What is e-Waste?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Electronic waste or “e-Waste” is a term “often used to describe used electronics that are nearing the end of their useful life, and are discarded, donated or given to a recycler. Though e-waste is the commonly used term, EPA considers e-waste to be a subset of used electronics and recognizes the inherent value of these materials that can be reused, refurbished or recycled to minimize the actual waste that might end up in a landfill or improperly disposed in an unprotected dump site either in the U.S. or abroad.”
What is Being Done About e-Waste?
Electronic waste is impacting the environment in profound ways as less than 13 percent of e-waste generated is recycled and most ends up in landfills or incinerators causing environmental and health concerns due to the hazardous materials contained in e-waste. Even before their end of life, electronics have a negative environmental impact which includes the heavy metals and plastics within them, plus the process of making and shipping electronic items.
In 2003, California enacted the Electronic Waste Recycling Act to establish a funding system for the collection and recycling of e-waste. The resulting program is intended to provide convenient opportunities and locations for Californians to properly manage unwanted electronics. The program is funded through a covered electronic waste recycling fee (on covered devices) when you purchase the items new. Covered devices are those that include a video displayer device with a screen larger than four inches, measured diagonally, that the Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) has determined to be a hazardous waste when discarded. Other electronic items that can become e-Waste include things like DVD players, computers, keyboard, telephones, video cassette recorders, calculators and microwaves.
Can’t We Just Recycle e-Waste?
While recycling e-waste is good, reduce and reuse are higher priorities in the practice of zero waste and the 4R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot (compost)). It is better if we can repair and reuse electronics. We cannot recycle our way to the solution when it comes to e-waste. For more on why taking better care of electronics is so important, please read 20 Staggering E-Waste Facts in 2021 from Earth911.com.
What should be done with old electronic products?
Computer monitors, televisions, and other electronic equipment should NOT be disposed of with your garbage, recycling, or organics.
| Location* | |
| Fremont Facility 41149 Boyce Road, Fremont |
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| Hayward Facility 2091 West Winton Ave., Hayward |
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| Livermore Facility 5584 La Ribera St., Livermore |
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| Oakland Facility 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland |
Note: To ensure the health of our environment, please do some research before having e-waste picked up from your residence or business and before dropping it off at a non-CVSan sponsored collection event. Most e-waste materials have a special collection, handling, and recycling procedure and, by law, are banned from garbage and the landfill. Please visit e-stewards.org to confirm that the organization taking your e-waste is environmentally responsible.
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