Chicago: Electronics Recycling Events
NOTE: This article has been archived and may not be up to date.
From Spring till the end of the year, the City of Chicago will be hosting dozens of drop-off electronics recycling events across the city making it easier than ever to properly dispose of your electronics.
What's accepted?
The following household electronics (and only these) are accepted:
Cell Phones • Computers • Video Game Consoles • Computer Monitors • Portable Digital Music Players • TVs • Digital Converter Boxes • Printer, Fax, Scanners • Cable & Satellite Receivers • Keyboards & Mice • Small-Scale Servers • VCRs, DVD Players, DVD Recorders
Electronics from businesses are not accepted.
It's the law, and it's good for the environment too.
Old electronics are chockful of precious metals and rare earth elements that are in short supply. They also contain toxic chemicals that should not end up in a landfill. That's why dozens of states, including the State of Illinois, have electronic recycling or 'e-waste' laws that require that old electronics be responsibly recycled.
Drop-off Locations
Please note that once the truck is full, no more electronics will be accepted. Materials should not be left outside of operating hours. ONLY the electronics listed above are eligible for recycling.
Commercial and other residential electronics are not accepted. Note that the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 North Branch Street, also accepts household chemicals.
Prefer a calendar view? Check out the schedule reminder. Just enter your home address to access the calendar which includes recycling and trash pickup dates too.
Drop-off Procedure
All you need to do is roll up with your electronics in your trunk or back of the car. You will be asked to remain in the vehicle and automatically open your trunk or door, if possible. A service attendant will remove the electronics for you.
Are your old electronics still working?
For electronics that are still in working order, please consider trading them in, selling them, or donating them, rather than recycling them. Allowing your unwanted electronics to be reused provides more environmental benefits than recycling, and you could recoup some of your original cost too.
Some major electronics retailers, such as Best Buy, Apple, and Dell offer trade-in programs for used electronics (any brand). And most will allow you to verify the trade-in value of your items online and provide a return shipping label so you don't even have to visit the store.
Another option for your working electronics is to list them on popular consumer-to-consumer marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor's classified sections. It takes a bit more effort but might reward you with more money in return.
