16 places to responsibly dispose of old electronics in Philadelphia

For many Philadelphians, old cell phones, laptops and other electronics gather dust in drawers or boxes in the back of closets. 

When residents finally start to feel fed up with the clutter or during their annual spring cleanings, these devices are sometimes tossed into the trash or blue recycling bins. These forgotten electronics have become a part of a growing citywide e-waste problem.

Philadelphia creates around 1.5 million tons of residential and commercial waste annually, according to government initiative SmartCityPHL. Electronics and textiles comprise about 10% of the city’s waste stream. The rest is sent to incinerators and landfills, bringing hazardous and resource-rich materials with it.

But the good news is, there’s something residents can do about it. 

While giving up or not upgrading our devices isn’t always an option, getting them out of our curbside bins and landfills is. The Philadelphia metro region has over a dozen facilities where you can donate and properly recycle your e-waste, keeping them out of landfills and giving them new life.

Here’s a guide to places in the Philadelphia region to responsibly dispose of old electronics.

What role does the City of Philadelphia play in reducing e-waste?

As e-waste becomes the largest growing stream of municipal waste, Philadelphia has stepped up to the challenge of reducing how much of it ends up in its landfills. In 2016, the city introduced a goal to go zero-waste and litter-free by 2035 through an executive order by then-mayor Jim Kenney. 

One of the city’s initiatives is a partnership led by SmartCityPHL and Retrievr, an on-demand doorstep collection service for clothing and electronics. Since 2020, the city has offered doorstep pickup recycling for residents to properly recycle clothing and electronics. 

How does Philly use e-waste recycling to give back to residents?

Philly isn’t just focusing on recycling its e-waste, it’s helping to give back to its communities by bridging the digital divide. For working devices with some life still left in them, residents can donate them to be refurbished and given to residents or non-profits in need.

Donations can be made with PHLDonateTech, a city initiative working in partnership with nonprofit tech refurbisher PCs for People. This initiative helps close the gap for residents who don’t currently have access to technology and keeps working electronics out of the city’s landfills. 

What is e-waste?

E-waste, short for “electronic waste,” is unwanted or discarded pieces of electronics, such as old cell phones, computers and even kitchen appliances. While some devices are no longer functional, many are still working or salvageable electronics that could otherwise be repaired, donated or resold.

In 2019, Americans generated over 6.9 million tons of e-waste, but only 15% of it was recycled. Despite piling up in our landfills and its inability to decompose, e-waste can be especially dangerous to our environment due to the toxic chemicals found within electronics. 

Why is recycling e-waste through the proper channels so important? 

The typical single-stream system of putting all household recycling in a curbside bin every week isn’t enough to process e-waste properly. E-waste is categorized as “hazardous waste” due to the dangerous materials found in electronics like mercury and lead. 

These toxic materials require a specialized disposal process to prevent environmental and health risks to communities. When improperly disposed of, they can leak into the soil below landfills, also known as “leaching,” which can pollute the soil, groundwater and freshwater nearby. Leaching can not only pollute drinking water from natural wells but it also harms local wildlife.  

E-waste doesn’t just contain harmful materials. It also contains precious materials like gold and copper, which can be recovered and reused to make new products.

For example, big tech company Dell Technologies has its own recovery and recycling services where it refurbishes and repairs older electronics while recovering and reusing any materials (including plastic) from out-of-use tech to make into new devices.

Why does it cost money to recycle e-waste?

Properly recycling e-waste is more than just emptying your trash into a bin. It’s an intricate process requiring specialized equipment and staff to properly handle materials and hazardous chemicals in the electronics. 

For example, some devices like old computer monitors require an additional method to safely recycle because toxic components can pose a risk to employees.

Some companies also charge for data wiping and removal from devices before shredding or recycling to protect customer privacy. This is especially helpful for businesses or commercial spaces looking to recycle old computers or hardware and want to protect sensitive data. 

Organizations like Rabbit Recycling will pick up your recycling from your doorstep or business, taking it off your hands for a small fee. Some electronic store chains, like Best Buy and Staples, will also take in your unwanted e-waste for free and even give a discount on future purchases. 

What’s the process for recycling e-waste?

The process for recycling e-waste depends on the electronics and the service the facility offers. However, the standard process starts with sorting the different components, such as metals, plastics and hazardous materials. Then, the metals are smelted down to be reused, plastics are recycled and hazardous materials are safely disposed of.

Some companies also offer repair services and will give old electronics a new life. They also may provide data destruction or wiping services, which they’ll do before repairing or recycling. 

What types of e-waste can usually be recycled?

Most electronics can be recycled through the proper recycling centers, including:

• Cellphones 
• Computers/laptops/monitors
• CD/DVD players 
• Gaming systems and equipment
• Keyboards and mice 
• Printers
• Small kitchen appliances, like toasters or microwaves
• Stereos
• Tablets
• TVs
• Rechargeable batteries 

However, it’s important to check with your local center about the materials they accept. Some facilities don’t accept materials like batteries, lightbulbs, air conditioners and refrigerators.

How can we generate less e-waste?

One of the most important steps to reducing e-waste is being mindful of electronic consumption. For instance, you can extend the life of your devices by opting to repair them rather than buy brand-new ones.

Plus, most electronics, like cell phones and laptops, can be easily refurbished and updated to work longer. Consider buying pre-owned or refurbished devices rather than new ones, which tend to be cheaper than brand-new models. 

Another great way to generate less e-waste is to encourage your company to properly recycle its e-waste. Some organizations,  like e-Waste Pro and EZ Cleanup will accept or pick up commercial and large-scale e-waste from businesses, keeping thousands of pounds of e-waste out of landfills.