Plug-In To eCycling | Partnerships

Watch the video: Verena Radulovic of the Office of Solid Waste (renamed Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery on January 18, 2009) discusses EPA's Plug-In to eCycling computer recycling program.

Plug-In To eCycling with US EPA is a partnership between EPA and consumer electronics manufacturers, retailers, and service providers that offers you more opportunities to donate or recycle - to "eCycle" - your used electronics.

Plug-In To eCycling:

Makes it easier for you to donate or safely recycle old electronics, including TVs, computers, and cell phones; and
Works with communities, electronics manufacturers, and retailers to promote shared responsibility for safe electronics recycling.

eCycling:

Conserves natural resources. Recycling recovers valuable materials from old electronics that can be used to make new products. As a result, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, save energy, and save resources by extracting fewer raw materials from the earth.
Protects your surroundings. Safe recycling of outdated electronics promotes sound management of toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury.
Helps others. Donating your used electronics benefits your community by passing on ready-to-use or refurbished equipment to those who need it.

Learn more about recycling your cell phone

Highlights

TV Recycling Challenge

Where Can I Donate or Recycle My Old Computer and Other Electronic Products?

Digital Television Transition

2009 Partner Events

2008 Partner Accomplishments

Frequent Questions

Responsible Recycling Practices

eCycle your used electronics with our Plug-In Partners:

Partners take different approaches to give you several options to eCycle. Partners' approaches may be national or regional in scope and may:

Offer takeback, mail-in, or trade-in programs;
Support local organizations that collect equipment;
Host collection events at retail locations; or
Support local recycling events with cities and municipalities.

All Plug-In partners have committed to work with recyclers who meet or exceed EPA’s Guidelines for Materials Management, the Agency’s voluntary guidelines for safe electronics recycling.

Partnership in Plug-In to eCycling is limited to manufacturers, retailers, and government agencies that engage in collection of used electronic equipment only. At the present time, EPA cannot take the steps necessary to verify that recyclers are implementing the environmentally safe management guidelines. Thus we are not able to accept recyclers, refurbishers, reusers and others who handle discarded electronics as Plug-In partners.

Plug-In To eCycling is one component of EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), a national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently. It is also part of EPA's Product Stewardship Program.

Top of page

Highlights

Local Navigation