Waste Prevention Information Exchange

Electronics

Also see Appliances, Batteries, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, Fluorescent Lamps, Hazardous Substances, Universal Waste, and Product Stewardship in this directory.

Note: Televisions, computer monitors, laptop computers and most other electronic devices cannot be disposed to the trash. The prohibition of computer monitors in the trash applies to both cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, and liquid crystal diode (LCD) monitors. To find out where to take computer monitors and laptop computers and other equipment, see the Electronic Product Management Directory.

See a list of all wastes banned from the trash.

Table of Contents

CalRecycle Programs and Services

CalRecycle Publications

Other Resources

• Other Documents
• Web Sites

Electronic Subtopics

• Ink and Toner Cartridges

CalRecycle Programs and Services

• Electronic Product Management Directory—A database of facilities that collect specific types of electronic equipment and equipment related parts for reuse or recycling.
• Electronic Product Management Web Site—Clearinghouse for information on various e-waste topics, including collection facilities,  resources, regulatory issues, product stewardship, and news and events. Includes Department of Toxic Substances Control response to questions regarding management of cathode ray tubes, such as televisions and most computer monitors. For information on electronics or the universal waste rule as it applies to electronics, see the California Integrated Waste Management Board's e-waste Web site, Electronic Product Management, or contact ewaste@calepa.ca.gov.
• Local Governmental Household Hazardous Waste Agencies—See the Web site of your local governmental household hazardous waste agency for the latest information in your area.

CalRecycle Publications

• Managing Electronic Equipment—Describes the growing challenge of electronic waste and introduces factors to be considered in electronic equipment procurement, use, and end-of-life management

Other Resources

Documents

• Articles, Reports, and Studies listed on the CalRecycle Electronic Products Management Web site.
• California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Universal Waste Rule—California's universal waste rule. Portable Document Format (PDF), 108 KB. Also see the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Universal Waste Rule, below.
• E-Waste Elimination, Electronic Recycling Tips for the Health Care Industry, by Pier-George Zanoni, P.E.—Most of this article is applicable to all large businesses and organizations. The article, which first appeared in the August, 2003 issue of Health Facilities Management Magazine, is from hospitalconnect.com.
• Links to Computer Recycling Programs—From PC Magazine.
• Waste in the Wireless World: The Challenge of Cell Phones—May 2002, Bette K. Fishbein, ISBN 0-918780-78-0, 109 pp., $30 or free download from Inform. Examines the issues posed by the proliferation and disposal of cell phones and other wireless electronic devices, including the many toxic substances they contain and governmental policies and corporate initiatives addressing the end-of-life management of electronic products in the U.S. and abroad.  Recommends ways to minimize the environmental and health impacts of this rapidly growing waste stream. Consists of several Portable Document Format (PDF) files of various sizes.

Web Sites

• Back Thru the Future Micro Computers, Inc.—A computer recycling company.
• Clean Computer Campaign—By the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.
• Florescent Lamp Recycling—From LampRecycle.org, a project of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) targeted primarily toward commercial and governmental interests.
• Recycle for Breast Cancer—Helps Individuals and Businesses Dispose of E-Waste All Year Long, Coast to Coast, While Raising Funds to Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer.
• Repairing Handheld Computers—See if you can repair that PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) before you trash it.
  • Directfix—PDA parts, accessories, and service.
  • STNE Corporation—PDA memory upgrades and repairing.
• Saving Ink—Software that reduces the amount of ink used by inkjet printers.
• inkSaver
• U.S. EPA, Universal Waste—The federal government's universal waste rule. Also see the Department of Toxic Substances Control, Universal Waste Rule, above.

Electronic Subtopic

• Ink and Toner Cartridges