California E-Waste Recycling Law (2026): What Residents Need to Know

Quick Answer

Yes — California has a mandatory electronics recycling law. Under the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) (enacted 2003), residents and businesses can recycle covered electronic devices for free at designated collection sites. The law uses a advance recycling fee (ARF) model, meaning the cost of recycling is borne by manufacturers, not households.

What devices the law covers in California

The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) applies to: video display devices >4 inches: TVs, monitors, laptops, tablets, e-readers.

If your device falls outside this list (for example, kitchen appliances, power tools, or batteries), it may still be subject to other state hazardous waste rules but is not covered by this specific e-waste law. Check with the CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) for guidance on non-covered items.

How much does it cost California residents?

ARF $5-7 per unit at point of sale, paid by consumer, funds collection program

Most California households can drop off covered electronics at retailer locations (Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot), municipal collection events, and certified recycler facilities at no charge. The advance recycling fee (ARF) model means manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Dell, and HP fund the collection program based on the volume of equipment they sell into California.

Who enforces the law

California electronic waste recycling enforcement is handled by the CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery).

For consumer guidance, recycler verification, and to report illegal dumping, contact the agency directly via their official portal: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/

Penalties for non-compliance

Violations of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) carry significant penalties: Up to $25,000 per violation per day for illegal disposal of CEDs.

Penalties typically apply to:

• Manufacturers who fail to register or meet collection targets
• Businesses that knowingly dispose of covered electronics in landfills
• Unlicensed waste haulers transporting electronic waste
• Improper export of e-waste to non-OECD countries (federal Basel Convention enforcement also applies)

Key requirements summary

Banned from landfill since 2006. Free drop-off mandated at collection sites. Manufacturers must register annually.

How to recycle electronics in California — step by step

1. Identify whether your device is covered. Cross-check against the covered devices list above. If yes, the law guarantees free recycling.
2. Find a certified collection site. Use the CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) site locator (link above), the California recycling locator on eCycling Central, or check at major retailers (Best Buy stores accept many electronics for free regardless of state).
3. Prepare the device. Remove batteries if accessible (lithium batteries should be taped at the terminals to prevent fire). Wipe personal data using factory reset and ideally a full disk wipe utility. Remove SIM cards from phones. Detach removable storage from cameras.
4. Drop off or schedule pickup. Most retailers accept walk-in drop-off during normal hours. Some manufacturer programs (Apple Trade In, Dell Reconnect, HP Planet Partners) offer free postage labels for mail-in.
5. Get a receipt. Even though there's no fee, a drop-off receipt protects you if questions later arise about chain of custody (especially relevant for businesses subject to data protection requirements like HIPAA or GLBA).

Manufacturer take-back programs available in California

Major manufacturers operate national take-back programs that fulfil their obligations under the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) and similar state laws:

• Apple — free recycling and trade-in via apple.com/recycling and at every Apple Store
• Best Buy — free in-store drop-off for most small electronics, fee-based haul-away for large appliances
• Dell Reconnect — partners with Goodwill for drop-off; mail-back labels for some products
• HP Planet Partners — free mail-back for HP equipment
• Samsung Recycling Direct — free postage labels for Samsung electronics
• Staples — accepts up to 7 items per day per customer for free recycling
• Lenovo Asset Recovery Services — for businesses; free takeback for Lenovo equipment

Each program also accepts other manufacturers' devices in many cases — call ahead to confirm what they will take.

Business and institutional recycling

Businesses generating more than the household quantity threshold (typically 7-10 items per visit) may need to use a certified Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD) provider. ITAD services include:

• Certified data destruction (NIST 800-88 sanitization or physical destruction)
• Chain-of-custody documentation
• Resale or refurbishment of working equipment
• Compliant disposal of unrecoverable units
• Carbon footprint and recovery reporting

For HIPAA/GLBA/SOX-regulated entities, ITAD is mandatory rather than optional.

What happens to your recycled electronics in California

Collected electronics typically follow this pathway:

1. Aggregation at the collection site (retailer or municipal facility)
2. Transport to a certified processor (R2 or e-Stewards certified facilities preferred)
3. Manual disassembly to separate plastics, metals, glass, and circuit boards
4. Mechanical processing — shredding and material separation by density and magnetic properties
5. Refining — plastics to pellets, metals to smelters, circuit boards to specialist refiners for precious metal recovery
6. Hazardous component handling — CRT glass, mercury switches, lithium batteries handled separately under hazardous waste rules
7. Documentation and reporting back to the manufacturer for compliance

Approximately 85-95% of a typical electronic device by weight is recoverable into the materials economy.

Comparison: California vs neighboring states

The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) is one of 25 state-level mandatory e-waste recycling laws in the United States. The remaining 25 states have either voluntary programs, manufacturer-led initiatives without statutory requirements, or no specific framework beyond general waste rules.

For a complete comparison see our Top 50 US Electronics Recyclers directory and state-by-state recycling guides.

Sources and further reading

• CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery): https://calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/
• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), State Electronic Waste Recycling Laws database
• Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), State Electronics Recycling Laws summary
• Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) (full statute text via CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) portal)

Verified electronics recyclers in California

20 recyclers in our directory currently operating in California:

• All Green Electronics Recycling (South St. Cerritos)
• Shred Nations (inside Safe Ship) (Stockton)
• eCycle Group: Inkjet Collection Center (Bldg E Ojai)
• WM Recycle America (Unit D Mira Loma)
• T3 Toner LLC (Rancho Cordova)
• ecoATM, Inc (San Diego)
• Coastal Inkjets, Ewaste Recovery (Canoga Ave. Chatsworth)
• All Green Electronics Recycling (Amar Rd Walnut)
• Electronic Recycling Center (Pomona)
• All Green Electronics Recycling (Yorba Linda)
• All Green Electronics Recycling (Suite B Grass Valley)
• 1 Earth Recycle (Manhattan Beach)
• A&M Metals (Street Santa Ana)
• AES Electronics Recycling Inc. (Fullerton)
• All Green Electronics Recycling (Los Angeles)
• All Green Electronics Recycling (Anderson)
• YNot Recycle (Sacramento)
• Barclay Enterprises, Inc. (Colton)
• Calaveras County CRT Collection (Hunt Road Milton)
• 1-800-GOT-JUNK? (Pacheco)

View all: California recycling locations

Frequently asked questions

Is the California e-waste law applicable to businesses? California's law primarily protects household consumers and small businesses, but the specific business size thresholds vary. Businesses generating more than the household quantity should use an ITAD provider rather than relying on residential collection programs.

Can I be fined for putting an old computer in the household trash in California? California's law focuses on requiring free collection rather than imposing landfill bans on households, but improper disposal of items containing hazardous materials (CRT glass, lithium batteries, mercury) may still trigger penalties under separate hazardous waste rules.

Does the California law cover televisions? Yes — TVs are explicitly covered under the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50).

Can manufacturers refuse to take back my old device? Under the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50), manufacturers selling covered devices into California must accept reasonable quantities of their own brand from individual consumers free of charge. Refusal is enforceable through the CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery).

How does the California law compare to California's SB 20? California's own law uses an Advance Recycling Fee (ARF) collected at the point of sale, while California's Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) uses a advance recycling fee (ARF) model. The practical effect for consumers is broadly similar — free drop-off recycling — but the funding mechanism differs.

Disclaimer

This summary reflects the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20/SB 50) as of 2026. Statutory amendments, regulatory updates, and enforcement priorities change. For binding legal advice or current compliance status, consult a qualified environmental attorney or contact the CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) directly. eCycling Central is an independent information directory, not a law firm.