Computer Recycling in Chicago, IL

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (opens in new tab) · City of Chicago Department of Environment
  • All Chicagoans may drop off their individual household chemicals and electronics; businesses and large groups must use a private disposal company. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The HCCRF accepts cell phones, computers and related equipment. Checked October 26, 2026.
• E-Waste | Chicago Recycles (opens in new tab) · City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation
  • The city's residential electronics recycling list includes computers, computer monitors, TVs, printers, keyboards and mice, VCRs and DVD players, game consoles and cable/satellite receivers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The city's monthly e-waste drop-off locations are on hold; residents are directed to the HCCRF to recycle e-waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Only the listed items are eligible; commercial and other residential electronics are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Goodwill Donor Guidelines (opens in new tab) · Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago
  • Goodwill stores in Greater Milwaukee and Chicago accept flat screen TVs and monitors (no CRTs), laptops, CPUs and hard drives. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Illinois EPA: Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab) · Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • Illinois EPA says it is illegal in Illinois to put a specific set of electronic devices in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (2017) set up a statewide system for recycling or reusing covered electronic devices from Illinois residents, and electronics manufacturers must take part. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Illinois EPA itself does not accept electronics. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered devices include computers and small servers, monitors, keyboards, mice and peripherals, printers, fax machines, scanners, televisions, DVD players and recorders, VCRs, converter boxes, cable and satellite receivers, portable music players and video game consoles. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The program serves unwanted covered electronics from Illinois residents. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Illinois EPA: Electronics Recycling FAQs (opens in new tab) · Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • Illinois EPA says that from January 1, 2026 all covered electronic devices are banned from landfills, including computers, monitors, TVs, printers, scanners, fax machines, keyboards, mice, DVD players and recorders, VCRs, cable and satellite receivers, digital converter boxes, home audio components, portable music players, video game consoles and small servers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Computers (desktop, laptop, netbook, notebook and tablet) and monitors are on Illinois EPA's list of covered electronic devices banned from landfills. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The electronics landfill ban applies to households as well as businesses, schools and government agencies. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Illinois EPA says improper disposal of covered devices is prohibited by law and can result in fines and penalties. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Damaged, non-working or outdated electronics are accepted for recycling as long as they are covered devices. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Illinois EPA says most public electronics recycling programs are free for consumers, but some locations may charge for certain items or services. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Public program collection sites and one-day events may charge fees only for TVs and monitors. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Private or retail collection sites and events may charge a recycling fee at their discretion. Checked October 26, 2026.
• 415 ILCS 151: Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (full text) (opens in new tab) · Illinois General Assembly
  • Under 415 ILCS 151/1-83, since January 1, 2019 no one may knowingly dispose of covered electronic devices (including computers, monitors, printers and televisions) in a sanitary landfill, or burn or incinerate them. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • State law (415 ILCS 151/1-83) bars knowingly disposing of a computer or computer monitor in a sanitary landfill. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • State law does not stop retailers or private network collection sites from charging a fee for each covered device collected. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Illinois EPA: Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (CERA) (opens in new tab) · Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (CERA) replaced the earlier Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act, which sunset on January 1, 2020. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Illinois EPA: Electronics Recycling Collection Locations (opens in new tab) · Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • The law sets a minimum number of collection locations in each participating Illinois county. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retail or private network collection locations may charge fees, and program collection locations may charge a fee for each desktop computer monitor or television. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Illinois EPA advises calling the collector first, because retailers do not have to accept all device types. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Illinois EPA: Household Hazardous Wastes (opens in new tab) · Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • Illinois EPA says state and federal law allow household hazardous waste to go out with residential garbage, but taking it to an HHW collection is more protective. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (opens in new tab) · Cook County
  • The CHaRM Center is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents; commercial and industrial waste is not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Computers accepted include laptops, tablets, desktop PCs and flat-screen monitors, working or not. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) Services (opens in new tab) · South Suburban College
  • Drop-off is free to residential customers only; proof of residency may be required. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.