10 February 2017

At Fire Dawgs, we take the proper disposal of electronics seriously. Our customers call us to remove and recycle electronics daily. So, we thought it would be helpful to share some information about Indiana Electronics Disposal Regulations to keep handy for reference.

About Indiana Electronics Disposal Regulations

Effective January 1, 2011 Indiana businesses, homes, and public schools (including charter) are no longer permitted to put unwanted electronics in municipal waste that is intended for incineration or disposal at a landfill. This ban is enforced in cooperation with Indiana state law. The short of it is, as citizens of Indiana, we cannot throw electronics in the trash. So, can you throw an old T.V. in trash? No. Old cell phone? No. Old computer monitor? You guessed it… no! Here is basically why.

Reasons for the Indiana Electronics Disposal Regulations

Electronics can contain many environmentally unsafe chemicals. These chemicals include: mercury, lead, prosperous, cadmium, beryllium, and arsenic. When electronics are dumped into landfills, these chemicals can seep into the ground and eventually end up in our water supply. According to Wired.com, “…41.5 million tons of electronic waste was generated in 2011, and that number is expected to rise to 93.5 million by 2016, according to the research firm MarketsandMarkets. Right now, 70 to 80 percent of all that old gadgetry goes straight to landfills.” Currently, it is 2017. Imagine how many tons of e-waste are sitting in landfills today. Now think of the environment. Think of our water supply. Pretty scary, right?

Where to Properly Dispose of Electronics in Indianapolis

In Indianapolis and Marion County, there are quite a few locations and companies that will help you dispose of e-waste properly. We’ve already posted about where to recycle electronics in Indianapolis, and that post can be found Here.

Where to Properly Dispose of Electronics in Hamilton County

In Hamilton County Indiana, it’s even easier to properly dispose of e-waste. You can drop items like TVs off at the Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste Center. This program is for Hamilton County residents only. Patrons to the facility are asked to show proof of residency.

Where to Properly Dispose of Electronics in Hendricks County

Hendricks county residents also have a great resource for disposing of e-ewaste properly through the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District. Hendricks County utilizes scheduled “Tox Away Days” to help citizens properly dispose of e-waste and other hazardous items. According to their website, “…in 2016, we received and recycled nearly 84,000 pounds of e-waste through that program–significantly more than any other previous year.” Learn more about Tox Away Days and electronics recycling in Hendricks County here: Electronics Recycle- Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District.

Where to Properly Dispose of Electronics in Johnson County

E-waste and toxic waste recycling in Johnson County Indiana is available through Johnson County Recycling District. According to their website, there may be fees associated with dropping off electronics like computers and TVs. However, most places do charge a few for the disposal of these items, so don’t let that detour you!

Where to Properly Dispose of Electronics in Boone County

In Boone County Indiana, the options for e-waste recycling seem to be less centralized. We did find some information on Boone County’s Recycling page, Here. The Boone County Solid Waste Management District also holds “Spring Collection” and “Fall Collection” dates for residents to properly dispose of electronics, hazardous waste, and tires. ALL TVs do have a fee for disposal.

Fire Dawgs and the Proper Disposal of Electronics

We hope that we’ve been able to help explain Indiana Electronics Disposal Regulations! At Fire Dawgs, we do properly dispose of electronics for our customers. Like most place listed above, we do charge a fee for the removal and recycling on TVs (because we too have to pay a fee to the recycling facility). We do not charge you extra. We just charge what the facility charges us, which is $10. Let us know if you have any questions, or would like to schedule electronics or TV removal and recycling. Our phone number is 317-291-3294 (DAWG), or you can Contact Us anytime online. We are here to help!

Additional Resources:

Indiana Department of Environmental Management