Finding a local recycler for individual dropoffs
Several times a week customers ask, "Do you accept dropoffs of electronics by individuals?" And unless you live in the St. Louis area, the answer unfortunately is, "No." Those in the St. Louis area can drop off electronics at our retail store in St. Charles of course.
For everyone else, we recommend searching for a local recycler at Earth911.com. For those not familiar with Earth911.com, it is a business directory specializing in recycling. From their front page, you can enter a description of what you want to recycle (i.e. "computer") and your address. Earth911 will provide you with a list of recyclers in your area that accept the item in question.
How to pick a recycler
Now that you have a list of local recyclers, how do you choose? Here are a list of questions to ask:
- Do any recycling byproducts end up in a landfill? - the recycler should not allow any components to end up in a landfill.
- Do you rely on any external companies to process components? - certain components (like batteries) are frequently shipped to other companies for processing. A good recycler will ensure that these companies are also responsible in their recycling processes.
- Do any components get exported? - make sure the equipment will not end up in a container shipped overseas.
- Do you provide data destruction services? - if a recycler does not, you must take extra steps to destroy personal data on your devices before recycling.
- Will there be a charge? - Last summer, copper and gold were at all-time highs, meaning that recyclers could accept your equipment at no charge and still make money on the raw material. The current economic climate means that many recyclers are now losing money on raw material sales, and in order to remain in business, are charging nominal fees for equipment processing.
Armed with these questions, you should be able to find a responsible recycler for your IT equipment. And if you are a company looking for proper disposal of your IT equipment, contact our ARS staff to discuss the programs we can provide in your area.