Electronics recycling


Recycle your TVs, computers and monitors -- FREE
Goodwill and other collectors now accept your electronics for free at many locations in Tacoma and Pierce County. Find drop off locations at 1-800-RECYCLE or www.ecyclewashington.org. Find out more about the E-Cycle Washington program.
 

Take it Back Network   -- Now accepting fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and tubes
Find recyclers of electronics not accepted through E-Cycle Washington



Manufacturer recycling programs
Cell phone recycling
Donate electronics
Why recycle electronics
Responsibly purchase new electronics
Support product stewardship

E-Cycle Washington

What is E-Cycle Washington?
E-Cycle Washington is a new program that provides free recycling of computers, monitors and TVs. Electronics manufacturers are taking responsibility for the cost of recycling these products.

Who can e-cycle for free?
Consumers, small businesses, school districts, small governments, special purpose districts and charities are eligible for this free recycling.

Why should I e-cycle?
E-cycling keeps toxic materials out of landfills and conserves natural resources and energy required to make products from scratch.

How can I e-cycle?
Find authorized locations at 1-800-RECYCLE or www.ecyclewashington.org.
Authorized collectors handle your electronics safely and responsibly according to preferred management standards overseen by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Accepted
• Computers
• CPUs (towers)
• Laptops
• Computer monitors
• Televisions

Not accepted*
• Mice
• Keyboards
• Printers
• Copiers
• Scanners
• All other electrical devices, including appliances and cell phones
*Goodwill accepts these items if they’re in good condition

E-Cycle Washington locations in Tacoma (locations subject to change):
• Goodwill, www.tacomagoodwill.org
• Green PC: (253) 473-4300, 3627 S. 54th St.
• Oakland Radio & TV: (253) 383-5277, 3901 Center St.
• St. Vincent de Paul: (253) 474-0519, 4009 S. 56th St.
• Tacoma Recycling: (253) 474-9559, 2318 S. Tacoma Way

 
     
Take it Back Network
Recycle your unwanted electronics and fluorescents

The Take it Back Network is a partnership among government agencies, retailers and recyclers that provides consumers with options for recycling electronics and fluorescent lighting — and their hazardous components — in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner. Click here for a list of Take it Back Network member recyclers.

Pierce County and City of Tacoma solid waste divisions strongly encourage residents to recycle their electronics and fluorescent lighting instead of throwing them in the garbage. As partners supporting the regional Take it Back Network program, Pierce County and the City of Tacoma offer residents easy and safe ways to recycle electronics and fluorescent bulbs and tubes locally.

By properly recycling  electronics, fluorescent lighting and other products that contain toxic or hazardous materials, you’ll help save resources and reduce the amount of harmful contaminants that enter our environment.

How to use the Take it Back Network

1. Find a business that will accept your electronics or fluorescent bulbs/tubes for recycling. Click here for a list of local businesses that are members of the Take it Back Network.

2. Call businesses for details about accepted items, fees, hours and service options.*

3. Recycle your electronics or fluorescent lighting** at your chosen Take it Back Network business.

About Take it Back Network members

• They are committed to offering convenient, environmentally-sound recycling services

• They agree to handle all materials domestically or in developed countries

• They provide customers with documentation about how and where their materials are recycled (upon request)
Click here for a list of Tacoma-Pierce County member recyclers.

* Some businesses may not recycle your particular item or there may be a fee to recycle it.
** Fluorescent bulbs and tubes are hazardous only if they break, so place them in the original packaging or in plastic bag and cardboard box to transport them safely.

Take it Back Network members
Tacoma-Pierce County

ELECTRONICS

•  Computer Shack
18522 Old Sumner-Buckley Hwy., Suite B, Bonney Lake
(253) 826-3823, www.mypcshack.com

 •  Norm's TV & Computers
815 Valley Ave., Sumner
(253) 863-4521, www.cureteam.com

•  Oakland Radio and T.V.
3901 Center St., Tacoma
(253) 383-5277, www.oaklandradioandtv.com

•  PC Techs and Parts
9918 Portland Ave. E., Tacoma
(253) 531-6785, www.pctechsandparts.com

FLUORESCENT BULBS (CFLs) AND TUBES

Manufacturer recycling programs

Some of the larger computer manufacturers have recycling programs for hardware and/or printing supplies:

• Apple: (800) MY-APPLE, www.apple.com/education/shop/recycle  

• Canon E-Store: (800) 385-2155, www.estore.usa.canon.com/recycle/recycle_faq.asp

• Dell: (800) 915-3355, www.dell4me.com/recycling

• Epson: www.epson.com/recycle

• Gateway: (800) 428-3929, www.gateway.com/environment

• Hewlett-Packard: (800) 752-0900, www.hp.com/recycle

• IBM: (888) 746-7426, www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/prp.shtml

• Xerox: (800) 828-6571, http://www.xerox.com/

Cell phone recycling

The City of Tacoma offers three locations where you can recycle your unwanted cell phones, batteries and chargers free of charge.

• City of Tacoma Recycling Center (Tacoma Landfill)
3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Daily

• Tacoma Municipal Building (2nd floor lobby)
747 Market St., Tacoma, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon-Fri

• Tacoma Public Utilities lobby
3628 S. 35th St., Tacoma, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon-Fri

There are some private organizations that also recycle cell phones for free and/or for cash back. Make sure the organization you go through is reputable in its sustainable follow-through of recycling the material.

Donating electronics

Not all charities or schools want or accept electronics as a donation. Those that do accept them have conditions or restrictions on what they will accept, or they may charge a fee. If you are interested in donating electronics to a charity, school or other non-profit, call them first to ensure your electronics are accepted.

Remember to never leave electronics at any unattended donation location, after hours or without permission. Charities and non-profit organizations incur recycling costs if equipment isn’t reusable.






Why recycle electronics

• Electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium, and they need to be handled properly to protect the environment and human health. The hazardous materials can be reclaimed and reused when electronic items are recycled.

• Recycling the metals, plastics and glass in electronics:
-- conserves natural resources
-- saves energy
-- reduces or eliminates the pollution created when these components are made from virgin materials

• Recycling creates jobs in our communities. On a per-ton basis, for every job created at a landfill, recycling sustains 10 more jobs just through sorting materials. (Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 1999)

Responsibly purchase new electronics

In addition to properly disposing of old electronics by recycling, do your part when it’s time to purchase new items:

• Look for products with recycled content, and products that can be recycled at the end of their useful life.

• Ask if the manufacturer has a recycling program.

• Choose products that are expected to have a longer life.

• Choose products with less packaging.

• Choose products registered with EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool), which helps institutional purchasers evaluate, compare and select computers and monitors based on environmental attributes. Find more information at www.epeat.net.

Support product stewardship

Pierce County and the City of Tacoma endorse product stewardship, a concept that encourages the environmentally friendly design of products and the proper disposal or recycling at the end of their useful life, which reduces the flow of garbage to landfills. 

As a result of Pierce County, City of Tacoma and other local governments working with the Environmental Protection Agency, electronics manufacturers and retail stores, a new state law will take effect in 2009 that offers free electronics recycling. Manufacturers will pay for collection and processing, which will encourage them to design more recyclable products with less hazardous materials.

Find out more about product stewardship and ways you can show your support.

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