Q: Where can I recycle Electronics?
To find a Vermont E-Cycles collection location near you, click here.
Vermont E-Cycles collection locations provide FREE recycling of computers, monitors, televisions, printers, and computer peripherals for residents, charities, school districts, and small businesses.
REMEMBER: As of January 1, 2011, Vermont residents and businesses can no longer put electronics in the garbage, or take them to a transfer station or landfill to be thrown away. They must be recycled.
Participating collection locations may also take other electronics that are NOT covered under the Vermont E-Cycles program, and may charge a fee to recycle them. Please contact the collection location for more information
Q: Is the data on my device safe when I drop it off?
Are you worried about leaving data on your computer when donating or recycling it? It’s up to you to remove any sensitive data from your computer before taking it to an E-Cycles collection location or a location for reuse.
The Department of Environmental Conservation, Northeast Resource Recovery Association, Association of Vermont Recyclers and their collectors do not guarantee the security of any personal or confidential information stored in the electronic products that are collected under the Vermont E-Cycles Program.
Simply reformatting your drive or deleting files does NOT destroy your data. Many software programs, though, can do this for you. TechSoup has articles explaining how to destroy your data:
- Avoid Data Theft: Clean Your Old Hard Drives
- Obliterate Your Hard Drive Data With Disk-Wiping Software
For more information related to data security, read Hardware Security Challenges and Suggested Solutions, or visit Vermont Department of Information and Innovation (DII). This site includes information and links to resources that help consumers and businesses clear sensitive data from computers before taking it to a collection location.
Q: What kinds of Waste Electronic Devices are banned from landfill disposal?
Banned Electronic Devices, (whether generated by businesses or households), cannot be disposed in the trash. Electronic Devices banned from landfill disposal include:
Computers, peripherals, computer monitors, cathode ray tubes, televisions, printers, personal electronics such as personal digital assistants and music players, electronic game consoles, printers, fax machines, all telephones, answering machines, videocassette recorders, digital versatile disc players, digital converter boxes, stereo equipment, and power supply cords (as used to charge electronic devices). There are many other electronic devices that are not included in this list; however it is recommended that devices that contain potential hazardous components such as circuit boards and screens be managed in the same manner even if they are not specifically banned from landfill disposal
Q: What devices are considered “Electronic Waste” under the electronic waste law? (i.e., collected at E-cycles locations for free from covered entities)?
- Computers (such as desktops, all-in-one computers, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, and tablets)
- Computer monitors (any type, i.e., CRTs, flat panel displays, LCD displays, plasma displays)
- Printers (most types including multifunctional machines – does not include floor-standing models)
- Televisions (any type, i.e., CRTs, flat panel displays, LCD displays, plasma displays)
- Computer Peripherals (items sold exclusively for external use which connect to a computer such as a mouse, keyboard, scanner, external hard drive, modem, UPS, computer speakers, etc.)
Q: Am I a covered under the law?
A covered entity is a household, charity, school district, business with 10 or fewer employees.
Q: Can a my waste hauler or curbside collection program bring electronic waste to a collection location for free?
Not for free, and typically not unless you arrange in advance for pickup. A transporter who collects electronic waste from a covered entity can bring electronic waste to a collection location; however, they will be charged as they are not a covered entity by definition in the law. Transporters will be charged for disposal and should keep this in mind when offering curb-side or other pick-up services for their customers.
Q: Where can I drop off my Electronic Waste?
There are over 90 locations state-wide that will take your Electronic Waste for free. These
locations will also accept your other banned electronic devices for a fee. For the complete list of Collection Locations, please visit www.vtecycles.org or call 1-855-6-ECYCLE. Any Covered Entity may use any Collection Location in the state.
Q: When does the E-Cycles program end?
VT E-Cycles is a permanent program and will continue indefinitely. It was created through legislation passed by the Vermont Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2010.
Q: Why is the program free? How is the program funded?
VT E-Cycles is not paid for out of the State budget or tax revenues. Instead, the
manufacturers fund the program based on the market share of electronics they sell in Vermont.
