To dispose of electronics in NYC, you have to keep them out of your regular trash and recycling and use one of several free channels instead: an in-building collection program if you live in a large apartment building, curbside pickup in parts of the outer boroughs, a Special Waste drop-off site open in every borough on Saturdays, a scheduled SAFE disposal event, or a retailer or manufacturer take-back program. New York State banned residents from throwing e-waste in the garbage in 2015, and the free options exist because that ban required manufacturers and the city to give you somewhere else to put it.
Which Devices Count as E-Waste
New York’s Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act covers a specific list of devices. That list includes computers (desktops, laptops, and small servers), monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, fax machines, and photocopiers. It also covers televisions, VCRs, DVD and Blu-ray players, digital video recorders, cable and satellite receivers, and digital converter boxes, along with cell phones, tablets, e-readers, portable digital music players, and video game consoles.1New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Used Electronic Equipment
Some things people assume are e-waste actually fall outside the definition: household appliances like microwaves and refrigerators, standalone digital cameras, radios, calculators, and GPS units. Those have their own disposal rules but aren’t covered by this ban. When you aren’t sure, treat the item as e-waste and bring it to a drop-off rather than putting it in the trash.
Why You Can’t Just Throw It Out
Since January 1, 2015, no household in New York State may set electronic waste out with the trash or place it in any solid waste facility bound for a landfill.2New York State Senate. New York Code ENV – Environmental Conservation Article 27 Title 26 27-2611 – Disposal Ban The NYC Department of Sanitation states plainly on its own site that disposing of covered electronics with trash or recycling is illegal.3New York City Department of Sanitation. Electronics and E-Waste Because the state law also requires manufacturers to fund free recycling for consumers, you should not have to pay anything to get rid of a residential device.
Prep Before You Drop It Off
Erase Your Data
Dragging files to the trash doesn’t remove them; recovery software can pull that data back. For computers, run a dedicated data-wiping program that overwrites the whole drive. For phones and tablets, sign out of your accounts and perform a factory reset. If the device held highly sensitive information, physically destroying the hard drive is the most reliable option, and professional shredding runs roughly $7 to $50 per drive.
Deal With Batteries Separately
Standard alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt) can go in your household trash. Tape the terminals on D and 9-volt cells first to prevent sparks.4New York City Department of Sanitation. Batteries
Rechargeable and lithium-ion batteries are different. Throwing them out is illegal and dangerous, because they can overheat, catch fire, and explode. FDNY has warned about improper disposal for that reason.4New York City Department of Sanitation. Batteries If you can pop the battery out of a device, tape its terminals or bag it and bring it to a battery drop-off; many of the same sites that take e-waste also take batteries. If the battery is sealed inside, just dispose of the whole device as e-waste.
Free Disposal Options for NYC Residents
ecycleNYC (Apartment Buildings With 10+ Units)
Residential buildings with 10 or more units can enroll in ecycleNYC, a free in-building collection program from the Department of Sanitation. Enrolled buildings get collection bins, and when a bin fills up or holds at least 20 items, building staff request a pickup and DSNY collects within five business days.5New York City Department of Sanitation. ecycleNYC6NYC311. Electronics Disposal Buildings sign up online through DSNY. If you rent, ask your building manager whether the building participates, or call 311.
Curbside Pickup for Smaller Buildings
Residents in buildings with one to nine units can schedule curbside e-waste pickups in parts of the city. Coverage has expanded over time across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, with more limited coverage in Manhattan. Because the service area keeps growing, confirm availability at your address through 311 or the DSNY site before scheduling.
SAFE Disposal Events
DSNY runs SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) disposal events throughout the year in all five boroughs. These accept e-waste along with other hazardous household products like paint, motor oil, and cleaning chemicals. Events are open only to NYC residents, and you may be asked for proof of residency such as a New York State driver’s license or utility bill. No businesses or commercial vehicles.7New York City Department of Sanitation. SAFE Disposal Events Dates are seasonal, so check the DSNY site or call 311.
Special Waste Drop-Off Sites
DSNY operates permanent Special Waste Drop-Off Sites in every borough, open every Saturday and the last Friday of each month, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.3New York City Department of Sanitation. Electronics and E-Waste The locations:
- Bronx: Hunts Point at Farragut Street and the East River, next to the Fulton Fish Market
- Brooklyn: 459 North Henry Street in Greenpoint
- Manhattan: 74 Pike Slip, under the Manhattan Bridge between Cherry Street and South Street
- Queens: College Point at 30th Avenue, between 120th and 122nd Streets
- Staten Island: Off the Muldoon Avenue exit of the southbound West Shore Expressway (Route 440)
Confirm accepted items before you drive over, since the specific materials these sites take can change.
Retailer and Manufacturer Take-Back
State law requires every manufacturer that sells electronics in New York to run a free consumer recycling program. They can’t charge you for collection, handling, or recycling, and they have to make sure every county has at least one convenient drop-off or mail-back option.8New York State Senate. New York Code ENV 27-2605 – Manufacturer Electronic Waste Registration and Responsibilities Many satisfy that requirement by partnering with retailers, nonprofits, and local governments.9New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Covered Electronic Equipment Manufacturer Requirements
Best Buy and Staples accept a range of devices for recycling, often no matter where you bought the item. Call the specific store first, because some limit which items or sizes they accept and a few charge for large items like TVs.
Cell phones have their own rule. Under the New York State Wireless Telephone Recycling Act, every wireless service provider that sells phones must accept up to 10 used cell phones from any person at no charge, or offer free shipping to a recycling program, and stores must post signs saying so.10New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Wireless Telephone Recycling Act That covers carrier stores, authorized retailers, and online sellers.
Donate If It Still Works
A working device is usually more useful donated than recycled. Goodwill and the Salvation Army accept working electronics at locations across the city, and some refurbish devices for resale or for people who need them. Wipe your data first, exactly as you would before recycling. Keep a receipt showing the item and date if you plan to claim the donation on your taxes.11Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions
A Note for Businesses
The residential programs above are for households. Businesses in NYC can’t use ecycleNYC or SAFE events, and the free-recycling guarantee from manufacturers applies only to consumer drop-offs; manufacturers can charge business customers for collection.8New York State Senate. New York Code ENV 27-2605 – Manufacturer Electronic Waste Registration and Responsibilities The disposal ban still applies, so businesses have to arrange recycling through a licensed hauler or a paid manufacturer program.