Schenectady County announced that it will hold a free electronics recycling event for residents on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at SUNY Schenectady. During the event residents can drop off their unwanted or unusable electronics to be turned into components for reuse or recycling.
Recycling e-waste helps keep waste out of landfills and harmful chemicals and metals from leeching into the environment. Items are separated into their components, which are cleaned and reused if possible. Components that are not reusable will be recycled into marketable materials, and items that contain data will be sanitized if possible, or destroyed and shredded.
“Recycling electronics waste is crucial for protecting our environment and conserving our valuable resources,” said County Legislator Sara Mae Pratt, Chair of the Environmental Conservation, Renewable Energy & Parks Committee. “We’re hosting a free event for residents to safely dispose of their electronic devices, making it easier than ever to do our part for a cleaner, greener future.”
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: SUNY Schenectady back parking lot
78 Washington Ave, Schenectady
Registration is required. Visit https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/ewaste or call (518) 388-4775 to register.
Accepted Items*
- Batteries (rechargeable and lead acid batteries, no alkaline)
- Cables/IT accessories
- Cameras
- CDs and DVDs
- Computers and computer accessories (mice, keyboards, speakers, etc.)
- Copiers
- Light bulbs including fluorescent
- Gaming devices
- Laptops
- Monitors
- MP3 Players
- Networking gear
- Phone systems/Cell phones
- Power supplies
- Printers/plotters (ink, toner, cartridges)
- Routers & switches
- Stereo equipment
- Storage devices (external hard drives, SD/memory cards, etc.)
- Tablets
- Televisions (all sizes/types)
- Video and audio equipment
Items Not Accepted*
- Items containing Mercury (thermostats, switches, medical devices, thermometers)
- Smoke or carbon monoxide detectors
- Household hazardous waste/liquids
- Propane tanks
- Radioactive materials
- Small appliances (toasters, coffee makers, irons, etc.)
- Alkaline batteries
*Visit https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/ewaste for a full list of accepted and not accepted items.
Schenectady County collected over 25,000 pounds of electronics at its 2023 E-Waste Recycling event. The components from these items were either reused, recycled, or safely disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
Resident Recycling
The Schenectady County Compost & Resident Recycling Facility is an official drop-off location and member of the eWASTE Alliance Partnership Alliance. With a valid Permit Card, Schenectady County residents can recycle certain electronic items year-round at no additional charge. A full list of accepted items is available at https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/conservation-district/ewaste-recycling. All items collected are recycled in accordance with the New York State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act.
Schenectady County recently hosted a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event where over 200 residents participated, safely disposing of 14,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint, auto fluids, and propane.
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