Recycling of Electronic Devices

Pennsylvania Act 108 requires that all electronic devices be recycled, they cannot be left at the curb to be picked up by your trash hauler. Electronic devices consist of desktop and laptop computers, tablets, monitors, peripheral devices, and TVs. Except for TVs and CRT monitors, electronic devices can be brought to Best Buy to be recycled. Due to the cost of recycling old CRT TVs and CRT monitors, Best Buy now charges customers $25 for each TV and computer monitor they recycle, but they cannot do this in Pennsylvania due to Act 208 which prevents them from collecting recycling fees. Only two states, Pennsylvania and Illinois, do not allow retailers to charge a recycling fee. All other products – such as batteries, ink cartridges, computers, printers and hundreds of other items –   can be recycled for free at all of the Best Buy stores.

There are several options for recycling old TVs and CRT monitors:

Best Buy has a Pickup and Haul Away program that charges $99.99 to haul away TVs and appliances of any size. You must go in to the Best Buy store to order this service.

There are two other pickup services: 800-GOT-JUNK and 800-HAUL-OUT. These services pick up TVs and other appliances. You call them to set up a pickup time. Got Junk charges about $124 for a large TV; Haul Out charges about $137.

You can drop off your TV, CRT monitor or large appliances at 611 Metals Recycling located in Willow Grove (267-221-6924); they charge $0.60 per pound.

You can find additional information and resources here.

Recycling is Required

Municipal and state regulations require that residents, commercial establishments and non-residential establishments recycle all recyclable materials.  Commonly recycled materials include:

• Paper – newspaper, office/copy paper, glossy paper, color paper, cardboard, junk mail, phone books, cereal/cracker boxes
• Plastic – bottles and jugs No. 1-7
• Glass – clear, green and brown containers
• Metal – aluminum, steel, tin, and bimetal cans and containers

You should check with your hauler for a complete list of acceptable recyclable materials.