Government > City Departments/Offices > Public Works > E-cycling: Computers and More

Please do not dispose of electronic equipment in your refuse.
City of Annapolis residents and businesses may safely dispose of these items at our drop-off location for E-cycling. The Public Works Operations Center (935 Spa Road) is accepting items free of charge Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Please report to the office for assistance. All electronic items, EXCEPT TV's, will be accepted. Please note that you must provide your own handling of the equipment; Public Works employees will not be available to assist in loading or unloading of equipment from your vehicle.

E-cycling is the practice of reusing, or distributing for reuse, electronic equipment and components rather than discarding them at the end of their life cycle.

Examples include:

• Computers and computer-related items
• Radios, stereos, speakers, wires
• Small electric kitchen appliances, microwaves
• Sewing machines and vacuum cleaners
• Telephones / cell phones
• Copiers / printers / fax machines, cables/cords
• TV's are no longer accepted. See below* for optional facilities.

E-mail or call 410-263-7967 for additional information. Items that are collected will be refurbished, dismantled for parts and further processed to reclaim base materials. Secure data destruction will be provided.

Batteries: According to Anne Arundel County and battery manufacturers, alkaline batteries no longer (since approximately 1993) contain mercury and are no longer considered hazardous; therefore they can safely be disposed of in your household trash.  Details on safe use, storage, and disposal.

The City has contracted with CDM (Computer Donation Management, Inc.) to perform the E-cycling. They are a Maryland Corporation in Baltimore City which provides responsible handling of e-waste materials for the Mid Atlantic region. CDM eCycling was incorporated in 1999 and operates a 100,000 square foot electronic recycling center in Southwest Baltimore. The company offers an alternative to the disposal of obsolete electronics and potentially hazardous matter. No electronic equipment processed at CDM eCycling enters a landfill. Go to CDM e-Cycling for online details.

Computer monitors and other electronic items contain up to an average of four pounds of lead and require special handling at the end of their lives. In addition to lead, electronics can contain chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc, and brominated flame retardants. When electronics are not disposed of or recycled properly, these toxic materials can present problems. Extending the life of your electronics or donating your most up-to-date and working electronics can save you money and saves valuable resources. Safely recycling outdated electronics can promote the safe management of hazardous components and supports the recovery and reuse of valuable materials.

*In addition to the City's E-cycling program:

• Anne Arundel County provides E-cycling (computers and electronics) at any of their drop off sites. Their web page provides all pertinent information and a phone number for more information.
• The Maryland Department of the environment (MDE) offers excellent choices and information for computer and electronic recycling.