We appreciate your recycling efforts!!  As of early August 2009, Cuyahoga County residents and businesses have recycled over 721 tons of computer equipment this year.  This preliminary number includes equipment collected year-round at RET3 job corp. and city service departments. It also includes computers collected during the District’s two Recycle Your Computer Month events in April and August.  

Why do we collect and recycle old computer equipment?
Computer technology changes fast and many computers at home and in the workplace are replaced every few years to keep pace with the latest and fastest technology. This trend has created a hidden problem, namely, what to do with the millions of outdated computers replaced annually. Computer equipment contains many hazardous components, which make them unsuitable for disposal in a landfill. By recycling computers, we reclaim the metals and plastic and other valuable components in the equipment and recycle them into new products.

A pilot collection of old computer equipment was first conducted by the Solid Waste District in August 2000 in response to the banning of CRT’s from landfills in Massachusetts. Since that first collection in August 2000, the Solid Waste District has prevented over 4,400 tons of computer equipment from being disposed of in a sanitary landfill.

How do I recycle my home computer equipment in Cuyahoga County?
The list below indicates cities that have regular computer collections for their residents. If your city is not listed, you can recycle your equipment directly with RET3 job corp. RET3 is a not-for-profit computer recycler located on the east side of Cleveland that accepts and recycles computers year-round. Equipment can be turned in at the warehouse facility, located at 1814 East 40th Street in Cleveland. Equipment can be dropped off Monday through Friday at the rear of the building from 8:00-3:00. For more information, contact RET3 job corp. at (216) 361-9991 or www.ret3.org

What kind of computer equipment can be recycled?
Acceptable home computer equipment includes CPU’s, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, terminals, modems, cables, software, and ink printer cartridges. Cell phones and their accessories are also accepted.

What will happen to the computers that are collected?
RET3 job corp. has partnered with OneCommunity, another local not-for-profit broadband provider that works to give students technology skills for the workplace and, in turn, drive economic development in the region. OneCommunity has a goal of putting 50,000 computers in Northeast Ohio schools over the next five years.

What will happen to the data on my computer?
All computer hard drives received by RET3 are erased of all data using U.S. Department of Defense specifications. This secure system eradicates all the information stored on your computer and protects your confidentiality. After the hard drive is cleaned, usable computer systems are remanufactured. Unrepairable equipment is completely deconstructed. If your donation does not meet school specifications, RET3 job corp. will recycle the equipment in a process that is fully compliant with EPA standards and offers a 100% no-landfill guarantee. Raw materials are sold, and profits benefit the OneCommunity program.

I am a business with computers I need to get rid of.  What can I do with my old equipment?
Businesses with computers to recycle should contact RET3 for pick-up and drop-off requirements. Call (216) 361-9991. A list of other local computer recyclers can also be found in our online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry 

Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes.  To obtain a receipt contact the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District at (216) 443-3749 or swdinfo@cuyahogacounty.us. Please provide your name and mailing address.  A receipt will be mailed to you.

What about televisions and other electronics?
Television recycling is not a free service in Cuyahoga County. Televisions are not accepted during Recycle Your Computer Month. While there is no ban in Ohio on placing televisions and electronics in the regular trash, there are retailers and local companies that offer recycling services for these items. There may be a fee.

When is the next Recycle Your Computer Month event?
Recycle Your Computer Month is sponsored at least twice a year by the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. Collection events are typically held in April and August at city service departments throughout Cuyahoga County.