Old TVs, monitors, computers, printers, and other electronics cannot go in your regular trash in Ohio. Electronics contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and other hazardous materials that contaminate soil and groundwater if they end up in a landfill. Ohio law (ORC 3734.85) prohibits disposing of computer monitors and TVs in solid waste facilities. Toledo follows this law, which means your old flat-screen, CRT television, laptop, or desktop computer needs to go through proper recycling or disposal channels.
What counts as electronic waste
E-waste includes anything with a circuit board, battery, or display. The most common items people need to dispose of:
TVs and monitors: CRT (tube) TVs, LCD flat screens, LED TVs, plasma TVs, computer monitors. CRT TVs are the hardest to recycle because they contain 4 to 8 pounds of lead in the glass — many recyclers charge a fee specifically for CRTs
Computers: Desktop towers, laptops, tablets, servers, all-in-one computers. These contain recoverable metals (gold, copper, aluminum, rare earth elements) that make them valuable to recyclers
Peripherals: Keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, routers, modems, external hard drives, USB hubs, webcams, speakers
Phones and small electronics: Cell phones, MP3 players, e-readers, handheld gaming devices, smartwatches, fitness trackers
Home electronics: DVD and Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, cable boxes, streaming devices, stereo receivers, record players, VCRs
Batteries: Lithium-ion (from laptops, phones, tablets), lead-acid (from UPS backup units), NiMH and NiCd (from older cordless phones and tools). Batteries should never go in regular trash due to fire risk
Free recycling options in Toledo
Best Buy
Best Buy stores accept most electronics for recycling at no charge. The Toledo-area Best Buy locations have a recycling kiosk near the front of the store where you can drop off small items (phones, tablets, cables, small appliances) and a larger drop-off area for TVs and monitors. Best Buy accepts up to three items per household per day for free recycling. TVs and monitors are accepted up to 32 inches diagonally at no charge. TVs larger than 32 inches may have a recycling fee — check with the store.
Staples
Staples stores accept computers, laptops, tablets, and small electronics for free recycling. They do not accept TVs or large monitors but are a convenient option for computer equipment, printers, and peripherals. Staples also accepts ink and toner cartridges for recycling.
Manufacturer take-back programs
Several major electronics manufacturers run their own recycling programs:
Apple: Apple Trade In accepts any Apple device in any condition — working or broken — for recycling or trade-in credit. Drop off at the nearest Apple Store or request a prepaid shipping label online
Dell: Dell Reconnect partners with Goodwill to accept any brand of computer equipment at Goodwill locations for free recycling
Samsung: Samsung offers a mail-in recycling program for Samsung products at no charge
HP: HP Planet Partners accepts HP products for recycling with free shipping labels available online
Lucas County Solid Waste Management District
The Lucas County SWMD hosts periodic household hazardous waste and electronics collection events where Toledo residents can bring electronics for free recycling. These events happen several times per year — check the Lucas County SWMD website or call their office for the next scheduled date. The events typically accept TVs of all sizes, computers, and other electronics at no charge, making them the best option for large CRT TVs that retailers may charge a fee to accept.
Paid recycling options
For items that free programs do not cover, or if you have a large quantity:
Local e-waste recyclers: Several recycling businesses in the Toledo metro area specialize in electronics. They accept a wider range of items than retail drop-offs and can handle large volumes (clearing out an office, for example). Some charge per item, others charge by weight. CRT TVs and monitors typically cost the most to recycle ($15 to $35 per unit) because the leaded glass requires special processing
Scrap and surplus dealers: If you have a significant quantity of electronics (business cleanout, IT department refresh), scrap dealers may pay you for the materials — particularly for desktop computers, servers, and networking equipment that contain recoverable copper and precious metals. Call for a quote before hauling a load over
Before you recycle — protect your data
Any device that stored personal data needs to be wiped before recycling. Even if the device does not turn on, the storage drive inside may still be readable if someone removes it.
Computers and laptops: If the device still works, use the built-in reset function (Windows: Settings, System, Recovery, Reset this PC, Remove everything. Mac: Erase All Content and Settings). If the device does not boot, physically remove the hard drive or SSD and either destroy it (drill through it, hammer it, or use a degausser for HDDs) or keep it
Phones and tablets: Factory reset the device (iPhone: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. Android: Settings, System, Reset, Factory data reset). Modern phones with encryption make factory-reset data extremely difficult to recover
External drives and USB drives: Format them or physically destroy them. A quick format is not secure — use a full format or a secure erase tool if the data is sensitive
Printers: Many modern printers store copies of recently printed documents, Wi-Fi passwords, and network settings in internal memory. Reset the printer to factory defaults before recycling
What NOT to do with old electronics
Do not put electronics in the trash. It is illegal in Ohio for TVs and monitors and environmentally harmful for all electronics. Republic Services will not pick up TVs or monitors as regular trash or bulk items
Do not leave electronics at the curb. Abandoned electronics are considered illegal dumping. CRT TVs left curbside are a particular problem because the glass breaks and releases lead
Do not burn electronics. Burning circuit boards and plastic housings releases toxic fumes including dioxins, furans, and heavy metal particulates
Do not hoard broken electronics. Old electronics sitting in a garage or basement for years are not aging into collector's items — they are leaking chemicals. Lithium-ion batteries in old laptops, phones, and tablets degrade over time and can swell, leak, or catch fire, especially in hot spaces like attics or garages
Large-quantity electronics removal
If you are clearing out an estate, closing a business, or cleaning up a property that has accumulated years of old electronics, individual drop-offs may not be practical. Common scenarios in the Toledo area:
Estate cleanouts: Older homes often have multiple CRT TVs, VCRs, desktop computers from different decades, and boxes of cables and accessories. This can be hundreds of pounds of e-waste
Business closures: Offices full of computers, monitors, printers, phone systems, servers, and networking equipment. Businesses are responsible for data destruction before recycling
Property turnovers: Rental properties, foreclosures, and inherited properties frequently have abandoned electronics mixed in with other debris
For these situations, a junk removal service that handles electronics recycling separately from general trash is the most efficient option — one crew handles the removal, loading, and proper sorting of recyclable electronics versus general waste.
Electronics recycling help in Toledo
If you have old TVs, computers, or electronics in Toledo that need to go, I Haul Toledo handles pickup and ensures electronics are routed to proper recycling facilities rather than the landfill, including CRT TVs and large-quantity cleanouts that retail drop-offs cannot accommodate.