Computers, TVs and Other Electronics

Material Description

This page contains information for consumers and businesses on how to handle used or discarded electronics, including information on finding a recycler in your area.

Electronic equipment that can be recycled or reused includes a wide variety of products, including cell phones, TVs and accessories, and computers and computer peripherals-including monitors, printers, keyboards, modems, mice and storage drives. Some non-electronic components and accessories, such as toner cartridges, can also be recycled or reused. The focus of this page is some of the biggest categories of electronics, including computers and computer peripherals, TVs, and cell phones.

Environmental Impacts

Each year, millions of computers and other electronics become obsolete and end up stored in warehouses, attics and closets. Only a small percentage of these are recycled. The rest end up in landfills or incinerators. If electronics are burned or landfilled, the heavy metals in them could be released into the environment.

Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and mercury are found in electronics and electronic components, including cathode ray tubes, printed circuit boards, flat screen monitors, laptop computer screens, batteries, relays and switches. Cathode ray tubes, relays and switches are found in monitors and terminals. Circuit boards are found in all electronics and batteries are in cell phones, laptops and portable printers. Flame-retardant chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used in many electronics. All of these materials have potentially toxic effects on humans and other organisms if they are released into the environment.

Too Valuable to Waste

Computers and other electronic equipment Can be recovered for repair, resale or recycled for the precious metals and reusable electronic components they contain. These are valuable materials. Recovering them from electronics involves the cost of responsibly handling the hazardous materials discussed above.

Legal Requirements

Individuals and Households

Household computers are not legally required to be recycled. Because they are a valuable resource, they should be recycled. Household waste is excluded from regulation as a hazardous waste identified in chapter NR 661, Wis. Adm. Code [PDF exit DNR]. However, if a household hazardous waste is taken to a Clean Sweep event or other household hazardous waste collection facility, the facility must properly manage the material as hazardous waste.

Residents should check with their municipal recycling programs to see if there are local restrictions. (Contact your DNR regional recycling staff if you need help finding information on your local recycling program.)

Businesses and Institutions

Businesses or institutions, by state law, are prohibited from disposing of computers and other electronic equipment that contains hazardous materials in municipal solid waste landfills or incinerators. Businesses and institutions should recycle electronics whenever possible. If businesses and institutions do not recycle electronic equipment, they are subject to state solid and hazardous waste management rules and may require licenses from the DNR for transportation and treatment, storage or disposal of the equipment. For more information see chapters NR 661, Wis. Admin. Code [PDF exit DNR] and NR 673, Wis. Admin. Code [PDF exit DNR].

Preferred Handling Option: Recycle or Reuse!

Find out more about issues to consider when looking for recycling or reuse options in your area. You can use the links below to search for recycling options. When contacting recyclers, you can use the questions below as a guide to help you decide if the recycler is right for you.

Key questions to ask electronics recyclers

What electronics does the recycler accept?
What fees (if any) does the recycler charge, and for what types of equipment?
Does the recycler offer pick-up service, or do you have to drop items off yourself?
What does the recycler do with electronics it collects (e.g., send them to another company for demanufacturing/processing, process in-house, refurbish and donate, etc.)?
What steps does the recycler take to make sure materials with hazardous components don't end up in landfills or incinerators, or improperly disposed of (e.g., illegally dumped) in the United States or overseas?
What steps does the recycler take to ensure worker safety?
Will the recycler provide a certificate of recycling/proper disposal?
What steps does the recycler take to destroy personal data and ensure the security of personal and financial information?

For more information on questions to ask recyclers, particularly for businesses and institutions with large volumes of equipment, see DNR's Checklist: Selecting an Electronics Recycling Service Provider, WA615 [PDF 109KB].

To find a recycler in your area:

Contact your municipal recycling program to find out if they provide for collection of computers. (Contact your DNR regional recycling staff if you need help finding information on your local recycling program.) Many county Web sites [exit DNR] may also contain more information on recycling.
Ask your retailer or product manufacturer if they will take back your electronics for recycling. There ar a growing number of these programs, though the types and brands of equipment they will accept vary.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has information and links to find electronics recyclers [exit DNR].
WasteCap Wisconsin [exit DNR] has a list of some computer recycling options around the state, as well as national manufacturers and non-profits involved with electronics recycling.
myGreenElectronic [exit DNR] is a site from the Consumer Electronics Association that allows consumers to search for electronics recyclers by location and product type.
Earth911 [exit DNR] has resources for electronics recycling, including a search function that lets you find recyclers in your area.
Computers that are still usable can be donated to a school or non-profit group, or check the Yellow Pages™ listings for "Computers: Sales and Service" to sell or give your computer to a repair or resale business. Keep in mind the important questions to ask to make sure your equipment will be handled properly.

Publications and Other Resources

Contact Information

For questions and comments about handling computers, TVs and other electronics, please contact:

DNR Waste Materials@Wisconsin.gov

Last Revised: Monday June 22 2009