With holiday cheer and gifts galore, many will give or receive new electronic equipment. As you switch out of the old and welcome the new, remember to recycle your old electronics responsibly.
Examples of common electronic equipment that must be recycled:
- Computers (desktops, laptops, e-readers, tablets, etc.)
- Computer peripherals (mice, keyboards, monitors, printers, etc.)
- Small electronic equipment (DVR’s, DVD players, MP3 players, video game consoles, etc.)
- Televisions
It is illegal to dispose these and other covered electronic equipment (CEE) in the trash under New York’s electronic waste law.
Visit DEC’s Consumer Electronic Waste Recycling webpage for information on all available recycling/reuse opportunities.
Manufacturers of CEE are required to provide consumers a free and convenient opportunity to recycle their equipment or one piece of CEE from another manufacturer with the purchase of the same type. Depending on a specific manufacturer’s acceptance program, CEE recycling/reuse opportunities may include: permanent collection locations, local collection events, mailback programs, or at-home pickup (when no other free and convenient option is offered).
For more information, contact the E-waste Recycling Team by emailing ewaste@dec.ny.gov.
Great idea in theory, but the practice is lacking. Local recycling events are very limited. Maybe one or two days a year during specific hours, so if you can’t make those you are out of luck. Also, I find asking at our local stores and transfer station often reveals the fact that they have no clue as to what you can do to properly recycle stuff.