Washington, DC has banned TVs, computers, monitors, printers, DVD players, game consoles and computer peripherals from the trash since 1 January 2018, and the District's eCYCLE DC program makes manufacturers pay for their recycling. The free routes for a DC resident are the Department of Public Works' registered Special Waste Collection Events (the next two are at RFK Parking Lot 8 on 12 and 24 September 2026), the two Apple Stores for any brand of the products Apple sells, Goodwill on New York Avenue NE for computers, and Best Buy on 14th Street NW for most items with a $29.99 fee on TVs and monitors. The old Benning Road Transfer Station drop-off is closed to the public. Every address, date and fee below was checked against the source on 25 August 2026.
DPW Special Waste Collection Events: register first
DPW no longer runs a walk-up electronics drop-off. Electronics are accepted at its Household Hazardous Waste, E-cycling and Document Shredding events, and since 2026 you must register on Eventbrite for a free 30-minute arrival window (tinyurl.com/hhw-register). One ticket per vehicle, DC residents only, proof of residency (driver's licence, utility bill or lease) at the gate, no commercial waste, no entry after 2 pm.
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|
| Saturday 12 September 2026 | 8 am to 2 pm | RFK Parking Lot 8, 2500 Independence Ave SE |
| Thursday 24 September 2026 | 10 am to 2 pm | RFK Parking Lot 8, 2500 Independence Ave SE |
Events can be delayed or cancelled for weather, and DPW closes the gate when it reaches capacity, so register early in the day's windows. Tape the terminals of lithium batteries and anything over 9 volts and keep them in a separate container. Medicine, needles and sharps are not accepted.
Permanent drop-off points in the District
DOEE publishes the eCYCLE DC permanent-locations list (updated 15 January 2026). These are retailer and charity sites, so call before a special trip.
| Location | Address | Program |
|---|
| Apple Store, Mount Vernon | 801 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 609-6400 | Any brand of the types of product Apple sells (computers, phones, tablets, displays), free; trade-in credit on eligible Apple devices |
| Apple Store, Georgetown | 1229 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, (202) 572-1460 | Same |
| Best Buy, Columbia Heights | 3100 14th St NW, Suite 203, Washington, DC 20010, (202) 387-6150 | Most electronics free; DOEE's list notes a $29.99 fee per TV or monitor and a limit of two TVs and two monitors per household per day |
| Goodwill of Greater Washington | 1403 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 715-2658 | Computers of any brand and certain peripherals through the Dell Reconnect program |
| T-Mobile stores (five in DC, including 1801 K St NW and 726 7th St NW) | See DOEE list | Any make or carrier of phone, plus tablets, netbooks and batteries; trade-in credit on eligible devices |
Staples' national program also takes computers, phones, tablets, hard drives, routers, cables and ink and toner free, though its stores are not on DOEE's list; no TVs. Many manufacturers registered with eCYCLE DC (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, LG, Sony and others) run mail-back programs; DOEE's mail-back PDF, updated 12 February 2026, carries the links.
What the DC law says
The Sustainable Solid Waste Management Amendment Act of 2014, D.C. Official Code § 8-1041.07, banned "covered electronic equipment" from the trash from 1 January 2018. Covered equipment is: computers (including laptops, tablets and e-readers with screens over six inches), monitors and TVs with screens over six inches, desktop printers up to 100 lb, DVD players and recorders, VCRs, gaming consoles, and keyboards and mice. Manufacturers that sell those products in the District must register with DOEE and fund collection and recycling. Not covered, and not banned: household batteries (the District runs a separate battery program), small appliances such as kettles and toasters, light bulbs, and loose cords not attached to a computer.
DOEE's own advice before recycling is to try Reuse DC (reuse.dc.gov), the District's directory of repair and donation options.
TVs in Washington, DC
- Any TV, free: a DPW Special Waste event, registered in advance.
- Flat-panel up to 50 inches, any day: Best Buy on 14th Street NW, $29.99 per set, two per household per day.
- Brand mail-back: many TV makers offer prepaid labels or partner drop-offs under eCYCLE DC; check DOEE's mail-back list.
- Working TV: sell it or list it on Reuse DC first.
Just outside the District
Bing Places lists the Arlington Electronics Collection and Recycling Center at 546 31st St S in Arlington, VA, and the Alexandria Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Center at 3224 Colvin St, both open Saturdays. They serve their own county or city residents, so DC residents should use the DPW events; Virginia and Maryland readers can check the Baltimore and Richmond pages for their own rules.
Before you drop off a computer or phone
Sign out of Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung accounts, back up, then factory reset; pull or overwrite an old spinning hard drive. DPW's events also offer document shredding, but they make no promise about data on devices. Apple wipes trade-ins as part of its process. Our factory reset guide covers every major device.
Is it worth money instead?
A working phone, tablet or laptop under about six years old usually has a buyer, and Apple and T-Mobile both offer trade-in credit at the sites above. Check this month's buyback prices in the Trade-In Price Index or run your model through the Device Value Checker before recycling it. Broken devices can be priced with the Scrap Value Calculator.
Nearby cities
Sources
- DC Department of Energy and Environment, Electronics Recycling and eCYCLE DC: Residents pages (doee.dc.gov/ecycle, doee.dc.gov/service/eCYCLE-Residents), covered equipment, disposal ban and statute, Benning Road closure notice, checked 25 August 2026
- DC Department of Energy and Environment, eCYCLE DC CEE Recycling Locations (PDF, 15 January 2026) and Mailback Links for eCYCLE DC (PDF, 12 February 2026), checked 25 August 2026
- DC Department of Public Works, Household Hazardous Waste, E-cycling and Document Shredding (dpw.dc.gov/specialwaste), event dates, registration rules and residency requirement, checked 25 August 2026
- Staples, Recycling Services in-store accepted items list, checked 25 August 2026
- Bing Places listings for Arlington and Alexandria electronics recycling centers, checked 25 August 2026
