Electronics

The Recycle Depot accepts ALL electronics from Marshall County residents, including:

  • computers of all types
  • monitors
  • televisions (working and non-working)
  • small devices and peripherals
  • cords of all kinds, including Christmas lights
  • mobile phones
  • game consoles and handheld devices
  • DVDs, VCRs, and household appliances such as clocks and scales

The Recycle Depot will NOT accept phone cases or other accessories made of vinyl or plastic. Please separate e-waste from these materials before dropping them off.

Yes, we take TVs! See our home page and fee schedule for more details. All e-waste is free for disposal except for rear-projection TVs, which cost $10 per television. (For businesses, add $.21/LB for all monitors or televisions). 

All e-waste we collect is scrapped for materials here in Indiana. Our vendor is secure, so you do not have to wipe or remove your hard drive–unless you want to.

Electronics are banned from Indiana landfills because they contain toxic materials. They will not be picked up at the curb. Do not throw them in your regular trash. There is no fee to recycle any electronics at the Depot, except for rear-projection televisions, which cost $10 for disposal. If you think you have one of these large TVs, please call us at the Depot.

Electronics Are Everywhere

Over the last two decades, a technological revolution has taken place. Electronic waste (or  E-waste) is the inevitable by-product of this technological revolution. Once built to be repairable, consumer electronics are now designed to be replaced and discarded. Discarded electronic equipment is the fastest growing waste stream in the industrialized world rising by 3% to 5% per year, almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream. E-waste is also a growing toxic waste problem as it is one of the largest known sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in the waste stream.

E-Waste–A New Environmental Problem

E-waste represents as much as 5% of waste disposal, more than beverage containers and disposable diapers. Nationally, and estimated 5 to 7 million tons of computers, televisions, stereos, cell phones, and other electronic gadgets become obsolete every year. A small fraction of this waste is being recycled. A sizable portion, remains in E-waste purgatory (unused but stockpiled in closets, garages, basements, and office storerooms). Businesses are waiting for a responsible opportunity to deal with this material and residents do not want to part with such an expensive “investment.”

Precious Metals–and Dangerous Toxins

Cleaned and sorted, the precious metals and other materials that make up E-waste have considerable value on the recycling market. The root problem is a lack of incentives for recycling, and the relatively high cost of dismantling, cleaning and sorting. Without effective phase-outs of hazardous chemicals and reuse and recycling systems, highly toxic chemicals found in electronics will continue to contaminate soil and groundwater as well as pollute the air, posing a threat to wildlife and people.

Marshall County residents may bring their obsolete electronics to the Recycle Depot for recycling.  A nominal fee may apply; call (574) 935-8618 for more information.