Computer and Electronic Recycling

City of Raleigh electronic recycling program information:

• available to Raleigh residents
• twice per month in each quadrant of the city on designated days
• appointment for pickup must be scheduled
• no more than four items may be collected per appointment
• no fee for the service

Scheduling an appointment and pickup:

• Residents must call Solid Waste Services at 919-996-6890 to arrange for television or computer collection.
• Once an appointment is scheduled, the computer or television can be left at the curbside.
• Please do not set equipment out prior to the morning of the scheduled appointment as it will not be collected by normal collection crews and is subject to Solid Waste Services administrative fees.

To determine your quadrant:

1. Go to City Services
2. Use the 'Find My Service' application on the right
3. Enter the address in the fields and click 'Submit'
4. Find the Recycling Route number, the first two letters will indicate the quadrant (i.e. NW15 is the NW quadrant)

Note: For Mondays that fall on City observed holidays, the collection will be conducted the following Tuesday.

• televisions
• computer monitors
• cords
• processing units
• computer speakers
• scanners
• parts
• keyboards & mice
• fax machines
• copiers

Other items with a cord may be put out ALONG WITH a TV or computer to be recycled but you may not make an appointment for this collection service unless you have a TV or computer. The maximum number of items per collection is four items.

Note: You may take all items will a cord to the drop off sites noted below to be recycled.

Residents are responsible for removing any sensitive data from hard drives and other storage media. Erasing the hard drive of sensitive information before recycling a computer is extremely important. There are software packages that can be purchased from computer and electronic stores that can help do this. Talk with someone who is knowledgeable about computers to ensure all the sensitive data deleted prior to recycling or donating a computer.

Once collected, the equipment is taken to Wake County's Multi-Materials Facility.

Residents may take items directly to this facility themselves if they prefer. Call Wake County Solid Waste Management at 919-856-6186 or visit Wake County's Multi-Materials Facility for complete information. This facility also accepts any electronic equipment for recycling. Acceptable items received at the facility are then sent to a broker for reuse. Items that cannot be reused are dismantled for the precious metals located on circuit boards. Some monitors may be repaired for resale while those that cannot be repaired are sent for glass recycling.

Another option for residents is to utilize the Special Load Pick Up for a Fee Service ($50 per load) to schedule a collection quicker than the designated bi-monthly dates.

Remember you may also make a tax-deductible donation of useable equipment to a number of charitable organizations. The City of Raleigh promotes reuse of good equipment before recycling.

List of organizations that accept computer donations
Please call to verify they will accept your items as they may change their programs.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Each computer monitor may contain as much as five pounds of lead.
• Circuit boards contain heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and chromium.
• Plastic housings contain PCBs.