Contact Us About Sustainable Management of Electronics

Please review the below answers to some of the most common questions. If your question is not answered to your satisfaction, please use the contact us box at the bottom of the page. We strive to respond to every question with a complete and timely answer.

A few helpful hints:

• Are you a member of the media? Please contact EPA’s Office of Media Relations at [email protected].
• I am wondering where to recycle something.
• Review frequently asked questions for specific programs or topics.

Got Questions About...

Recycling my Old TV.

• Find out how to donate or recycle your used electronics.

Recycling my Old Computer/Cell Phone/Other Electronics.

• EPA’s Electronics Donation and Recycling web page includes several ideas.
• Local or state websites. In the United States, states and localities decide what waste management approaches to take within their communities. Review this list of state environmental agencies.
• Best Buy’s electronics recycling program.
• Website of TV manufacturers for possible mail-back programs.

Recycling Batteries from Electronics.

• Find a location to recycle Li-ion batteries and products that contain Li-ion batteries using one of the below suggested links; do not put them in the trash or municipal recycling bins.
  • Li-ion batteries in electronics: Send electronic devices containing Li-ion batteries to certified electronics recyclers, participating retailers and recyclers in electronics takeback services or contact your local solid waste or household hazardous waste collection program for more options.
  • Li-ion batteries that are easily separated from the product (e.g., power tools): Find a recycling location near you to properly dispose of Li-ion batteries. Send individual batteries to specialized battery recyclers or retailers that are participating in takeback services or contact your local solid waste or household hazardous waste program for more options.
  • Check out these resources for finding recyclers: Earth 911 database and Call2Recycle website.
  • Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NOT go in household garbage or recycling bins. Lithium-ion batteries SHOULD be taken to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points.

Regulation of the Transportation of Batteries.

• EPA does not regulate the transportation of lithium batteries; the U.S. Department of Transportation has jurisdiction. Reach out to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at U.S. DOT for more information.

Importing or Exporting Batteries or Black Mass.

• You can find information on exporting regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Extended Producer Responsibility, Packaging Waste, e-Waste, and Batteries Waste.

• Extended producer responsibility refers to an array of policy options that place responsibility for product disposal on producers of the product. Responsibility can take the form of physical disposal obligations, such as bottle bills or container take-back laws, or compensatory financial support. Responsibility is meant to transfer disposal cost and liability from governments and taxpayers to manufacturers and other product producers. Currently in the United States, EPR is determined at the state level when addressing packaging.
  • Product Stewardship Institute’s website.
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development website, which has reports and other information about EPR in OECD countries.
  • Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging & Paper Products white paper (pdf)(626 KB) to help states learn about EPR options. 
  • Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Products: Policies, Practices, and Performance report (pdf)(2.3 MB).
  • For electronics takeback laws, the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse compiles information on EPR for electronics, including maps of states with e-waste legislation.

Proper Recycling of Electronics.

• There are two accredited certification standards for electronic waste recyclers, the Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard for Electronics Recyclers and the e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment. Both maintain lists of electronic waste recycler’s facilities that are certified to their standard; some recycler’s facilities may be certified to both.
  • To view R2 Recycler’s facilities, visit their Find R2 Certified Facilities webpage.
  • To view e-Stewards® recycler’s facilities, visit their Find a Recycler webpage.

Becoming a Certified Electronics Recycler.

• EPA encourages all electronics recyclers to become certified by demonstrating to an accredited, independent third-party auditor that they meet specific standards to safely recycle and manage electronics. Currently two accredited certification standards exist:
  • The Responsible Recycling Standard for Electronics Recyclers.
  • The e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment©.
• We suggest you contact either of these standards for information on obtaining certification.

SMM Electronics Challenges.

• EPA continues to adjust our Sustainable Materials Management partnership programs to align with our new Circular Economy Strategy Series. At this time, we are no longer accepting new SMM Electronics Challenge participants.
• EPA encourages organizations to get involved, take actions and stay engaged to help us create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective U.S. MSW recycling system and to create a circular economy for all.

Data Wiping Prior to Recycling.

• If you deliver a laptop to a Responsible Recycling or E-Stewards certified recycler, they will wipe it. Certified recyclers under these standards are regularly audited and keep data erasure records. Electronics without data can be easily recycled by dropping them off at your local Best Buy.

Electronics Reuse.

• Recyclers often include reuse sales in their contracts to offset the costs of recycling. Often companies working directly with recyclers can specify not to sell for reuse in a contract. They can also look at what kind of reuse might be acceptable. For example, they may not want the entire device reused, but some components might be acceptable.
• The owner of the equipment can also address data security in house before sending the equipment off.
• For more information about the R2 standards of recycling.
• Find more information about e-stewards standards of recycling.

Third-Party Tracking.

• As a government agency, EPA does not track recycling of individual products. Please contact the company that recycles the products for estimates.

Check Out Our Related FAQ Webpages

• Circular Economy Strategy for All Series.
• Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling.
• Sustainable Management of Food.
• Sustainable Management of Plastics.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
• Waste Reduction Model for Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Associated with Waste Reduction.

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