Quick Answer
Yes - New York has a mandatory electronics recycling law. Under the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) (enacted 2010), residents and businesses can recycle covered electronic devices for free at designated collection sites. The law uses a extended producer responsibility model, meaning the cost of recycling is borne by manufacturers, not households.
What devices the law covers in New York
The Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) applies to: computers, monitors, TVs, electronic keyboards, fax machines, VCRs, DVRs, digital converter boxes, MP3 players.
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 definition law. Check with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for guidance on non-covered items.
How much does it cost New York residents?
Free to consumers, businesses, and most institutions
Most New York 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 extended producer responsibility model means manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Dell, and HP fund the collection program based on the volume of equipment they sell into New York.
Who enforces the law
New York electronic waste recycling enforcement is handled by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
For consumer guidance, recycler verification, and to report illegal dumping, contact the agency directly via their official portal: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/65583.html
Penalties for non-compliance
Violations of the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) carry significant penalties: Up to $5,000 per first violation, $10,000 subsequent violations per day.
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
Landfill ban since 2015. Manufacturers must accept their own brand free from individual consumers.
How to recycle electronics in New York - step by step
- Identify whether your device is covered. Cross-check against the covered devices list above. If yes, the law guarantees free recycling.
- Find a certified collection site. Use the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) site locator (link above), the New York recycling locator on eCycling Central, or check at major retailers (Best Buy stores accept many electronics for free regardless of state).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 New York
Major manufacturers operate national take-back programs that fulfil their obligations under the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) 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 (data sanitisation standard 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 New York
Collected electronics typically follow this pathway:
- Aggregation at the collection site (retailer or municipal facility)
- Transport to a certified processor (R2 or R2 certification standard certified facilities preferred)
- Manual disassembly to separate plastics, metals, glass, and circuit boards
- Mechanical processing - shredding and material separation by density and magnetic properties
- Refining - plastics to pellets, metals to smelters, circuit boards to specialist refiners for precious metal recovery
- Hazardous component handling - CRT glass, mercury switches, lithium batteries handled separately under hazardous waste rules
- 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: New York vs neighboring states
The Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) 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 - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/65583.html - National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), State Electronic Waste Recycling Laws database - Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), State Electronics Recycling Laws summary - Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) (full statute text via New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) portal)
Verified electronics recyclers in New York
20 recyclers in our directory currently operating in New York: - CiscoBuy.com (Powell Lane Lewiston) - eplanetewaste (Street Brooklyn) - Guardian Data Destruction (Floor New York) - Imagine it.. Fundraising through Recycling (Suite D Rochester) - e-Green Management (Ave New York) - Ombligo (Floor Brooklyn) - Keebloo, Inc. (Brooklyn) - Robin Hood Foundation (Floor New York) - Residential Waste Transfer Station (Cohoes) - DK Recycling (New Berlin) - Technology Conservation Group, Inc (Avenue Lower Level New Hyde Park) - Curb Recycling Inc (St Brooklyn) - e-Green Management LLC (Wilbur Place Islip Terrace) - Verde Virtue Electronics Recycling LLC (Lackawanna) - LINCT Coalition (Hampton Bays) - St. martin de Porres Parish (New York) - Electronic Data Authority (Angling Rd Corfu) - Oneida-Herkimer SWA HHW Management Facility (Avenue Utica) - Andela Products (Richfield Springs) - Computers for Youth (Ave Floor A New York)
View all: New York recycling locations
Frequently asked questions
Is the New York e-waste law applicable to businesses? New York'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 New York? Yes - New York has a landfill ban for covered electronics.
Does the New York law cover televisions? Yes - TVs are explicitly covered under the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL).
Can manufacturers refuse to take back my old device? Under the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL), manufacturers selling covered devices into New York must accept reasonable quantities of their own brand from individual consumers free of charge. Refusal is enforceable through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
How does the New York law compare to California's SB 20? California's similar law uses an Advance Recycling Fee (ARF) collected at the point of sale, while New York's Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) uses a extended producer responsibility model. The practical effect for consumers is broadly similar - free drop-off recycling - but the funding mechanism differs.
Disclaimer
This summary reflects the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (Article 27 of ECL) 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 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) directly. eCycling Central is an independent information directory, not a law firm.
