How to Recycle Electronics in Oregon: E-Waste Guide

Americans generate over 6 million tons of electronic waste every year, and only about 25 percent gets properly recycled. The rest ends up in landfills where toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium leach into soil and groundwater. Oregon has responded to this problem with some of the strongest e-waste recycling programs in the nation, most notably the Oregon E-Cycles program that provides free recycling for many common electronics.

This guide explains how to recycle every type of electronic device in Oregon, from televisions and computers to phones and small gadgets. We cover what is free, what costs money, where to go, and how to protect your personal data before you hand anything over.

Oregon E-Cycles Program Explained

Oregon E-Cycles is the state's manufacturer-funded electronics recycling program, established under Oregon's Electronics Recycling Law. The program is funded by electronics manufacturers, which means recycling is completely free for Oregon residents. You pay nothing to drop off covered devices — no fees, no appointments, no hassle.

The program launched in 2009 and has since recycled hundreds of millions of pounds of electronics that would have otherwise ended up in Oregon landfills. It is administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which oversees collection sites and ensures manufacturers meet their recycling obligations.

What Qualifies for Free Recycling

Oregon E-Cycles covers a specific set of devices. Understanding what is and is not included will save you a wasted trip to a drop-off site.

Covered (Free) Devices

Not Covered by E-Cycles

Drop-Off Locations Along the I-5 Corridor

Oregon E-Cycles maintains collection sites throughout the state, with the highest concentration along the I-5 corridor where most Oregonians live. No appointment is necessary at most locations — simply bring your eligible items during posted hours.

Portland metro area: Multiple collection sites across the metropolitan area, including locations managed by Free Geek in inner SE Portland, which refurbishes working computers for donation to nonprofits. The Portland metro has the densest network of e-waste drop-off points in the state.

Salem and mid-valley: Collection sites in Salem and surrounding communities serve Marion and Polk county residents. The Marion County Environmental Services facility is a convenient option for Salem-area residents with regular weekday and Saturday hours.

Corvallis and Albany: Benton and Linn county residents have access to collection points in both cities, typically operated through county waste management partnerships.

Eugene-Springfield: Lane County has several E-Cycles collection sites, including locations accessible to both Eugene and Springfield residents. Lane County's waste management system is well-organized with clear signage and helpful staff at drop-off points.

For the most current list of collection sites and hours, visit the Oregon E-Cycles website or call the Oregon DEQ. Sites occasionally change hours or locations, so checking before you load up the car is always a good idea.

Data Security Before Recycling

Before recycling any computer, phone, or storage device, you need to protect your personal data. Simply deleting files is not sufficient — deleted data can be recovered with freely available software. Follow these steps to properly secure your information.

Wiping Hard Drives

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-88, "Guidelines for Media Sanitization," is the gold standard for data destruction. For most home users, the key recommendations are:

• Traditional hard drives (HDD): Use a disk wiping tool that writes over the entire drive at least once. Free tools like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) work well. A single overwrite pass is sufficient for modern drives according to NIST guidelines.
• Solid-state drives (SSD): Use the manufacturer's secure erase utility or the built-in full-disk encryption method. SSDs handle data differently than traditional drives, and standard wiping tools may not reach all data blocks. Encrypting the drive and then discarding the encryption key is the most reliable method.
• For maximum security: Physical destruction of the drive is the only guaranteed method. Remove the hard drive from the computer and drill through it, or take it to a certified data destruction service. Some e-waste recyclers offer witnessed shredding for a fee.

Factory Reset Steps

For devices you cannot easily wipe at the drive level:

• Windows: Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > Remove Everything
• Mac: Restart in Recovery Mode (Command+R) > Disk Utility > Erase
• Phones/Tablets: Encrypt the device first, then perform a factory reset. Encryption before reset ensures deleted data cannot be recovered.

Always sign out of all accounts (email, cloud storage, social media) before performing any reset. Deauthorize the device from services like iTunes, Adobe Creative Cloud, and similar licensed software.

Phones and Tablets Recycling

Since phones and tablets are not covered by Oregon E-Cycles, you need alternate recycling paths. The good news is that many retailers accept these devices for free, and some will even pay you for them.

Best Buy accepts phones, tablets, and most small electronics for free recycling at all Oregon locations. They have a three-item-per-household-per-day limit for most categories.

Staples operates an electronics recycling program that accepts phones, tablets, and similar devices for free.

Carrier trade-in programs: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all offer trade-in programs that give you credit toward a new device. Even broken or outdated phones often qualify for some credit. Apple's trade-in program accepts devices from any manufacturer.

Manufacturer programs: Apple, Samsung, and Google all operate mail-in recycling programs for their devices. Apple's program includes a pre-paid shipping label.

Oregon Bottle Bill and Beverage Container Recycling

While not electronics, it is worth mentioning Oregon's Bottle Bill here because many households accumulate returnable containers alongside other recyclables. Oregon's $0.10 deposit on beverage containers is refundable at BottleDrop redemption centers across the state. This is real money — a garbage bag of cans and bottles can easily return $5 to $15.

BottleDrop has expanded to include Green Bag drop-off at many grocery stores, making returns more convenient than ever. Open a free BottleDrop account, fill a green bag with returnables, and drop it off — your refund is deposited directly to your account.

Environmental Impact of E-Waste

The environmental case for proper e-waste recycling is stark. Electronics contain a cocktail of toxic substances:

• Lead — Found in CRT monitors and solder on circuit boards. Causes neurological damage and developmental problems, especially in children.
• Mercury — Present in LCD backlights and some switches. Bioaccumulates in water and fish.
• Cadmium — Used in rechargeable batteries and some semiconductors. A known carcinogen that persists in soil for decades.
• Brominated flame retardants — Found in plastic casings and circuit boards. Linked to endocrine disruption and may cause cancer.

When electronics go to landfills, these substances leach into groundwater and soil over time. Oregon's wet climate accelerates this process — rainfall percolating through landfills carries dissolved toxins into the water table. By recycling electronics properly, you prevent these materials from entering Oregon's environment and allow valuable metals like gold, silver, copper, and platinum to be recovered and reused.

Business E-Waste: Different Rules

If you are a business in Oregon, be aware that different rules apply. Oregon E-Cycles covers residential e-waste only. Businesses must use certified e-waste recyclers that hold R2 or e-Stewards certification. These certifications ensure that recyclers follow responsible practices and do not simply ship e-waste to developing countries.

Business e-waste recycling typically involves a per-pound or per-item fee, though some recyclers offer free pickup for large volumes. Data destruction certificates are standard for business clients, providing a paper trail that proves your data was properly destroyed — important for HIPAA, SOX, and other regulatory compliance.

Small Electronics Disposal

Small electronics that do not fit neatly into the E-Cycles program — things like old routers, cables, power strips, remote controls, and similar gadgets — can be recycled at Best Buy or Staples. Some Oregon transfer stations also have electronics recycling bins for small items. If the item contains a rechargeable battery, remove the battery and recycle it separately through Call2Recycle before disposing of the device.

For large volumes of mixed electronics, such as during a home cleanout or garage cleanout, a professional junk removal service can handle the sorting, transport, and proper disposal of everything at once — saving you multiple trips to different recycling locations.