Welcome to the Vermont Electronics Recycling Program
Since 2011 Vermonters have been recycling instead of disposing of their electronic waste. The Vermont E-Cycles program provides FREE and convenient recycling of computers, monitors, televisions, printers and computer peripherals to residents, charities, school districts, and small businesses.
Why does Vermont have an E-Cycles program?
- Electronic devices contain toxic materials (including lead, mercury, and chromium) that should be managed responsibly as well as precious metals (such as gold) that should be recovered and recycled.
- Although electronic waste is a small component of all waste that is disposed, it is the fastest growing component of waste. Consider that in 1970, most households had only 1 TV and 0 computers. In 2008, 1.6 million pounds of electronics were recycled in Vermont. In 2015 the number climbed to more than 4.6 million pounds recycled!
LAW: Vermont’s landfill disposal requirements makes it illegal to dispose of several materials, including many electronic devices. The Vermont E-Cycles statute provides for free and convenient collection of computers, monitors, printers, computer peripherals, and televisions for covered entities. The law has been in place since 2011.
WHO: Consumers, charities, school districts, and small businesses that employ 10 or fewer individuals can use the E-Cycles program for free. Other individuals who bring in seven (7) or fewer devices can also recycle at no charge. Manufacturers have been paying for the e-waste collection and recycling program since July 1, 2011.
WHAT: Computers (including tablets), monitors, printers, computer peripherals, and televisions are accepted at every location for free.
Other electronics banned from disposal but not covered under the E-Cycles program include but aren’t limited to: game consoles, telephones, personal music players, VCRs, DVD players, and stereo equipment. These items aren’t necessarily accepted at all locations, and some locations charge a fee.
WHERE: Call ahead and let them know what your are bringing to avoid surprises. For a list of locations click here. Or contact your solid waste authority, such as your Solid Waste District, for a wealth of information.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Collection Contractor Website
DATA SECURITY: Are you worried about leaving data on your computer when recycling it? It’s up to you to remove any sensitive data from your computer before taking it to an E-Cycles collection location.
- If you would like to purchase data security services from an E-Cycles site, take a look at the list of data security providers around the state.
- If you’d like to do it yourself, there are two basic ways to destroy your data: physically break the hard drive disks, or permanently erase it using disk wiping software. Do a web search for “how to permanently erase a hard drive” or visit this article to find out more.
Collectors, Collection Events, Transporters, & Recyclers
If you are a Vermont public or private entity that collects, sorts and consolidates electronic waste intended to go to a recycler and/or you perform electronics data security services in a manner approved by the secretary, you qualify as a COLLECTOR under the Vermont E-Cycles Program and must register with the state. For more information, please refer to our Guidance Document for Electronics Collectors.
If you are conducting a one-day or multiple-day electronic waste collection event to collect computers, monitors, printers, televisions, and computer peripherals from Vermont residsents or businesses you must register with the state of Vermont as an event. Each individual event or continuous, multi-day event, even if re-occuring in the same location multiple times (e.g. once each year, every quarter, etc.), must be registered separately and obtain a different registration number for each one-day or multiple-day event. REGISTER HERE.
You are a TRANSPORTER under the electronics waste law if you transport computers, computer peripherals, monitors, televisions, or printers from collection locations or collection events within the state of Vermont to other Vermont collectors or transport to recyclers within or outside the State of Vermont. For more information on the requirements for electronic waste transporters please read our Guidance Document for Electronics Transporters.
You are a RECYCLER if you have a permanent location in the state of Vermont and accept computers, computer peripherals, monitors, televisions, or printers from anyone, including collectors, for the purpose of recycling, reuse, or refurbishment. Read the Guidance Document for Electronics Recyclers for more details on the requirements that apply to recyclers.
Retailers & Manufacturers
Are you an electronics RETAILER? See the list of brands of computers, TVs, printers, and monitors that may be sold in Vermont. (Click the top of the “Brand Name” column to sort alphabetically by brand.)
If a brand is not listed, the manufacturer has not registered with the Vermont E-Cycles Program, and computers, TVs, printers and monitors of that brand cannot be sold in Vermont. Contact the E-Cycles Program if you have questions about the status of a particular brand.
You are a MANUFACTURER under the electronics waste law (10 V.S.A. Chapter 166) if you:
- manufacture or have manufactured a covered electronic device under its own brand or label for sale in the State;
- sell in the State under its own brand or label covered electronic devices produced by another supplier;
- own a brand that is or was licensed to another person for use on a covered electronic device sold in the State;
- import into the United States for sale in the State a covered electronic device manufactured by a person without a presence in the United States;
- manufacture covered electronic devices for sale in the State without affixing a brand name; or
- assume the responsibilities, obligations, and liabilities of a manufacturer as defined above.
Refer to the Guidance Document for Electronics Manufacturers for more details on the requirements that apply.