How to Dispose of Electronics and E-Waste the Right Way

Why E-Waste Disposal Matters

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Americans discard millions of tons of electronics every year, and much of it contains hazardous materials: lead in solder and CRT glass, mercury in LCD backlights, cadmium in batteries, brominated flame retardants in circuit boards, and more.

Oregon has taken a strong stance on e-waste. Under the Oregon E-Cycles law, TVs, computers, and monitors are banned from landfills. Other electronics like phones, printers, and small appliances are not technically banned but contain materials that should not go to landfills. Responsible recycling recovers valuable metals (gold, silver, copper, palladium) and prevents hazardous materials from contaminating soil and groundwater.

Oregon E-Cycles Program

Oregon E-Cycles is the state's manufacturer-funded free recycling program for covered electronics.

What Oregon E-Cycles Covers (Free)

• Desktop and laptop computers
• Computer monitors
• Televisions (all types — CRT, LCD, LED, plasma)
• Tablets and e-readers (at many sites)

How It Works

• Find a collection site on the Oregon E-Cycles website. There are over 80 sites statewide.
• Drop off up to 7 items per trip at no cost to you.
• No appointment needed at most sites.
• Available to Oregon residents and small businesses (under 10 employees).

For TVs specifically, see our detailed guide on how to dispose of an old TV.

Protecting Your Data First

Before recycling any device that stored personal information, take steps to protect your data.

Computers and Laptops

• Back up anything you need to an external drive or cloud storage.
• Factory reset the device through the operating system settings.
• For maximum security: Use a drive-wiping tool (like DBAN for hard drives) that overwrites data multiple times. For SSDs, use the manufacturer's secure erase tool.
• Physical destruction: If the drive contained highly sensitive data, remove it and physically destroy it (drill through it or take it to an e-waste facility that offers certified data destruction).

Phones and Tablets

• Sign out of all accounts (iCloud, Google, etc.).
• Remove SIM card and SD card.
• Perform a factory reset from the device settings.
• Enable encryption before resetting for additional security (most modern devices encrypt by default).

Printers

• Delete any stored documents from the printer's memory.
• Reset to factory defaults.
• Remove memory cards or USB drives.

Electronics Recycling Centers

Several dedicated electronics recyclers operate in Oregon, accepting a broader range of devices than Oregon E-Cycles.

Major Oregon E-Waste Recyclers

• Free Geek (Portland) — Accepts all electronics for free. Refurbishes working equipment for donation to nonprofits and low-income individuals. One of the best resources in the state.
• NextStep Recycling (Eugene) — Lane County's primary electronics recycler. Accepts all e-waste and refurbishes usable equipment.
• Goodwill (various locations) — Many Oregon Goodwill locations are Oregon E-Cycles sites and also accept additional electronics.
• Metro Hazardous Waste facilities (Portland area) — Accept electronics containing hazardous materials at their household hazardous waste events.

Retailer Recycling Programs

• Best Buy — Accepts most electronics for free recycling at their stores: TVs (up to 32 inches free, larger for a fee), computers, phones, tablets, printers, cables, batteries, and more. Up to 3 items per household per day.
• Staples — Accepts computers, monitors, phones, and small electronics for free recycling. Some items have per-item recycling fees.
• Apple — Apple stores accept all Apple products for recycling. They also offer trade-in credit for devices with remaining value.
• Cell phone carriers — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile stores accept old phones for recycling or trade-in.

Professional E-Waste Removal

If you have a large volume of electronics to get rid of — from an office cleanout, estate cleanout, or technology refresh — professional e-waste removal handles everything.

What to Expect

• Cost: $75 to $300 depending on volume and location. A small home office clearout is on the low end; a full commercial office is higher.
• Timeline: Same-day or next-day service across Portland, Eugene, Salem, and surrounding areas.
• What is included: Pickup, loading, transport, and delivery to certified e-waste recycling facilities.
• Data destruction: Ask about certified data destruction if devices contain sensitive business or personal information.

Professional removal is the best option for estate cleanouts where electronics have accumulated over decades, or for businesses upgrading equipment.

Disposal by Device Type

Computers and Laptops

Best options: Free Geek (Portland), NextStep Recycling (Eugene), Oregon E-Cycles, Best Buy. Wipe data first.

Cell Phones and Tablets

Best options: Cell carrier trade-in, Apple store (for Apple devices), Best Buy, Free Geek. Factory reset and remove SIM/SD cards.

Printers and Scanners

Best options: Best Buy, Staples, Free Geek. Remove ink/toner cartridges first — these can be recycled separately at office supply stores.

Cables, Chargers, and Accessories

Best options: Best Buy accepts cables and small accessories in their recycling bins. Free Geek accepts all cables and accessories.

Batteries

Batteries are hazardous waste and must be disposed of separately. Rechargeable batteries go to Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, or any Call2Recycle drop-off. Single-use alkaline batteries can go in regular trash in Oregon, but recycling is better. Our guide on car battery disposal covers automotive batteries.

Large Electronics (Copiers, Servers, Large Printers)

Contact a commercial e-waste recycler or professional junk removal service. These items are too large for retail drop-off programs.

Business and Commercial E-Waste

Oregon businesses have additional requirements for e-waste disposal:

• Businesses with more than 10 employees are not eligible for the free Oregon E-Cycles program and must use commercial recyclers.
• HIPAA-covered entities (healthcare) must use certified data destruction services and maintain chain-of-custody documentation.
• Oregon's data breach notification law requires businesses to securely dispose of devices containing personal information.

Commercial e-waste recyclers in Oregon include ERI, Cascade Asset Management, and several regional providers. They offer pickup, inventory, certified data destruction, and recycling with full documentation.

What NOT to Do

• Do not put electronics in regular trash. Most electronics contain hazardous materials. TVs, computers, and monitors are specifically banned from Oregon landfills.
• Do not throw batteries in the trash. Lithium batteries can cause fires in garbage trucks and at transfer stations. Oregon has documented multiple fires caused by improperly disposed batteries.
• Do not hoard old electronics. They lose value rapidly and the hazardous materials do not get any safer sitting in a closet. Recycle them sooner rather than later.
• Do not recycle without wiping data. Identity theft from improperly disposed electronics is a real and growing problem.

Cost Comparison

For more information on what you can and cannot throw away in regular trash, check our guide on items you cannot throw away.