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Is E-Waste Recycling Free?

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Most Items Are Free

Most common household electronics can be recycled at no charge through Green Earth’s residential drop-off program. This includes computers, phones, tablets, printers, cables, gaming systems, and many other household electronics.
Certain items require a handling fee because of their size, materials, or specialized processing requirements. These include televisions, computer monitors, and appliances containing refrigerant.
See the current fees and accepted-item details below.

What Is Free to Recycle?

Many common household electronics can be dropped off at Green Earth’s St. Joseph, Michigan location at no charge. Accepted items and fees at community recycling events may vary by event.
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Computers

Laptops, desktop computers, and all-in-one computers
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Phones & Tablets

Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices
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Printers & Scanners

Inkjet printers, laser printers, and scanners
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Audio & Video Devices

DVD players, speakers, and other accepted media equipment
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Networking Equipment

Routers, modems, and network switches
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Computer Peripherals

Keyboards, mice, webcams, and other accessories
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Small Electronics

Calculators, radios, and other accepted household electronics
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Cables & Cords

Power cords, chargers, adapters, and other cables
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Gaming Equipment

Gaming consoles, controllers, and handheld systems
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Storage Devices

USB drives, external hard drives, and other removable storage devices
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These items are free for residential drop-off at our St. Joseph location.

Fees & Pricing

Most accepted household electronics can be recycled at no charge. Certain items require a handling fee because of their size, materials, or specialized processing requirements.
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Free to Recycle

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Computers and laptops
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Phones and tablets
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Printers and scanners
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Keyboards, mice, and cables
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Most small electronics
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Small household appliances
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Scrap metal
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Items With Handling Fees

Computer Monitors
All types and sizes
$10 each
Televisions
All types and sizes
$20 each
Appliances With Refrigerant
Accepted refrigerators, freezers, and similar appliances
$10 each

Payment Methods

We accept cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards for items requiring a handling fee.
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Witnessed Data Destruction

For additional assurance, Green Earth offers witnessed destruction for certain data-bearing devices.
Hard Drives
Our team can remove and shred the hard drive while you watch.
$10 each
Tablets & Cell Phones
Devices with an easily removable battery
$10 each
Devices requiring additional disassembly for battery removal
$15 each
For large quantities or witnessed destruction requests, please call ahead to confirm technician availability.

Witnessed Data Destruction

Green Earth offers witnessed destruction services for certain data-bearing devices.

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Hard Drives

Our team can remove and shred the hard drive while you watch.

 $10 each

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Tablets and Cell Phones

Devices requiring additional disassembly for battery removal

 $15 each

Why Some Items Have Fees

Certain electronics require additional handling, storage, and specialized processing. These fees help cover those added costs while allowing Green Earth to continue offering free residential recycling for many common electronics.
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Specialized Materials

Some televisions and monitors contain materials that require specialized downstream processing, including lead in CRT glass and mercury in certain older display technologies.
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Additional Handling

TVs and monitors can be large, heavy, and fragile. They often require extra labor, careful handling, and secure palletizing before they can be transported for further processing.
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Storage & Logistics

Certain electronics must be accumulated and stored until sufficient quantities are available for shipment to appropriate downstream processors. This increases storage, transportation, and logistics costs.
Handling fees help offset these additional costs while supporting responsible recycling for the electronics we accept.
The small fee helps us continue offering free recycling for most electronics while ensuring we handle all items responsibly.

Residential vs Business Electronics Recycling

Green Earth offers different recycling options depending on whether you are recycling personal household electronics or managing technology from a business, school, government agency, or other organization.
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Residential Drop-Offs

Our St. Joseph drop-off program makes it easy for residents to recycle unwanted household electronics.
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Personal household electronics
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Many items accepted at no charge
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No appointment required for standard drop-offs
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Handling fees for TVs, monitors, and appliances with refrigerant
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Witnessed data destruction options available
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Large residential loads accepted, although calling ahead is recommended
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Business Electronics Recycling

Businesses, schools, government agencies, and other organizations can use Green Earth’s commercial recycling and IT asset disposition services for larger quantities and more complex technology requirements.
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Bulk electronics recycling
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Scheduled pickup options
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Secure data destruction
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IT asset tracking
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Chain-of-custody documentation
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Inventory and disposition reporting
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NIST SP 800-88-aligned data destruction options
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Custom solutions for single or multiple locations

Have More Questions? 

If you're not sure whether your item is free to recycle or have other questions, we're here to help. Contact us before your visit.