Where in Los Angeles Can I Recycle Old Laptops and Smart Phones?

Old devices such as laptops and smartphones are referred to as e-waste. Fast development of new technologies and growing demand for new features makes us consider our electronic equipment to be old after a relatively short period of time. It is important to reduce e-waste by reusing, refurbishing or recycling it.

California enacted the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, which established the Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) Recycling Program to tackle the problem of growing amounts of e-waste in the best possible way.

What You Can Do

Try to act responsibly: buy only what you need, re-use electronic devices that are still working, and recycle the ones that cannot be used any more. You can also donate old devices to a charity.

Bear in mind that electronic devices such as computers, mobile phone and tablets are used to store personal information. Make sure the sensitive data is deleted before you get rid of a piece of electronic equipment. Everything has to be erased for good, manually deleting individual files is often not enough. Make sure to use your device’s built-in hardware or software reset functionality to ensure you fully wipe personal data before ridding yourself of the device.

Recycling

Many components of electronic equipment such as metals, plastic, and glass can be safely recycled, while others may be dangerous to the environment. That’s why this kind of waste needs to be managed correctly, especially since toxic substances such as lead, copper and other heavy metals are quite often used to produce electronic equipment. 

Are you wondering where to get more information regarding recycling of electronic devices? The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is responsible for providing information on e-waste management in accordance with applicable laws. Visit the CalRecycle website to find the nearest e-waste drop-off. You can type your zip code there and find recycling facilities in your area. 

You can also check the US Environmental Protection Agency website and search for recycling programs near you. 

If you live in LA, you can visit the Los Angeles County Public Works website and check the recycling schedule to find the next e-waste round-up near you.