By Southside Junk Removal
Electronics don't belong in the regular trash. That's not a suggestion, it's a matter of chemistry. Inside your TV, laptop, and old printer are materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium that can leach into soil and groundwater when they go to a standard landfill. E-waste disposal in Atlanta has several legitimate options, and most of them are easier than people expect.
Here's what qualifies as e-waste, why it matters, and how to handle it responsibly.
What counts as e-waste
E-waste, short for electronic waste, covers anything with a circuit board, screen, or battery. That's a broader category than most people realize.
Common residential e-waste:
- Televisions (flat-screen and CRT)
- Desktop computers and laptops
- Computer monitors
- Tablets and smartphones
- Printers, scanners, and fax machines
- Stereo equipment and speakers
- Gaming consoles and controllers
- VCRs, DVD players, and other media players
- Digital cameras and camcorders
- Cordless phones and landlines
- Battery-powered tools with lithium packs
- Microwaves (contain electronic components)
If it plugs in, runs on batteries, or has a screen, treat it as e-waste when it's time to dispose of it.
Why you can't just throw electronics in the trash
Standard landfills are not designed to contain the materials inside electronics. A cathode ray tube TV (the old boxy kind) contains four to eight pounds of lead. LCD flat screens contain mercury in their backlights. Lithium batteries are a fire risk in trash compactors and landfills.
The EPA estimates that electronics make up only about 2% of the U.S. solid waste stream by volume but account for 70% of the toxic heavy metals found in landfills. That disproportion matters.
Georgia does not currently have a statewide mandatory e-waste recycling law for consumers, but several counties in the metro area operate voluntary programs, and national retail chains offer drop-off options.
Atlanta-area e-waste disposal options
Best Buy electronics recycling
Best Buy stores accept many electronics for recycling at no charge, including TVs up to 50 inches (with some size-based fees for larger screens), computers, tablets, phones, printers, and cables. Their program is one of the most accessible options in the metro area. Check their website for current accepted items, as the list and fees change periodically.
Georgia Tech's Surplus Property Program
Georgia Tech operates an electronics surplus and recycling program. While primarily for institutional equipment, it's worth noting as a resource for residents near the campus area.
Clayton County household hazardous waste events
Clayton County periodically runs household hazardous waste collection events where residents can drop off electronics, paint, chemicals, and other regulated materials at no charge. These are scheduled events, not walk-in programs, so check the county website for dates.
Henry County and Fayette County programs
Both Henry and Fayette counties have solid waste management offices that can direct residents to current e-waste disposal options. County programs change, so checking directly with your county waste management office gives you the most current information.
Certified e-waste recyclers
Several certified e-waste processors operate in the greater Atlanta area. The Responsible Recycling (R2) certification is the industry standard. R2-certified recyclers are audited for how they process materials and what happens downstream. You can search for R2-certified facilities by location through the Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) website.
When Southside Junk Removal can help
If you have one or two electronics to recycle, the Best Buy drop-off program is the easiest path. If electronics are part of a larger cleanout, or if you have a stack of old TVs, computers, and equipment you want out of the house in one trip, that's where we come in.
We take electronics as part of any residential junk removal or specialty item pickup job. All electronics are separated from general waste and routed to certified e-waste recyclers. Nothing gets tossed in with regular trash.
The practical advantage: if you're doing a garage cleanout, an office clear-out, or a whole-home declutter, you don't have to make a separate trip for your electronics. We handle everything in one visit.
Call (404) 558-6493 or book online and let us know you have electronics in the mix. We'll account for that in the pickup.
Common e-waste questions
Can I throw old electronics in the trash in Georgia?
Technically, there is no statewide law prohibiting consumers from putting most electronics in household trash in Georgia, but it's genuinely harmful to do so. Electronics contain materials that don't belong in landfills. Better options, including free drop-off programs and county hazardous waste events, are available in most parts of metro Atlanta.
Where can I recycle old TVs in Atlanta?
Best Buy stores accept TVs for recycling. Flat screens up to 50 inches are typically accepted at no charge; larger screens may have a fee. Some county household hazardous waste programs also accept TVs. Call your county solid waste office to confirm. Southside Junk Removal also takes TVs as part of any junk removal job.
Does junk removal recycle electronics?
Reputable junk removal companies, including Southside, route electronics to certified e-waste recyclers. Ask the company directly what they do with electronics before booking.
What do I do with old laptops and phones before disposing of them?
Before recycling any device, wipe the data. For laptops, use the factory reset function or a tool like DBAN for hard drives. For phones, back up your data and run the factory reset from the device settings. Remove SIM cards. This applies even to damaged devices: data can sometimes be recovered from broken electronics.
Need junk removed in metro Atlanta? Call Southside Junk Removal at (404) 558-6493 or book online. Same-day service available.