What Is Oregon E-Cycles?
Oregon E-Cycles is a free electronics recycling program funded by manufacturers. It launched in 2010 under the Oregon Electronics Recycling Act, which requires electronics manufacturers to pay for the collection and recycling of covered devices sold in Oregon.
The key word is "free." You don't pay a dime to recycle covered electronics. No drop-off fee, no processing fee, no hidden charges. Manufacturers absorb the entire cost as part of their responsibility for the products they sell.
The program is managed by the Oregon E-Cycles consortium and overseen by the Oregon DEQ. It handles roughly 20 million pounds of electronics per year — which sounds impressive until you realize that's still only a fraction of what Oregonians throw away.
What Qualifies for Free Recycling
The E-Cycles program covers three categories of devices:
- Computers — Desktops, laptops, notebooks, tablets. Includes the computer itself plus integrated peripherals (built-in keyboards, trackpads).
- Monitors — Computer monitors of any size, including CRT monitors (the heavy old ones), LCD screens, and LED displays used as computer monitors.
- Televisions — All types: CRT, plasma, LCD, LED, OLED. Any size. This is the big one — old tube TVs weigh 50 to 150 pounds and contain lead, mercury, and cadmium that can't go in a landfill.
There's a limit of seven items per trip at most drop-off locations. If you have more than seven, you may need to make multiple trips or call ahead to arrange a larger drop-off.
What Doesn't Qualify
This trips people up. E-Cycles covers computers, monitors, and TVs. That's it. These are NOT covered:
- Printers, scanners, copiers
- Cell phones and smartphones
- Gaming consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo)
- DVD/Blu-ray players
- Stereo equipment and speakers
- Small kitchen electronics (toasters, microwaves)
- Keyboards, mice, and external peripherals (unless attached to a covered device)
For non-covered electronics, you'll need a separate recycling solution. Some retailers (Best Buy, Staples) accept additional electronics beyond the E-Cycles list. Electronics recycling services handle everything — covered and non-covered — in a single pickup.
Drop-Off Locations Across Oregon
E-Cycles drop-off sites are scattered across the state. The heaviest concentration is along the I-5 corridor, but rural areas have coverage too:
Portland Metro
- Best Buy locations (Clackamas, Beaverton, Jantzen Beach, Tigard)
- Staples locations
- Free Geek (1731 SE 10th Ave, Portland) — also refurbishes working equipment for donation
- Metro Central and Metro South transfer stations
- Goodwill locations (some, not all)
Eugene-Springfield
- Best Buy (Gateway area)
- St. Vincent de Paul (accepts electronics at some locations)
- Glenwood transfer station
- NextStep Recycling (nonprofit e-waste recycler)
Salem
- Best Buy (Lancaster Dr location)
- Marion County e-waste collection events
Bend
- Best Buy
- Knott Landfill (electronics recycling area)
Full list of locations: Oregon E-Cycles drop-off finder.
How E-Waste Gets Recycled
Once collected, electronics go to certified processors who break them down into component materials:
- Metals — Copper, aluminum, steel, gold, silver, palladium. A single computer motherboard contains small amounts of precious metals that are recovered through specialized smelting.
- Glass — CRT glass contains lead and must be processed separately. LCD screens contain small amounts of mercury.
- Plastics — Sorted by type and either recycled into new products or used as fuel in waste-to-energy facilities.
- Circuit boards — Shredded and processed to extract metals. Some are exported to specialized facilities in Asia and Europe.
Oregon requires that all E-Cycles processors meet R2 or e-Stewards certification standards, which means no shipping raw e-waste to developing countries for informal recycling (the kind that poisons workers and communities). Your old TV actually gets processed responsibly.
Beyond E-Cycles: Other Electronics
For the electronics E-Cycles doesn't cover, you have several options:
Retailer take-back. Best Buy accepts most consumer electronics for recycling regardless of where you bought them — printers, cables, phones, small appliances. There's usually a small fee for TVs and monitors over 32 inches (outside E-Cycles).
Cell phones. Any wireless carrier store accepts old cell phones for recycling. Some offer trade-in credit.
Batteries. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Batteries Plus all have battery recycling bins. This includes rechargeable batteries, which should NEVER go in regular trash (lithium batteries cause fires in garbage trucks).
Full cleanout. If you're clearing out a home office or doing an estate cleanout with a mix of electronics, furniture, and general junk, a single junk removal pickup handles everything at once. The crew sorts e-waste for proper recycling and disposes of the rest.
