Electronics Recycling
Recycling or reusing electronics keeps potentially hazardous materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic out of landfills and waste to energy facilities.

Household Electronics Disposal Ban
Beginning October 23, 2009, due to recent County legislation, it is illegal in Baltimore County for residents to dispose of most household electronics as trash.

This new law targets the following household electronics:

• Computer equipment (CPUs, monitors, keyboards, printers, laptops, scanners, cables and cords)
• TVs, VCRs, and DVD players
• Telephones (including cell phones and answering machines)
• Stereos
• Fax machines
• Video display devices

The law does not apply to household appliances (e.g., washers, dryers, refrigerators, ovens) or electronics sold to the commercial and institutional sectors.

Residents must not place electronics out for trash or recycling collection or place electronics in the trash disposal area of a Baltimore County drop-off center. Residents doing so run the risk of a $100 civil penalty, non-collection of material, and/or future banishment from the County's trash and recycling drop-off centers.

How to Recycle Household Electronics
Baltimore County urges residents with unwanted electronics to first contact electronics manufacturers or retailers to inquire about an electronics take-back or recycling program. Many electronics manufacturers and retailers have convenient programs for recycling electronics that are free or low-cost.

Another option for residents is to donate unwanted electronics to a charity or reuse organization. Residents are urged to contact the charity/organization first to ensure that the material they plan to donate will be accepted. For contact information regarding charities and reuse organizations that accept electronics and other items, residents may consult the Baltimore County Reuse Directory.

Baltimore County residents may also drop off their electronics for recycling at all three Baltimore County drop-off facilities:

• Eastern Sanitary Landfill Solid Waste Management Facility (ESL) in White Marsh
• Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility (BCRRF) in Cockeysville
• Western Acceptance Facility (WAF) in Halethorpe

More information about these facilities, including location, directions, and hours of operation can be found online or by calling 410-887-2000.

These drop-off facilities are for household electronics only. No business or institutional materials will be accepted.

Revised October 20, 2009