How to recycle / dispose computers

Montgomery County residents and businesses may recycle electronics by bringing these items to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station. Our electronics drop-off is open daily, and is located in the Recycling Area of the Transfer Station site.

Residents are responsible for the off-loading of material from their vehicles.

What items are accepted as electronics?

Accepted items include

• Activity/Fitness trackers (wristbands or chips)
• Alarm clocks
• Answering Machines
• Audio equipment
• Cable/satellite boxes and devices
• Cables (e.g., audio cables, computer cables, networking cables, power cables)
• Calculators
• Chips and cards
• Circuit boards
• Computers and related items
• Computer disks
• Computer monitors (CRTs and flat screen)
• Computer mice and keyboards
• CPUs
• Docking stations
• Flash drives
• Floppy disks
• Hard drives
• Laptops
• Mainframes
• Modems
• Network hubs
• Peripherals
• Servers
• Tablets
• Terminals
• Thumb drives
• Copiers
• Cords and communication wires (e.g., copper wire, phone wire, coaxial cable and computer wire)
• Diagnostic/Sensing/Control equipment
• Digital cameras and memory cards
• Digital home thermostats
• Electronic games and toys
• Electronic reading devices
• Electronic power generators (like solar panel electronic accessories & light fixtures)
• Electronic smartwatches
• Fax machines
• GPS devices
• Headphones & wireless technology (such as Bluetooth)
• Holiday string lights
• Home security systems
• Music playing devices
• Cassette players
• CD Players
• Record players
• Recorders
• MP3 players
• Portable Chargers
• Power Supplies
• Printers and printer drums
• Projectors
• Radar detectors
• Radios
• Scanners
• Stereos
• Switching boxes
• Telephones
• Cell phone
• Landline
• Televisions
• Typewriters
• VCR/DVR/DVD or Blu-ray players and discs
• Video cameras
• Video game consoles and controllers

All collected items are recycled.

What items are not accepted as electronics?

Our electronics recycling program does not accept these items

• Audiotapes
• Videotapes

However, these items are accepted for recycling through other recycling programs, which you can locate through these resources

• Earth911 recycling location lookup tool for electronics
• Electronics Recycling (eCycling) - list maintained by the Maryland Department of the Environment
• Nationwide donation or recycling options for old computers and other electronic products - list maintained by the US EPA
• Small household appliances – these items are accepted for recycling as scrap metal.
• Rechargeable batteries, large or small - take rechargeable batteries to our Household Hazardous Waste drop-off, also located in the Transfer Station's Recycling area - see more about batteries
• uninterruptible power supplies (personal & network)
• tool batteries

May I deliver electronic items with a truck?

Yes, you may use a truck you own, borrow, or rent to deliver electronic items to us.

What happens to my computer and data after recycling drop-off?

The electronics you bring to us may go to

• our U.S.-based electronics recycling contractor, or
• local and international groups that are organized as non-profit organizations under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The County’s recycling contractor and non-profit partners may destroy via disassembly or refurbish computers for reuse. The contractor also may recover metals and plastic components from the computers and sell them.

The County requires its contractor and non-profit partners to erase data from equipment that will be reused and to destroy remaining memory devices.

While we take reasonable measures to work with reputable companies and organizations, we recommend that you protect against unauthorized use of personal information. Use a data-wiping tool to erase personal data before dropping electronics off for recycling.

Examples of “personal information” include

• Internet browser’s cache, cookies, history
• email contacts and messages
• documents
• recycle bin or trash folder items
• passwords to cloud services
• all nontransferable software

You can find data-wiping tools online at no cost.

Where may I donate working computers and other electronic items?

A resource listing of several organizations for reuse opportunities.

Check the Montgomery County Volunteer Center's list of local donation opportunities, which includes computers.

Local computer reuse organizations also accept donations of computers and related items.

I can't bring my electronics to the Transfer Station or Community-Based Drop-off Events. What other eCycling options do I have?

• Recycling options for cell phones

A variety of organizations offer trade-in, take back or drop-off programs. Some of them provide this service at no cost for to you, some charge you a fee, and others may offer credit towards the purchase of new equipment.

• Earth911 recycling location lookup tool for electronics
• Electronics Recycling (eCycling) - list maintained by the Maryland Department of the Environment
• Nationwide donation or recycling options for old computers and other electronic products - list maintained by the US EPA

Community-based options

• Craigslist
• The Freecycle Network