Recycling in Ithaca, NY

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• NYSDEC: Electronic Waste Recycling (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • The NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act (ECL Article 27, Title 26) requires manufacturers to provide free and convenient e-waste recycling to most consumers in the state. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Eligible for free recycling: individuals, businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, nonprofits with fewer than 75, 501(c)(3)s, schools and government entities located in New York. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For-profit businesses with 50 or more full-time employees and nonprofits with 75 or more may be charged. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Under the Wireless Telephone Recycling Act, wireless service suppliers that sell phones must take up to 10 cell phones from anyone for free reuse and recycling, or provide free shipping to a recycling program. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Manufacturers must take back their own brands free, or one piece of covered equipment from another manufacturer when the consumer buys the same type; DEC lists registered manufacturers and their take-back websites. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEC lists registered electronic equipment manufacturers with their brands, take-back websites and toll-free numbers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEC publishes a county-sorted list of registered e-waste collection sites; call ahead because a site may not take your type or brand. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A collection site not affiliated with a manufacturer program may charge a fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Collection may be at retail stores, nonprofits or municipal facilities, by prepaid mail-back, or at collection events; manufacturers need not have a site in every community. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Any consumer may be charged for premium services such as at-home collection, data wiping or refurbishment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered computers include desktops, laptops, all-in-ones, tablets, e-readers, notebooks and smart watches. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered computer peripherals include keyboards, mice, external hard drives, monitors over 4 inches and printers under 100 lb. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered small electronic equipment: cable/satellite receivers, converter boxes, DVD players, DVRs, game consoles, portable music players, projectors with DVD players and VCRs. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Televisions with screens over 4 inches diagonally are covered, including accompanying cables and cords. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not covered: vehicles, cameras, radios, household appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, microwave ovens, ovens, dishwashers), telephones of any type, calculators, GPS units and others. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Telephones of any type are not covered electronic equipment under the Act. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-2605: Manufacturer responsibilities (e-waste) (opens in new tab) · New York State Senate (Open Legislation)
  • ECL 27-2605: manufacturers bear all program costs and may not charge consumers for collection and recycling (except business consumers and premium services). Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: New York (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • PaintCare New York drop-off sites are open to households, businesses, government agencies and others with leftover paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • There is no charge to drop off paint at a PaintCare site. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare sites accept house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For 100+ gallons, PaintCare offers a free large volume pickup service. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NYSDEC: Postconsumer Paint Collection Program (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • The program covers interior and exterior architectural coatings in containers of five gallons or less: latex or oil-based house paint and primers, stains, deck and concrete sealers and clear finishes. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Retailers that sell rechargeable batteries or products containing them must accept used rechargeable batteries from New York consumers for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers must accept up to 10 rechargeable batteries per day from anyone during normal business hours, whether or not they buy replacements, or as many as the consumer bought there. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Covered: nickel-cadmium, sealed lead, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride and other rechargeable dry cells, battery packs, and e-scooter and e-bike batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not covered: batteries of 50 lb or more, vehicle power batteries (car, boat, golf cart, wheelchair), solar/wind storage batteries, built-in memory backup batteries and single-use alkaline batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Non-rechargeable single-use batteries such as common alkaline batteries are not covered by the law. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • E-scooter and e-bike batteries are now covered, with certain retailers accepting them voluntarily; DEC expects more return options, including for damaged ones, by the end of 2026. Checked October 26, 2026.
• The Battery Network: New York (opens in new tab) · The Battery Network (Call2Recycle)
  • The Battery Network is currently the state-approved stewardship program for rechargeable batteries in New York, with a network of drop-off locations. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For damaged or defective batteries (swollen, leaking, cracked), residents can contact a New York retailer participating in The Battery Network program. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tape battery terminals or bag batteries before dropping them off. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1701: Lead-acid battery recycling (opens in new tab) · New York State Senate (Open Legislation)
  • For this law, a lead-acid battery is any battery of six or more volts containing lead and sulfuric acid used to power a vehicle (cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, lawn and garden equipment). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • ECL 27-1701(4): every retailer must accept up to two used lead-acid batteries per calendar month from any individual at no charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NYSDEC: Lead-Acid Batteries (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Buyers of a new lead-acid battery who don't return a used one pay a $5 return incentive payment, refunded if a used battery is returned within 30 days. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers and distributors that sell lead-acid batteries must accept, free of charge, up to two used batteries per month from any individual, whether or not they buy a new one. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Battery retailers must post a sign that state law requires them to accept vehicle batteries free of charge for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NYSDEC: Waste Tires (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Tire service centers must accept used tires from customers of about the same size and in the same number as the new tires bought or installed. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A $2.50 waste tire management and recycling fee applies to each new tire sold, including tires on new vehicles, collected by the tire service at sale. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tire service centers may also charge up to $2.50 per tire as a separate fee for their own recycling costs; signs must say whether it is separate or included in the tire price. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The fee and mandatory acceptance provisions have been extended several times and currently run until December 31, 2027. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Complaints about a tire seller refusing waste tires or about recycling fees go to the New York State Attorney General's office. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1905: Mandatory tire acceptance; notices (opens in new tab) · New York State Senate (Open Legislation)
  • ECL 27-1905: until December 31, 2027, a tire service with a physical New York location must accept waste tires of about the same size, equal in number to the new tires bought or installed. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Tompkins County RMM: Permits and Fees (2026) (opens in new tab) · Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management
  • Permits may be purchased only by Tompkins County residents and businesses; a residential permit is $30 (2026). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • If a material has a fee, a permit is required; refrigerant units are $20 per unit. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Category 1b tires (car and light truck, motorcycle, ATV; rims accepted, 20-inch rim max): $5 per tire for 1–10 tires. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Tompkins County RMM: Additional Recyclables at the RSWC (opens in new tab) · Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management
  • Electronics accepted include computers and computer equipment, monitors, printers, phones, stereos and TVs. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • As of January 1, 2023 there is no longer a fee for televisions and monitors. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Scrap metal accepted includes metal appliances (stove, oven, water heater, dishwasher, washer, dryer), metal furniture, pots and pans, and microwaves. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Batteries accepted: car (lead acid), power tool (Ni-cad), phone and laptop (lithium), rechargeable AA/AAA (NiMH) and button batteries; limit 10 lead-acid per load. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Refrigerant units (refrigerators, freezers, ACs, dehumidifiers, water coolers): a refrigerant removal fee per unit unless proof of removal is provided. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Refrigerant units accepted: refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and water coolers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Cover both battery terminals with tape; bag leaking batteries with absorbent material. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare drop-off site locator data (sites.json) (opens in new tab) · PaintCare
  • PaintCare lists Ithaca Reuse Center and Office at 214 Elmira Rd, Ithaca 14850 as a paint drop-off site (Households and VSQG Businesses; Limit: 5 gallons per visit.) Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare lists Sherwin-Williams at 722 S Meadow St, Ithaca 14850 as a paint drop-off site (Households and Businesses in New York; Limit: 5 Gallons per visit.) Checked October 26, 2026.

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