That old television in the garage. The printer sitting beside the desk even though it stopped working months ago. The tangled collection of chargers, keyboards and outdated electronics filling a box in the closet.
Most homes have at least a few unwanted electronics that have been waiting for someone to decide what to do with them. They are easy to ignore during the busy summer months, but fall provides the perfect opportunity to finally clear them out.
Responsible Recycling Services has numerous electronics recycling collection events scheduled throughout September, October and November. Before winter arrives, take a walk through your home, gather the electronics you no longer need and find a convenient fall event near you.
Why Fall Is a Great Time for an Electronics Cleanout
Fall naturally feels like a season for getting organized. Summer equipment is being put away, garages and basements are being prepared for colder weather and many families are starting to make room for holiday gatherings.
Clearing out unwanted electronics now can help you:
- Reclaim space in your garage, basement or home office
- Remove broken or outdated devices you no longer use
- Organize storage areas before winter
- Make room before new holiday purchases arrive
- Responsibly recycle electronics instead of placing them in the trash
You do not need to tackle the entire house at once. A quick room-by-room search can help you find more than you might expect.
Your Room-by-Room Electronics Cleanout Checklist
Grab a box or designate a safe area where you can collect potential recycling items. Then check each of these common hiding places.
Home Office
Home offices often contain a surprising number of outdated or broken electronics. Look for:
- Old computers and laptops
- Monitors
- Printers and scanners
- Keyboards and computer mice
- Routers and modems
- External hard drives
- Unused cables and power cords
- Old office phones
If a computer, phone or storage device contains personal or business information, back up anything you want to keep and take appropriate steps to protect your data before recycling it.
Living Room and Bedrooms
As televisions, entertainment systems and personal devices are replaced, the older versions often end up pushed into a corner or stored in another room. Check for:
- Televisions and computer monitors
- DVD and Blu-ray players
- Gaming systems and accessories
- Speakers and stereo equipment
- Digital cameras
- Alarm clocks
- Tablets and e-readers
- Old cell phones
Televisions and monitors may have specific recycling fees so review the details for your chosen collection event before loading your vehicle.
Kitchen and Utility Areas
Small electronic items can accumulate in cabinets, pantries and utility rooms. You may find:
- Microwaves
- Coffee makers
- Toasters and toaster ovens
- Blenders and food processors
- Small fans
- Vacuum cleaners
- Electronic scales
- Other small household appliances
Basement and Garage
The basement and garage are often the final destination for electronics that are no longer used. Look behind shelves, inside cabinets and beneath workbenches for:
- Old televisions
- Desktop computers and monitors
- Power tools
- Extension cords
- Radios
- Dehumidifiers
- Holiday lights
- Electronic lawn and garden equipment
- Boxes of unidentified cables and accessories
This is also a good time to separate electronics from household chemicals, paint, regular trash and other materials that may require a different disposal method.
Closets, Drawers and Storage Bins
Do not forget the smaller electronics that disappear into drawers and storage containers. Gather items such as:
- Cell phones
- Chargers and adapters
- Earbuds and headphones
- Remote controls
- Calculators
- Small cameras
- USB drives and memory cards
- Electronic toys
- Tangled cords you no longer recognize or use
Even a small drawer cleanout can eliminate years of accumulated devices and accessories.
How to Prepare for a Fall Recycling Event
Once you have gathered your unwanted electronics, visit the Responsible Recycling Services event calendar and choose a convenient collection event.
Before attending, open the event listing and review its flyer carefully. Each event may have different guidelines, including:
- Items accepted for recycling
- Fees for televisions, monitors or other devices
- Residency or identification requirements
- Document shredding availability
- Event hours
- Payment instructions
- Vehicle or household limits
- Whether collection continues only until the trucks are full
Do not rely on information from a different event. The individual flyer for the event you plan to attend should always be your guide.
Organize your materials before leaving home and place them somewhere collection staff can access easily. If the event also offers document shredding, keep documents separate from electronics and confirm whether any quantity limits apply.
Do Not Let Those Electronics Sit There All Winter
It is easy to tell yourself you will deal with an old computer, television or printer later. But “later” can quickly become another season, another year and another box taking up valuable space.
Responsible Recycling Services is bringing convenient collection opportunities to communities throughout Pennsylvania this fall. Use the season as your motivation to finish the cleanout, reclaim your space and make sure your unwanted electronics are handled responsibly.
Ready to get started?