Information current as of 09/01/2026.
Start with your city, county, or state solid-waste program, then check manufacturer or retailer take-back options and established battery-recycling locators. Exact nearby results require your ZIP code or city, and you should confirm accepted items, fees, hours, and appointment requirements before traveling. Do not put electronics in curbside recycling, or lithium-ion batteries in household trash or recycling bins; back up and erase personal data before handing over phones, computers, tablets, or storage devices.
Start with local government programs
Use your city, county, or state solid-waste website to look for an electronics drop-off event, permanent collection site, household hazardous-waste program, or local landfill office. Local authorities may set different rules for accepted devices and disposal procedures, so check those requirements before drop-off. A ZIP code or city is necessary to identify specific nearby locations.
Choose another established take-back route
If a government site is not convenient, check the device manufacturer or a retailer for a take-back or recycling program. Do not assume that every retailer accepts every type of electronics; verify the device category and operating details first. For batteries, use a locator that asks for your ZIP code or city and the battery type, because participating locations accept different battery types.
Avoid the wrong collection bin
Electronics generally do not belong in curbside recycling and should be taken to a specific collection site instead. Lithium-ion batteries must not go in household garbage or recycling bins. For an intact removable lithium-ion battery, tape the terminals or place it separately in a plastic bag when appropriate. Do not put a damaged, swollen, leaking, bent, or hot battery in an ordinary collection box; contact the manufacturer, local waste authority, or a specialized program for handling instructions.
Protect personal data before drop-off
Handle data security separately from physical recycling. Back up information you need, sign out of accounts where applicable, remove SIM and SD cards, and perform a factory reset or equivalent secure erase before recycling or donating a phone, computer, tablet, or storage device. Ask the provider about its data-destruction practices, but do not assume your data will be destroyed unless the provider explicitly documents that service.
Verify the location before you go
After finding a possible site with your ZIP code or city, call or check the provider’s current instructions. Confirm that it accepts your exact device, whether batteries must be separated, whether fees apply, and whether hours or appointments have changed. This verification is especially important for televisions, large electronics, and different battery types.