments.

Phone: (888) 452-5642 or (708) 756-9838
Fax: (708) 756-4094
Address:
1001-59 Washington
11th and Washington
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Parts capable of recycling: All electronic equipment and material, including computers (mainframes, monitors, terminals, CPU's), printers, fax machines, modems, bridges, hubs, copy machines, consumer electronics (radios, CD players, dvd players, clocks, calculators, telephones, cellular phones), components, and various other plastic and metal.

Phone: (408) 453-4511
Fax: (408) 453-4511
Address:
Refer to web page (multiple locations)
Note: Back Thru The Future Microcomputers is one of the largest computer recyclers in the United States and are a women's owned business. The company recycles microcomputers for corporations, educational institutions, government, and individuals. With millions of microcomputers being displaced each year by newer technology, Back Thru The Future has committed itself to finding uses for this older technology and preventing it from becoming a high tech waste.
Parts capable of recycling: All computer equipment. For corporations, educational institutions, government, and individuals.

Phone: (800) 711-6010
Fax: (570)879-2008
Address:
Envirocycle, Inc.
Rt. 81 Ext. 68
PO Box 899
Hallstead, PA 18822-0899
Note: Envirocycle, Inc., a company of The Matco (Environmental Group) offers responsible asset reclamation and  disposition services to the electronics industry. In 1995 alone, Envirocycle dismantled over 465,000 monitors and 2,000,000 pounds of electronic equipment.
Parts capable of recycling: All electrical components and Monitors.

  • Total Reclaim (http://www.totalreclaim.com/)

Phone: (206) 343-7443
Fax: (206) 343-7445
Address:
Total Reclaim Inc. Seattle
2200 6th Ave. South
Seattle, WA 98134
Note: Total Reclaim provides environmentally responsible asset reclamation and disposition services to the electronics industry. Total Reclaim is the Pacific Northwest's largest electronics recycler, handling 9,000,000 lbs of monitors, televisions, and other electronics in 2004.

Phone: (800) 323-1574
Fax: (847) 455-3232
Fax: (630) 231-6565
Address:
3700 North Runge Avenue
Franklin Park, IL 60131

1600 Harvester Road
West Chicago, IL 60185
Note: United Recycling is the the disassembly and de-manufacturing operation of Untied Recycling Industries total asset recovery concept for environmentally safe disposal and recycling of excess, obsolete, or end of life commercial, industrial, military, and consumer electronic material.
Parts capable of recycling: Computers and peripherals, cell phones, office, and telecommunication equipment, laboratory/medical equipment, and many other electronic materials.

Phone: (866)-771-9785
Fax: (727) 546-7670
Address:
7300 Bryan Dairy Road Suite 475
Largo, FL 33777

Note: Ecycling is a nationwide IT and electronics recycling provider.  They ensure compliance with the EPA and other environmental agencies.  They have convenient drop off locations at participating FedEx offices.
Parts capable of recycling: Phones, Cell Phones, Network equipment, Servers, VCR's, Telecom Equipment and more.

Monitor dismantle

Phone:(503) 693-8939 or (703) 421-4340
Fax: (503) 693-8939 or (703) 421-4340
Address:
1600 NE 25th Ave Suite E
Hillsboro, OR 97124

21580 Atlantic Blvd, Suite #120
Sterling, VA 20166
Note: Company capable of recycling computers, monitors, telephones, and related equipment, and various other electronic items.

Phone: (604) 533-2537
Fax: (604) 533-2537
Address:
19632 40th  Avenue
Langley, B.C. V3A 6L7
Note: Company who's capable of recycling all computers, printers, monitors, phones, and numerous other electronic components.

Phone: (888) SHOP-IBM (Reference part number 06P7513)
Note: IBM can recycle any manufacturer's PCs, including system units, monitors, printers, and optional attachments for $29.99 which includes shipping.
Parts capable of recycling: any manufacturer's PC, monitors, printers, and optional attachments.

Phone: (888) 452-5642 or (708) 756-9838
Fax: (708) 756-4094
Address:
1001-59 Washington
11th and Washington
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Parts capable of recycling: All electronic equipment and material, including computers (mainframes, monitors, terminals, CPU's), printers, fax machines, modems, bridges, hubs, copy machines, consumer electronics (radios, CD players, dvd players, clocks, calculators, telephones, cellular phones), components, and various other plastic and metal.

  • Total Reclaim (http://www.totalreclaim.com/)

Phone: (206) 343-7443
Fax: (206) 343-7445
Address:
Total Reclaim Inc. Seattle
2200 6th Ave. South
Seattle, WA 98134
Note: Total Reclaim provides environmentally responsible asset reclamation and disposition services to the electronics industry. Total Reclaim is the Pacific Northwest's largest electronics recycler, handling 9,000,000 lbs of monitors, televisions, and other electronics in 2004.

Phone: (800) 323-1574
Fax: (847) 455-3232
Fax: (630) 231-6565
Address:
3700 North Runge Avenue
Franklin Park, IL 60131

1600 Harvester Road
West Chicago, IL 60185

Note: United Recycling is the the disassembly and de-manufacturing operation of Untied Recycling Industries total asset recovery concept for environmentally safe disposal and recycling of excess, obsolete, or end of life commercial, industrial, military, and consumer electronic material.
Parts capable of recycling: Computers and peripherals, cell phones, office, and telecommunication equipment, laboratory/medical equipment, and many other electronic materials.

Recycling used printer ink cartridges

Many printer manufacturers also have their own recycling program. Below is a list of some of the major printer companies and links to their recycling programs.

Finally, some major electronic retail stores in the United States also accept used ink cartridges. Below is a listing of some of these companies.

Additional information and help with recycling ink cartridges can also be found through the below links.

Computer donation

Rather than disposing your computer, the best option for proper management of "retired" computer equipment is material recovery for all usable parts. If the equipment still functions, consider donating it to a local school or nonprofit organization. For computers that are "beyond repair", refer to Computer Dismantle.

Below is a list of various organizations that also accept used computer equipment. Call them before sending anything to ensure the item(s) meet their needs.

Note: As much as we would like to Computer Hope, does not have the resources to donate any of its equipment. See document CH000701 for additional information.

Phone: (203)863-9100
Fax: (203)863-9230
Address:
National Cristina Foundation
500 West Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
Note: This organization accepts computer equipment for donation to organizations serving the disadvantages.

Phone: None or unknown
E-mail: Click here
Note: Nonprofit materials exchange network that connects users and organizations looking to share or gather computer equipment for reuse across America.

Phone: (415)633-9300
E-mail: realperson@compumentor.org
Note: An organization that's been around since 1987 that's dedicated to helping nonprofits use technology.

Phone: (416) 534-6017
Fax: (416) 534-6083
E-mail: info@reboot.on.ca
Address:
136 Geary Avenue, Unit 110
Toronto, Ontario
M6H 4H1
Note: Nonprofit charity providing computer hardware, networking, and technology support.

Note: Comprehensive electronics recovery, reuse, and environmental responsible partnership between Goodwill and Dell. This organization has dozens of locations throughout the United States in states such as California, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The address and other contact information for each of these locations is found on the above link under participating goodwills.

Note: Nationwide electronics recycling company.  Most of the time the disposal fee is free.  They are in compliance with the California Environmental Protection Agency.  When your electronics are disposed of, they will send you a free report of what was recycled and a proof of recycle certificate.

Phone: (732) 564 3110
Address:
600A Apgar Drive
Somerset, NJ 08873

Note: Based in New Jersey, Newtech specializes in environmentally friendly methods of electronic disposal.  They will also distribute working equipment to a charitable organization.  They will accept any electronic equipment except microwaves and air conditioners.

Phone: (773) 545-7357
Fax: (773) 545-7357
Address:
3053 N. Knox Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641

Note: Based in Chicago, Chicago Surplus specializes in disposing of and refurbishing old business electronics.

Phone: (877) 939-2789 - Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver
Address:
1301 34th Ave. SE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

11404 143rd Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

38 East 69th Ave.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Note: A Canadian non-profit company specializing in reducing electronic waste in landfills.  They collect unwanted computers for reuse, refurbish, and recycling.  They donate to charities and other non-profit organizations.  They have several drop off locations in the following locations in Canada: Alberta, Vancouver, Toronto and most of the rest of Canada.

Phone: (732) 429-4392
Address:
165 Chubb Ave.
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

Note: Based in New Jersey, eRevival is one of the leading electronics recycling companies.  They accept any computer equipment and electronic equipment.