Disposing of an old monitor in San Diego? This guide lists every option — free drop-off at major retailers (Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot), manufacturer mail-back programs (often free with prepaid label), and certified local recyclers within driving distance. Each option below shows what's accepted, the cost, and what to do with your data before handing the monitor over.
*Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team*
When your Monitors reaches end-of-life in San Diego, you have three routes: manufacturer take-back, council collection, or a certified recycler. Here's how each works in practice.
*Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on 02 April 2026*
### Where Can You Recycle Monitors in San Diego?
Residents can recycle monitors at Best Buy, Staples, and Goodwill drop-off points around San Diego. These locations offer free recycling services for electronic waste.
*According to the US EPA, recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent of electricity used by 3,657 us homes in a year.*
San Diegans have several options when it comes to recycling their old monitors. **Monitors recycling in San Diego** is facilitated through local retailers like Best Buy, which provides a no-cost service at any of its California stores, including those within the city limits. Staples also offers [what is e-waste](https://ecyclingcentral.com/glossary/e-waste) drop-offs on specific days throughout the year, typically announced via their website or social media platforms. Additionally, Goodwill has multiple locations across San Diego that accept electronics for recycling.
### Free Drop-off Points for Monitors in San Diego
For free and convenient options to recycle monitors in San Diego, check out Best Buy, Staples, and Goodwill drop-off points. Each location adheres to strict guidelines set by California's e-waste laws.
*According to the World Economic Forum, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally.*
Best Buy is a go-to option with its Tech Recycling Program. Which accepts old monitors at any of their stores without charge. They don't limit the number of items you can bring in per visit. Making it easy for those with multiple monitors to recycle responsibly. Staples also participates in the statewide e-waste recycling initiative by offering designated days for electronics collection. Goodwill's donation centers throughout San Diego are another free resource for disposing of old monitors.
### Special Handling Requirements for Monitors
Before dropping off a monitor, ensure that personal data is wiped clean and batteries are removed. These steps comply with state regulations to prevent hazardous materials from entering the environment.
When preparing to recycle your monitor, it's important to follow specific guidelines to protect both privacy and environmental safety. For instance, you should securely erase all stored information using software designed for this purpose or by physically removing hard drives if they're present. Additionally, batteries must be taken out before recycling as they contain potentially harmful chemicals that could leak during the disposal process.
### Trade-in Options for Working Monitors
If your monitor still works but isn't needed anymore, consider trading it in at Best Buy for cash credit. Prices vary depending on the model and condition, ranging from $5 to over $100 per item.
Best Buy's trade-in program allows customers to receive a gift card or store credit when they bring in their working monitors. The value depends significantly on factors such as brand, model year, screen size, and overall condition. As an example, a 24-inch LED monitor might fetch around $35, whereas a more recent high-end model could be worth upwards of $100.
### What Happens to Recycled Monitors
Recycling facilities dismantle monitors to recover valuable materials like glass, copper wiring, and precious metals. These components are then processed for reuse in new products or raw material extraction.
Once collected, recycled monitors go through a disassembly process where they're broken down into their core components at specialized recycling centers. At Monitors in San Diego, the goal is to extract reusable parts such as the cathode ray tube (CRT) glass-critical for making new screens-or valuable metals from circuit boards and wiring. In 2019 alone, California's e-waste recycling program recovered over 350 million pounds of materials through these efforts (CalRecycle, 2020). The extracted substances can then be repurposed into manufacturing feedstock for various industries. Reducing the need for virgin resources and minimizing environmental impact.
## Sources
- US EPA
- World Economic Forum
Legal context for electronics disposal in San Diego
E-waste handling is not unregulated. In US the following statutes apply — treat them as the minimum legal floor.
EPA E-Waste Regulations (US Federal) (United States)
Federal rules on hazardous waste disposal. No federal mandate for e-waste recycling but regulates CRT monitors, batteries, and mercury-containing devices. Enforced by: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Read the full regulation summary
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (United States)
US federal law governing hazardous waste disposal. CRT monitors and certain batteries are classified as hazardous waste under RCRA. Enforced by: EPA.
Read the full regulation summary