California’s e-waste rules generally prohibit putting covered electronics in the trash or sending them to a landfill, and some other discarded electronics may also need special handling. The state funds recycling for certain covered devices through a fee collected when they’re sold. Whether you’re clearing out a home or retiring business equipment, sort devices, protect any stored data, and confirm current guidance before choosing a recycler.
What does California’s e-waste law cover?
California’s electronics recycling system is built around laws and programs that distinguish certain covered devices from other electronics. Covered electronic waste includes some devices with video display screens, while state definitions also address certain products with embedded batteries. The exact categories can depend on how a product is defined under current state rules.
For residents and businesses alike, the practical point is simple: don’t assume an item belongs in regular garbage just because it’s old, small, or no longer works. Covered electronics must be kept out of the trash and handled through an appropriate collection or recycling route. Other unwanted electronics may also be subject to hazardous-waste requirements.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) explains how covered devices are managed. Since rules and program details can change, check the latest information from CalRecycle and DTSC when you’re planning a disposal.
A quick guide to electronics and data
| Device or material | What the rules generally mean | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Covered display electronics | Don’t put them in household or business trash or send them to a landfill. | Find an appropriate e-waste collection or recycling route. |
| Other electronics, such as printers, keyboards, and networking gear | They may not fall into the same covered-device category, but other waste rules may still apply. | Check local acceptance rules and use a responsible electronics recycler. |
| Data-bearing devices, such as laptops, phones, servers, and drives | Recycling rules don’t remove your responsibility to protect stored information. | Arrange verified data wiping or hard drive shredding before reuse or recycling. |
The state’s covered-device recycling program is not the same as a guarantee that every electronic item is collected for free everywhere. Accepted items, collection options, and local instructions can differ. For household drop-off, CalRecycle’s e-waste recycling directory can help you find a collection organization. Contact it first to confirm what it accepts and when it’s open.
How does the California electronics recycling fee work?
California collects an electronic waste recycling fee on certain covered devices when they’re sold. The retailer collects the fee from the buyer and it helps fund the state’s covered-electronics recycling program.
It’s generally a fee at the point of sale, not a payment you make each time you recycle an old device. The amount and which products are subject to it depend on current state rules. For the latest details, check CalRecycle’s electronic waste recycling fee guidance.
Paying the fee when buying a device doesn’t mean you can discard it in the trash later. It also doesn’t mean all electronics are automatically covered by the same program. If you’re unsure about an item, confirm the right route with your local waste authority or a qualified recycler.
What should California businesses do when retiring electronics?
Businesses often have several responsibilities to consider at once: keeping waste out of prohibited disposal routes, protecting information, and being able to account for equipment after it leaves the workplace. Rules can depend on what the business generates and whether it handles e-waste beyond its own equipment. Consult DTSC for requirements that apply to your specific operations.
Use this checklist as a practical starting point:
- Make an inventory. List the equipment being retired, including laptops, monitors, phones, servers, network devices, printers, and storage media. Note which items may contain sensitive data.
- Separate devices from ordinary waste. Keep electronics in a designated area so they don’t get mixed into a dumpster or regular recycling.
- Choose a data method. Decide whether a device is suitable for a verified wipe or whether its storage media should be physically destroyed. A NIST 800-88-style wipe may be appropriate for reusable devices; hard drive shredding may suit drives that can’t be reliably wiped or that you don’t plan to reuse.
- Check the recycler and destination. Ask how the provider handles the specific equipment and whether its downstream process fits the state rules for that material. If you’re relying on California’s covered-device program, confirm the appropriate CalRecycle approval and DTSC handling requirements.
- Document pickup and results. Keep an inventory, transfer or receipt records, and a certificate of destruction for data-bearing devices. These records help show what was collected and what happened to the data.
- Prepare equipment for handoff. Back up needed files, sign out of accounts, remove SIM cards and accessories you’re keeping, and label equipment that needs special handling.
Ask a recycler how it tracks equipment, how it handles devices containing data, what documentation it provides, and where materials go after collection. A vendor should give clear answers rather than relying on a broad “eco-friendly” claim.
Protect data as well as the environment
California e-waste rules focus on proper handling of discarded electronics, but data security is a separate concern. Deleting files or resetting a device may not demonstrate that information has been removed. For business equipment, choose a documented process that fits the device, storage type, and sensitivity of the data.
Reworx Recycling offers free data destruction through wiping or hard drive shredding, with a certificate of destruction. Ask how devices are identified and tracked through each handoff, and keep the resulting records with your asset inventory. Our data destruction services can help organizations plan secure device retirement.
For some equipment, wiping can leave the device available for reuse. Shredding physically destroys the drive, so it is no longer usable for storage. The best choice depends on the condition of the drive, whether you want to reuse the device, and your organization’s data-handling requirements.
Choosing a recycling option
Residents can check local collection options, including the CalRecycle directory, and confirm accepted items before making a trip. Businesses with bulk equipment may prefer a planned pickup, especially when they need inventory records and data destruction along with recycling.
Reworx Recycling offers free nationwide pickups and electronics recycling across all 50 states. We can discuss tamper-proof drop-off boxes and flexible or after-hours scheduling for suitable projects. We’re headquartered in Smyrna, Georgia, in metro Atlanta, and support organizations across the country. For larger equipment retirements, see our IT asset disposition services.
Ask about responsible downstream processing and how the recycler evaluates equipment for reuse before recycling. Reworx’s certified eco-friendly recycling program uses responsible downstream practices. When devices can be refurbished, our mission is to help bridge the digital divide by providing technology resources to marginalized and vulnerable communities for education and career readiness.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to throw electronics in the trash in California?
Covered electronic waste must not be put in the trash or sent to a landfill. Other electronics may also be subject to hazardous-waste rules. Check current CalRecycle, DTSC, and local guidance if you’re not sure how an item is classified.
What is the California electronics recycling fee?
It’s a fee collected by retailers on certain covered devices when they’re sold. It helps fund California’s covered-electronics recycling program. The amount and covered products can change, so check CalRecycle’s current fee guidance.
Who pays for e-waste recycling in California?
For devices covered by the state fee, the buyer pays the fee at the time of sale through the retailer, and the fee helps fund the recycling program. It doesn’t necessarily cover every device or every collection service.
Can a California business recycle computers with the data still on them?
A business should arrange secure data handling before equipment is reused or recycled. Depending on the device and your requirements, that may mean a verified wipe or hard drive shredding. Keep records of the method and outcome.
If you’re clearing out a few household devices or planning a larger business retirement, start by checking current state guidance and separating electronics from regular waste. Then arrange a secure, responsible recycling route. Contact Reworx Recycling by phone or text to ask about pickup, data destruction, and recycling options.
