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Products

Electronic Equipment and Product Stewardship

Manufacturer & Retailer Takeback Programs

NWPSC supports the efforts of manufacturers and retailers to create product takeback programs. A takeback program is where a manufacturer or retailer will accept used electronic products back from their customers and will recycle, reuse, or dispose of the product properly. Listed below are companies that support a product takeback program and promote product stewardship principles for electronic equipment.

Computers and Peripherals

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Apple

Apple offers free mail-in computer and monitor recycling (desktop, laptop, Mac or PC) as well as iPhone and iPad recycling: call 877-712-2405 to receive a free prepaid shipping label.

An Apple Gift Card may be given for qualifying reusable devices with monetary value. Apple also offers free mail-in recycling of cell phones (all makes and models) and iPods. iPods and Mac batteries can be dropped off for recycling at Apple Retail Stores for free.

Best Buy

Best Buy’s recycle program allows consumers to bring up to three pieces of unwanted electronic equipment per day to any participating location for recycling, no matter where they were purchased. There is no fee.

Eligible equipment varies by state, but Best Buys in Washington and Oregon accept tube TVs and monitors up to 32", flat-panel TVs and monitors up to 60", peripherals, DVD players, home and car audio, cell phones, MP3 players, cables, desktop or laptop computers, small electrics, fans and vacuums.

Best Buy offers a mail back program that allows consumers to trade-in or recycle any qualifying consumer electronic product. Electronic products accepted for trade-in include PCs, laptops, servers, computer monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, multimedia projectors, audio receivers, game systems, mobile phones, PDAs, Ipods and GPS navigation systems. Visit Best Buy Trade-In to determine trade-in value. If the item has a trade-in value, payment for the trade will be made via a Best Buy gift card, good for purchases at any Best Buy store. Customers will be provided a pre-paid shipping label in order to mail the items to the company.

Drop-off kiosks, located at Best Buy US retail stores, are available for consumers to drop off old cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and ink-jet cartridges at no cost. Customers who purchase a new phone may also return old phones by mail with a postage-paid envelope.

Canon E-Store

The Canon Recycling Program allows U.S. customers to recycle their Canon products by ordering a shipping label online. Customers can recycle binoculars, camcorders, cameras, compact photograph printers, film, scanners and video equipment, scanners, inkjet printers, fax machines and multifunction all-in-one machines, fax machines, personal computer copiers and other large equipment.

Circuit City

Circuit City customers may trade-in any qualifying consumer electronic product. Electronic products accepted for trade-in include PCs, laptops, servers, computer monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, multimedia projectors, audio receivers, game systems, mobile phones, PDAs, Ipods and GPS navigation systems. Payment can be made in cash, PayPal, donations to charities and other options.

Costco now offers its customers a broader electronics trade-in and recycling program and has increased its recycling capabilities by expanding to cover products like cell phones, LCD monitors, digital cameras, MP3 players, and gaming systems by partnering with Gazelle, an electronics trade-in company. Via a website powered by Gazelle.com, customers can trade-in old gadgets and electronics and receive a Costco cash card shortly thereafter for use at any Costco warehouse or at Costco.com.

Costco’s Trade-In and Recycle Program is accepting both trade-in and recycling of electronic items. For those items which cannot be recycled, Gazelle is providing information on where and how to properly recycle or dispose of them. The Trade-In & Recycle Program is available to all Costco members and Gazelle is providing boxes and free shipping on all transactions with a value of at least $1.

Dell

In November 2008, office supply retailer Staples (Framingham, Massachusetts) and IT equipment manufacturers Dell (Round Rock, Texas) announced a partnership to allow customers to recycle Dell branded PCs, monitors, keyboards, printers, mice and other peripherals at any of Staples' 1,500 U.S. stores for recycling, free-of-charge and without having to make a purchase. Staples is the first and only national retailer to offer Dell customers a free drop-off recycling option for their office technology.

Dell also offers no-charge recycling of any Dell-branded product and also offers free recycling of old computer equipment of any brand with the purchase of a new Dell PC. For more information, visit Dell’s Recycling website.

Epson

The Epson Recycling Program will take back most Epson products including printers, scanners, cameras, laptops, computers and projectors. Customers pay $10 per item to cover shipping costs, but will receive a $5 coupon per item recycled towards a purchase at the Epson Store. Used Epson products are recycled through a licensed recycling facility which will evaluate the components and then shred the products.

Consumers with Epson branded inkjet cartridges can also recycle their cartridges for free by mailing the package to Epson America, Inc., Attn: Recycling Center, 18300 Central Ave, Carson, CA 90746. Epson also supports a free of charge, toner collection program for used AcuLaser CX11N Series cartridges. An electronic pre-paid label can be forwarded for printing and participation in the program will yield in a discount on toner purchased at www.epson.com

Gateway

The Gateway Trade-in and Recycle Program for home computer users, offers cash or recycling for old technology when purchasing a new Gateway or eMachines product.

Products that can be refurbished or recycled include: desktop and laptop computers, digital cameras, multimedia projectors, home audio receivers, cell phones, car audio receivers, computer monitors, camcorders, game systems, PDAs or hand held computers, and Apple Ipods. Gateway works with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) to recycle rechargeable batteries.

HP

HP offers several reuse and recycle options including Trade-in to upgrade to an HP product, return computers for refurbishing, recycling and donation. The HP Trade-In program accepts products from any manufacturer including computers, copiers, digital cameras, monitors, PDAs, notebooks, scanners and more. Customers trading in less than 50 items may receive an immediate online quote; the Trade-In program also accepts large quantities.

Through the HP Asset Recovery Services program, HP will pay companies for qualified computer equipment from any manufacturer that can be refurbished and resold. HP's Product Recycling program offers take back of consumer computer hardware (5 or less items) including printers, computers, monitors, scanners, and hand held devices such as PDAs and iPods. The amount paid back for the product depends on the type, condition and quantity of hardware to be returned. Consumers need to provide the list of specific items that are recycled and the number of boxes that will be shipped. Detailed instructions and shipping labels are provided to the consumer. The amount paid back will be the amount of the quote minus any shipping costs. If a product has no Buyback value, there is the option to Recycle. The Product Recycling program also offers take back for inkjet or Laserjet cartridges for free.

Lenovo

Lenovo’s Eco Take-Back program allows consumers and small businesses in the US to mail-in their electronic products for recycling or reuse. Products accepted include desktops, cell phones, smartphones, laptops, flat panel monitors, music players, CRT monitors, keyboards, mice, power cords, phone chargers and batteries.

Customers can determine their trade-in value online. If the item has a trade-in value, payment for the trade will be made via a pre-paid Visa card. If the product does not qualify for a trade-in value, Lenovo will still accept the product for recycling as long as it is eligible to be collected by the program. Customers who ship any Lenovo or select IBM products will receive a prepaid shipping label in order to mail their equipment for free. Electronic products that can be reused may be donated to other organizations or sold overseas.

Lexmark

Through the Lexmark Recycling Program, customers can return Lexmark inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and printers. Inkjet cartridges can be returned for free by using prepaid mailers. Toner cartridges can be returned for free by using prepaid mailers or through participating Lexmark authorized supplies resellers.

Printers can be returned for recycling by mail and customers must pay the cost of shipping. For more information on Lexmark Take Back program, please review the 2003 Test of Manufacture Mail-Back Programs report prepared by the Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division.

LG Electronics

LG Electronics has partnered with Waste Management Inc. to establish the LG Electronics Recycling Program. The take-back program will allow consumers to recycle their used, unwanted, obsolete or damaged LG consumer electronic products by dropping them off at designated Waste Management eCycling Centers.

Waste Management currently has 208 designated drop-off sites across the United States.Products covered by the take-back program include LG, Zenith and GoldStar brands of televisions, monitors, audio equipment, video cassette players and recorders, DVD players and recorders, combination TV/VCR and TV/DVD units, set top boxes and accessories associated with those products. Consumers may drop off up to 5 LG-branded items at a time. There is no fee to consumers for the covered LG-brand products; other brands will be accepted, but a fee may be charged by Waste Management for non-LG brands.

Cell phones, GPS and PDA devices, along with their accessories, can be dropped off at any Waste Management Recycle America eCycling Center. Consumers also have the option to mail-in their cell phone, GPS and PDA devices through LG Electronics' Mobile Phones Recycle Program without paying shipping costs.

Microsoft

Microsoft offers tips on donating your computer, a list of Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers, and other ways to recycle a computer.

MRM

Electronic manufacturers Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba have established a joint company called Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM) to serve the needs of manufacturers who will be responsible for the financing and implementation of electronic product recycling programs in various states that have passed producer responsibility laws.

In November 2008, MRM expanded its operations in Minnesota and Texas to include California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. MRM will continue to expand its services in order to operate a national take-back and recycling program that is open to all manufacturers. Over 160 collection sites and partners are part of MRM’s collection network.

Office Depot

Office Depot's Tech Recycling Services is available to Office Deport customers that want to recycle any qualifying consumer electronic product currently offered through the program.

Electronic products accepted include PCs, laptops, LCD monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, game systems, printers, Smartphones/PDAs and MP3 players. In order to recycle electronic products through the company, customers may buy a Tech Recycling Box at an Office Depot store to fill with unwanted electronics. Boxes are priced at $5, $10, and $15, and include shipping and handling. Appropriate items to fill the Tech Recycling Box are listed on Office Depot’s Tech Recycling Service Brochure. Once the box is full, customers can return the filled box to an Office Depot store, where it will be inspected and shipped for recycling.

Office Depot guarantees that collected electronic material will not be exported out of the US and will not be sent to landfills. Electronic equipment received by the program will either be reconditioned or recycled.

RadioShack

RadioShack customers may trade-in or recycle any qualifying consumer electronic product. Electronic products accepted for trade-in include MP3 players, cell phones, cameras, camcorders, GPS systems, car audio equipment, laptops, game media and game consoles.

Customers can access RadioShack’s Trade-in Program to determine their trade-in value online. If the item has a trade-in value, payment for the trade will be made via a RadioShack gift card. Customers will be provided a pre-paid shipping label in order to mail the items to the company for free.

Reconnect

Reconnect is a residential computer recycling program managed by Dell and Goodwill Industries. The first Reconnect program was started in Austin, Texas in 2004. Today Reconnect is available to consumers in many markets across the U.S. and is continuing to expand. For a list of participating Goodwill locations in the United States (and Ontario and Quebec, Canada) and a list of products accepted, visit www.reconnectpartnership.com .

Reconnect collects computers and computer accessories from any brand. In April 2010, Goodwill locations participating in the Reconnect program also began accepting all Microsoft electronics for free recycling.

Sam's Club

Starting in April 2008, Sam’s Club members may trade or recycle any qualifying consumer electronic product through the Trade-In and Recycling Program, Electronic products accepted for trade-in include PCs, laptops, LCD monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, game systems, printers and MP3 players.

Customers can determine their trade-in value online. If the item has a trade-in value, payment for the trade will be made via a Sam’s Club gift card good for purchases at any Sam’s Club store. If the product does not qualify for a trade-in value, Sam’s Club will accept the product for recycling. For all trade-in and recyclable items, customers will receive a prepaid UPS shipping label in order to ship the equipment to the store for free.

Sony

In September 2007, Sony Electronics partnered with Waste Management Recycle America to create a nationwide consumer electronic manufacturer take-back program in the United States. The Sony Take Back Recycling Program allows homeowners to recycle unwanted Sony electronic products without fees at more than 75 Waste Management (WM) drop-off centers in the US.

Electronics of any brand can also be dropped off at retailers participating in Sony's GreenFill program. Unwanted rechargeable Sony batteries can also be dropped off at any Sony Style stores. The program also provides a mail-in recycling option in some states.

Staples will recycle office technology products for free, at your local Staples, even if you didn't purchase them at Staples. Staples' recycling program, with HP, provides free recycling of desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, shredders, UPS devices, computer peripherals, and small office electronics like mobile phones, GPS, and digital cameras. Staples accepts all brands, but there is a limit of 6 items per customer per day and Staples cannot accept televisions, appliances, floor model copiers, stereo equipment, alkaline batteries, and certain other household electronics. Staples also recycles printer cartridges.

The free Staples Tech Trade-In program makes it easy for small business and consumers to trade in eligible used electronics and receive a Staples eGift card for use at any Staples store nationwide. Gazelle is a consumer electronics reCommerce™ service. Staples will accept the trade-in of used electronics from more than 20 product categories regardless of where they were purchased. Eligible items that do not have trade-in value can still be sent to Gazelle for free recycling or brought to the nearest Staples store for recycling. This service offering supports Staples’ commitment to providing easy electronics recycling solutions to customers. Visit www.staples.gazelle.com for more information.

Toshiba

Toshiba's Trade-In and Recycling Program accepts Toshiba and non-Toshiba brand electronics from consumers for trade-in or recycle in exchange for a refund by mail. Accepted products include computers, notebooks, cameras, camcorders, monitors, game systems, PDAs and MP3 players.

If your item is no longer functioning, or has no trade-in value, it can be recycled for the cost of shipping. Toshiba notebook computers can be recycled free of charge to the consumer with no obligation to buy a new Toshiba computer. Find out if you can trade-in or recycle your product. Toshiba works with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) to recycle cell phones and rechargeable batteries.

Cell Phones

Many cell phone manufacturers take back and recycle their products. Learn more at: