What We Do

Northern California Responsible Electronic Recycling

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It is always best to reuse or upgrade your electronic devices for as long as they function properly. However, once they are broken or truly obsolete, recycling them responsibly is the safest and most sustainable way to dispose of them.

There are many electronic recycling vendors out there, but not all of them utilize responsible or sustainable recycling practices. To help you ensure that your e-waste is handled properly and safely, the Center for Environmental Health has compiled this list of responsible recycling vendors in the San Francisco Bay Area who have qualified as an E-Steward (the program formerly known as the Electronic Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship). The original Pledge was developed in 2002 by environmental organizations including the Basel Action Network (BAN), the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), and other member organizations of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC). You can read more information about E-Stewards at http://www.e-stewards.org. 

As an E-Steward, these companies have promised "to provide consumers, institutions, and businesses a sustainable and socially just avenue for disposing of obsolete or broken computers and electronic equipment." Your old electronics will not be dumped in landfills, processed using prison labor, or illegally shipped overseas to be processed or thrown away in developing countries.

Only companies located in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties are listed here. However, they can serve residents and businesses of all Bay Area counties. Most can arrange to pick up your electronics from your home or business, and several will accept electronics sent by mail where noted.

Please note that this list is only a basic guide, and the information provided below may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on each recycler and their individual services, we suggest that you contact the company directly prior to bringing in your old electronics. Most importantly, please be sure to check the official, regularly updated BAN list of responsible recyclers at http://www.e-stewards.org/local_estewards.html to ensure that a particular recycler is still on the list.

For more information on responsible electronic recycling, please call CEH. The following websites are also useful:

• Basel Action Network: http://e-stewards.org/esteward_solution.html
• Electronic TakeBack Coalition: http://www.electronictakeback.com

Some computer manufacturers offer takeback programs which are free to the consumer while others have fees or conditions associated with them.  Please refer to the ETBC website to determine if your computer manufacturer offers free takeback services:  http://www.electronictakeback.com/responsible_recycling/index.cfm

TV manufacturers resisted offering equipment takeback programs of any kind until Sony unveiled a free takeback program in September 2007. Since then, LG, Samsung, and Panasonic/Sharp/Toshiba have all announced their own takeback programs. For more information about TV takeback programs, go to: http://www.takebackmytv.com/pages/report_card_round_up/. 

ALAMEDA COUNTY

E-Recycling of California
http://www.erecyclingofcalifornia.com

What do they recycle?

All types of electronics, including computers, printers, copiers, TV's, fax machines, cell phones and more. There is no quantity limit.

Who can recycle?

Individuals, small or large companies, school districts, municipalities, and government agencies. Primarily serves Northern California.

Fee for non-ARF items[1]?

$0.15/lb for large amounts of electronics, excluding televisions or computer monitors. They accept personal checks from individuals; companies will be billed.

Drop off or pick-up?

Will pick up for companies within 20 miles for a $65 fee, and within 21-40 miles for $95. The fee increases for any travel over 40 miles; please contact them for more information.

Individuals can drop off at any time during opening hours without an appointment. They will occasionally pick up at private residences; please call for details.

Will receive electronics sent by mail.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

GreenCitizen, Inc.
http://www.greencitizen.com

Green Citizen also maintains a Recycling Center in Burlingame, and Recycling Kiosks in Palo Alto and Half Moon Bay. Please see their entries under "Santa Clara County" or "San Mateo County" for the locations and hours of these facilities.

What do they recycle?

For the full list, see: http://www.greencitizen.com/what_we_recycle.php

Monitors and TV sets, desktop and laptop computers, printers, fax machines, copiers, home entertainment and stereo equipment, media (i.e. CDs. DVDs, or VHS tapes), phones, batteries, and all other electronic equipment. There is no quantity limit.

Additional services

Hard disk destruction ($30 per unit)

Cell phone erasure ($5 per unit)

Electronic collection boxes

Recycling incentive coupons

Recycle Reward Giftcards

GreenCitizen Classifieds: (matches up individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with others who are giving away or need electronics)

Who can recycle?

Businesses and consumers

Fee for non-ARF items?

CDs and DVDs, laptop, cell phone, and small electronic batteries, cell phones, printer cartridges, and computer mouses are free. For all other electronics, the fee varies by type and size or weight, but generally ranges from $0.50/lb to $10/item. There is a $15-30 handling fee for TV sets.

Cash, credit cards, and debit cards are accepted; no personal checks.

Drop off or pick-up?

Can arrange business, school, or local residence pick-up in the immediate Bay Area. To request a pick-up, call 1-877-918-8900 x 710 or email pick-up@greencitizen.com.

Individuals can drop off electronics at the San Francisco or Burlingame Recycling Centers, or selected items at any of their two Recycling Kiosks in San Mateo, or Santa Clara Counties. Please note that only CDs, DVDs, batteries, cell phones, and print cartridges are accepted at the kiosks.

SAN MATEO COUNTY

GreenCitizen, Inc.
http://www.greencitizen.com

GreenCitizen offers limited drop-off services at this Kiosk. Residents and visitors are welcome to visit Ocean Shore Hardware anytime during their listed hours of business to drop off their unwanted CDs, DVDs, batteries, cell phones, and printer cartridges. No other types of electronics will be accepted at this location. There is no fee for this drop-off service.

Green Citizen also maintains Recycling Centers in San Francisco, and a Recycling Kiosk in Palo Alto. Please see their entry under "San Francisco County" or "Santa Clara County" for the locations and hours of these facilities.

For details on what they recycle, additional services, who can recycle, and fee for non-ARF items, please see GreenCitizen's listing under San Francisco County. 

Drop off or pick-up?

Can arrange business, school, or local residence pick-up in the immediate Bay Area. To request a pick-up, call 1-877-918-8900 x 707 or email pickup@greencitizen.com.  

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ECS Refining, LLC/United Datatech Distributors
http://www.ecsrefining.com

http://www.uniteddatatech.com

What do they recycle?

All electronic items. There is no quantity limit.

Who can recycle?

Mainly serves businesses, but individuals are also welcome at specified hours (see below under "Drop off or pick-up?") or by appointment.

Serves all of California.

Fee for non-ARF items?

Walk-in customers pay $0.50/lb for all non-ARF e-waste.  For businesses, the fee ranges from 25-35 cents/lb. Cash, credit cards or company/corporate checks accepted.

Drop off or pick-up?

Companies can either arrange for a pick-up from their offices, or call ahead for a drop-off appointment. There is a drop-off period for individuals every Thursday, 1-4 p.m.. If you cannot make these hours, please call ahead for an appointment. Please present a valid CA driver's license at the time of drop-off and payment. Also will receive electronics sent by mail.

Special note: UDD and ECS are sister companies. UDD focuses on the recovery and resale of old electronics, while ECS handles the processing and recycling of any e-waste that can not be salvaged.

[1] Under the California Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (known as SB20), there is an Advance Recovery Fee (ARF), usually $6-$10, imposed on the sale of select electronic products including cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), and plasma devices.  This includes computer monitors, laptop computers, and most televisions. The fee amount on your purchase depends on the size of the product. All ARFs are collected and put into a fund to cover the sustainable recycling of electronics. This means that those of your electronics that are covered under the ARF program will be free to recycle. However, there might be marginal costs associated with the recycling of other electronics (listed as "non-ARF items" in this list). These fees will vary by recycler; please contact each directly for their individual rates.

This page was updated on 1.27.09