Electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered for recycling. Recycling your waste electronics saves resources because new metals don't have to be mined.
In addition, electronic devices contain high enough levels of certain materials, such as lead, that render them hazardous waste when disposed. Hazardous wastes cannot be disposed of in the garbage.
See list below on this page for examples of acceptable and unacceptable electronic devices.
To make it more convenient for residents and businesses to dispose of their working/non-working electronics, Zero Waste Sonoma is partnering with Conservation Corp North Bay to conduct free electronics collection events.
No appointment necessary for these events. All events held in the parking lot. All events are 9A - 5P.
California's Department of Toxic Substances Control's regulations define "electronic device" very broadly as:
“any electronic device that is identified as hazardous waste because it either exhibits the characteristic of toxicity as specified in article 3 of chapter 11 of this division [division 4.5 of the California Code of Regulations], and/or is a listed hazardous waste as specified in article 4.1 of chapter 11 of this division [division 4.5 of the California Code of Regulations].”
Not all devices that use electricity are considered e-waste. If a device contains a circuit board, is programmable, or considered a "smart" device, it is likely e-waste. Devices utilizing only on or off buttons that are not programmable are generally not considered e-waste and can likely go in the garbage. See list below for more examples.
The following lists items accepted and not accepted at Zero Waste Sonoma monthly e-waste events and at County Refuse Disposal Sites. Other e-waste collection sites may have different criteria than listed below.
* The TV screens of certain exercise equipment (e.g., NordicTracks, elliptical, stationary bicycles, rowing machines, etc.) should be recycled as e-waste.
It is transported to a sustainably certified recycling facility in California where is it carefully dismantled into different components (metals, plastic, glass, etc.). This material then goes to manufacturing facilities to be reprocessed into new products.
