May 20, 2018
This article addresses current e-waste recycling options in the Houston area, as these programs and facilities can, and do change over time.
It is important that citizens recycle their e-waste, because electronics often have hazardous components; and with the ever mounting volume of disposable e-waste those materials need to be kept out of the waste stream, and out of landfills and the environment.
Electronic products also include a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.
The City of Houston offers 3 regular e-waste drop off sites: Westpark and the two Environmental Service Centers. The City also has two monthly drop off locations, one in Kingwood and one in Clear Lake. For location details and further information, consult the City website:
One can also search for e-waste recycling sites using the Earth 911 website. This site has a search engine where one can search specific items to be recycled by zip code.
Some retail stores offering recycling options. Best Buy and Staples offer fairly comprehensive e-waste recycling. Most of their e-waste recycling is free, but there might be a fee for some larger items. These stores might be more convenient than the City drop off sites.
Staples e-waste recycling page:
Best Bay e-waste recycling page:
Note: the former GREENspot e-waste drop off program at local storage facility locations has been discontinued according to the City of Houston website.
For questions or feedback on recycling matters, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com