E-Waste Disposal Report Card: All 50 States Graded [2026]

• •25 states plus D.C. have enacted e-waste recycling laws. The other 25 states have no legislation.

• •23 states plus D.C. have express landfill bans on electronics. In those states, throwing away a TV or computer is technically illegal.

• •The U.S. recycling rate for e-waste is approximately 15% — compared to 42% in Europe under the WEEE Directive.

• •Americans discard 46 pounds of e-waste per person annually, second only to China in total volume.

• •E-waste makes up less than 2% of landfill volume but contains approximately two-thirds of all heavy metals — including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.

• •A single CRT television or monitor contains 2 to 8 pounds of lead. The EPA classifies CRTs as hazardous waste.

• •California's program has recycled more than 2 billion pounds of electronics since 2005 — more than all other state programs combined.

• •Washington state's E-Cycle program has collected 460+ million pounds since 2009.

• •Vermont has the highest per-capita e-waste collection rate in the nation at 7.7 pounds per person.

• •Fines for illegal electronics disposal range from $25 in Illinois to $10,000+ in states with hazardous waste classifications.

Each state was evaluated on four criteria:

• •Has an e-waste recycling law — any legislation requiring manufacturer take-back, consumer recycling fees, or disposal bans.

• •Has a landfill ban on electronics — an express prohibition on disposing of electronic devices in landfills or incinerators.

• •Has a funded collection program — manufacturer-financed or state-funded infrastructure for consumers to recycle electronics at no charge.

• •Program performance — collection volume, per-capita collection rates, and device coverage where data is available.

States with comprehensive programs (law + landfill ban + funded collection + strong performance) received A grades. States with laws but weaker programs received B or C grades. States with no legislation received an F.

Five states have built the most comprehensive e-waste recycling systems in the country. Each has enacted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, banned electronics from landfills, and created manufacturer-funded collection programs that give consumers free recycling options.

California was the first state to pass an e-waste law — the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20). The approach is unique: rather than requiring manufacturers to fund collection directly, California charges consumers a recycling fee at the point of purchase. The fee ranges from $4 to $10 depending on screen size.

The results are unmatched. Since 2005, California has recycled more than 2 billion pounds of covered electronic devices through its CEW (Covered Electronic Waste) program. In 2022, 63 million pounds were collected — down from a peak of 220 million pounds as CRT TVs have been phased out, but still the largest state program by volume.

California operates hundreds of certified collection sites statewide. The program is overseen by CalRecycle and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Electronics are banned from landfill disposal, and the state spent over $336 million on cleanup of illegally dumped e-waste sites before the program gained traction.

Washington state launched E-Cycle Washington in 2009 under a manufacturer-funded EPR model. Electronics manufacturers pay for the statewide collection and recycling network — consumers pay nothing.

The program has collected more than 460 million pounds of electronics since inception. In 2022 alone, 13 million pounds were collected. Drop-off locations include county facilities, retailer partners like Best Buy and Staples, and periodic collection events.

Washington covers computers, monitors, TVs, laptops, tablets, and portable DVD players. The program is managed by the Department of Ecology and the Washington Materials Management & Financing Authority. Importantly, most electronic products manufactured, sold, or used in Washington on or after July 1, 2021 are covered — one of the broadest device definitions in the country.

Vermont may be the smallest A-grade state by population, but it leads the nation in per-capita e-waste collection at 7.7 pounds per person — nearly six times the national recycling rate. The state's E-Cycles program requires manufacturers to fund free collection and recycling for residents.

Vermont also bans e-waste from landfills and has designated it the fastest-growing waste type in the state. The compact geography and strong environmental culture contribute to high participation rates. Collection sites are widely accessible relative to the population, and the state actively enforces its disposal ban.

Oregon's E-Cycles program, one of the earliest EPR models (passed 2007, launched 2009), provides free recycling for computers, monitors, TVs, and printers. Anyone can drop off up to seven devices at a time at participating locations. Oregon also bans electronics from landfills, and the Department of Environmental Quality oversees program compliance.

Connecticut's program, enacted in 2007, requires manufacturers of covered devices to register with the state, pay registration fees, and fund collection. Connecticut was an early adopter that helped establish the manufacturer-responsibility model other states later followed. The state also maintains a landfill ban on electronics and provides accessible drop-off locations through its certified e-waste recycler network.

Eight states earned B grades. Each has enacted e-waste legislation and operates some form of collection program, but with limitations — narrower device coverage, lower collection rates, or weaker enforcement compared to A states.

Eight states earned C grades. These states have e-waste legislation on the books, but their programs are limited in scope, poorly funded, or lack a full landfill ban.

• •Hawaii (2008) — Requires manufacturer registration and fees but covers only TVs and monitors. No comprehensive collection network for other electronics.

• •Maryland (2005) — Early adopter with a manufacturer-funded model, but the program covers only computers and monitors. TVs were not included in the original legislation.

• •Missouri (2008) — Has a law but relies on voluntary manufacturer participation for collection events. No permanent collection infrastructure in most counties.

• •North Carolina (2007) — Covers computers and TVs with a landfill ban, but funding has been inconsistent and rural areas lack convenient drop-off options.

• •Oklahoma (2008) — Has legislation but implementation has been limited. Collection relies heavily on periodic e-waste events rather than permanent sites.

• •Pennsylvania (2010) — Covers computers, monitors, and TVs with a manufacturer-funded program. Program has faced manufacturer compliance issues — state has cited multiple companies for violations.

• •Rhode Island (2008) — Small state with legislation but modest collection infrastructure relative to population density.

• •Virginia (2008) — Has legislation but relies on a combination of manufacturer take-back and local government collection. No unified statewide program.

Four states earned D grades. Each has some form of legislation touching on electronics disposal, but the laws are narrow, poorly enforced, or lack meaningful recycling infrastructure.

• •Colorado (2012) — Banned certain electronics from landfills (CRTs, computers) but has no manufacturer-funded collection program. Consumers must find and often pay for recycling themselves.

• •South Carolina (2010) — Has a manufacturer registration requirement but no comprehensive EPR program. Collection relies on local government initiatives that vary widely by county.

• •Texas (2007) — Operates a computer take-back program through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), but the program is limited to computers. TVs and most other electronics are not covered. No landfill ban.

• •West Virginia (2008) — Has legislation on the books but minimal enforcement and limited collection infrastructure. Rural geography makes access challenging.

Twenty-five states have no e-waste recycling law. No manufacturer responsibility requirement. No landfill ban on electronics. No state-funded collection program.

In these states, consumers who want to recycle electronics have three options:

• •Retailer drop-off — Best Buy accepts up to 3 items per household per day for free (TVs and monitors may incur a $25 fee). Staples accepts most small electronics at no charge. But these programs are voluntary and retailer-funded, not state-mandated.

• •Municipal collection events — Some cities and counties hold periodic e-waste collection days. These are inconsistent, infrequent, and often limited to specific device types.

• •Private recyclers — Certified e-waste recyclers exist in most metro areas, but fees of $10–40 per item are common for TVs and monitors.

The result: in states without laws, the path of least resistance is the trash can. Electronics end up in landfills, where lead, mercury, cadmium, and flame retardants leach into groundwater. The EPA estimates that CRT televisions and monitors alone — each containing 2 to 8 pounds of lead — account for a significant portion of hazardous materials in municipal waste.

Notably, Massachusetts has tried to pass a statewide e-recycling law for several years without success, despite having an existing landfill ban on CRTs. Florida, the third-largest state by population, has no e-waste legislation of any kind.

Electronics contain both valuable materials worth recovering and hazardous substances that should never reach a landfill.

The United States has no federal law requiring e-waste recycling. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) classifies CRTs as hazardous waste, but the broader category of electronics — smartphones, laptops, printers, small appliances — falls through the regulatory cracks.

This absence creates three problems:

• •The patchwork problem. A TV thrown in the trash is illegal in New York but perfectly legal in Florida. A manufacturer must comply with 25 different state programs with different device definitions, registration requirements, and fee structures — but faces zero obligations in the other 25 states.

• •The export problem. Without federal oversight, an estimated 40-60% of U.S. e-waste collected for "recycling" is exported to developing countries where it is processed informally — often by hand, by workers including children, without protective equipment. The Basel Convention restricts hazardous waste exports, but the U.S. has not ratified it.

• •The scale problem. Europe's WEEE Directive, which sets minimum collection targets for all EU member states, has achieved a 42% recycling rate. The U.S., with its fragmented approach, manages roughly 15%. If the U.S. matched Europe's rate, an additional 1.8 million tons of electronics would be recycled annually.

Several states enacted new or updated electronics and battery EPR laws taking effect in 2026:

• •Colorado updated its electronics disposal requirements, expanding covered device categories.

• •Oregon expanded its existing E-Cycles program with broader device coverage.

• •Illinois updated its program with new manufacturer compliance requirements.

• •New York and Vermont enacted new battery EPR laws that complement existing electronics legislation.

• •Nevada and Washington passed new waste and recycling laws that include electronics provisions.

These changes represent incremental progress, but the fundamental divide remains: half the country has e-waste laws and half does not. No new state joined the group of 25 in 2025 or 2026, and federal legislation remains unlikely in the near term.

Regardless of whether your state has an e-waste law, you have options — they just vary dramatically in convenience and cost.

In the 23 states with landfill bans on electronics, putting a TV or computer in the regular trash is illegal. Enforcement varies wildly, but the fines are real.

The following table shows every state's grade, law status, and landfill ban status.

This report card is based on publicly available data from the following sources:

• •U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — electronics stewardship regulations, CRT hazardous waste classification, and "Facts and Figures" reports (2.7 million tons consumer electronics generated, 1.04 million tons recycled in 2018).

• •Global E-waste Monitor 2024 (ITU/UNITAR) — global and U.S. e-waste generation data, recycling rates, per-capita statistics.

• •Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (eCycle Clearinghouse) — state-by-state legislation map and landfill ban data.

• •ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) — U.S. state legislation and landfill ban compilations.

• •CalRecycle — California Covered Electronic Waste program data, annual reports, and collection volumes.

• •Washington Department of Ecology — E-Cycle Washington program reports and collection data.

• •Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation — E-Cycles program data and per-capita collection rates.

• •Oregon Department of Environmental Quality — E-Cycles program data.

• •National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — electronic waste recycling legislation overview.

• •State environmental agency websites for all 50 states and D.C.

Grades are editorial assessments based on the four criteria described above. They reflect the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of each state's e-waste recycling framework as of early 2026.

Dropcurb is a curbside junk removal marketplace. This report was produced as a public resource using publicly available data.