Electronics Recycling in Colorado Springs

This one catches people off guard because there is no obvious reason a TV is different from any other bulky object. The reason is legal: Colorado prohibits electronic waste from entering landfills, and that applies no matter how you are trying to dispose of it.

Why Are Electronics Banned From Colorado Landfills?

Older monitors and TVs contain leaded glass. Circuit boards contain mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals. Colorado decided those should not go into the ground and wrote it into state law rather than leaving it to individual companies.

The practical effect: you cannot put a TV in a dumpster, in your curbside trash, or in the back of a truck headed to a transfer station. All three are the same landfill in the end.

What Counts as Electronic Waste?

• TVs — CRT, plasma, LCD, LED

• Computer monitors

• Desktops, laptops and tablets

• Printers, scanners and fax machines

• Peripherals — keyboards, mice, cables

Where Do I Take Electronics in Colorado Springs?

Urban Recycling, 3341 N Cascade Ave. Accepts electronics along with appliances, mattresses and scrap. No appointment needed. They also offer pickup if you cannot move it yourself.

Retailer take-back. Several national electronics and office-supply chains run free recycling for small devices, and often take an old unit when you buy a replacement. Call the store to confirm what they accept before you drive over.

E-waste collection events. El Paso County and local municipalities run periodic collection days. Worth checking if you have a garage full rather than a single item.

Wipe It First

Anything with storage — a computer, a phone, a smart TV — should be wiped before it leaves your house. Sign out of accounts, factory reset it, and pull the drive if you are the cautious type. Recyclers handle a lot of devices and none of them are responsible for your data.

Planning a Cleanout With Electronics In It

Pull the electronics out first and set them aside before the bin arrives. It is the same principle as the paint run — handle the restricted items while everything is still sorted, then fill the dumpster with what actually belongs in it.

An estate cleanout in particular tends to surface a decade of old TVs and computers. Budget a trip for them.

Our restricted items list covers everything else that needs routing elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a TV in the dumpster?

No. Colorado bans electronics from landfills. It needs an e-waste drop-off.

Is electronics recycling free in Colorado Springs?

It varies. Some retailers take small devices free; recyclers may charge for CRT TVs and monitors, which are the most expensive to process. Call ahead.

What do I do with an old CRT television?

Urban Recycling on N Cascade accepts them. Expect a fee — leaded glass is costly to handle.

Should I erase my computer before recycling it?

Yes. Sign out, factory reset, and remove the drive if you want to be certain.