What data destruction methods are used for hard drives?

Certified recyclers offer hard drive shredding, degaussing, and software wipe with certificates of destruction (NAID AAA verified). Some provide chain-of-custody documentation for business compliance.

Can I recycle a laptop with a broken screen?

Yes — broken laptops are accepted at most e-waste recyclers. Remove the battery if possible. Some recyclers charge a small fee for broken devices.

Electronics Recycling · Houston, TX · Local guide

Computer Recycling in Houston

Texas Recycles Computers Program (TCEQ) requires manufacturer takeback (Dell, HP, Apple, Lenovo, etc). CompuCycle offers free drop-off of all computers, laptops, servers, and peripherals. Goodwill Houston (50+ locations) accepts any computer equipment via its CompuCycle partnership. Houston ESC locations accept computers free for residents. Data destruction available at CompuCycle and TechnoCycle.

Where to drop off computer recycling in Houston

10 local options, verified against listing sources.

Harris County household hazardous waste program

City of Houston Environmental Service Centers (North & South)

Free for City of Houston residents. Two drive-through ESC locations: North (5614 Neches St) and South (11500 S Post Oak Rd). Mon-Sat 8 AM-5 PM. HHW, electronics, paint, and batteries accepted. No appointment needed (unlike Harris County HHW facility which requires one).

Phone: (713) 551-7355 · Website: official program page ↗

Other local programs

City of Houston Environmental Service Center — North

Free HHW drop-off for City of Houston residents. 5614 Neches St, Houston 77026. Hours: Monday–Saturday 8 AM–5 PM. Closed Sunday. No appointment needed. Accepts HHW, electronics, batteries, paint, automotive fluids, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, and more.
City of Houston Environmental Service Center — South

Free HHW drop-off for City of Houston residents. 11500 S Post Oak Rd, Houston 77035. Hours: Monday–Saturday 8 AM–5 PM. Closed Sunday. No appointment needed. Same services as the North ESC.
Harris County Household Hazardous Waste Facility

Free HHW disposal for Harris County residents who live outside City of Houston jurisdiction. 6900 Hahl Rd, Houston 77040. Appointment only — Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9 AM–3 PM, 2nd & 4th Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM. Serves residents who do not receive City of Houston services/pay City taxes.

Phone: 346-286-4299
Harris County HazMobile Events

Seasonal mobile HHW collection events conducted in Spring and Fall for each of Harris County's four precincts. Free for Harris County residents. Locations rotate — check county website for precinct-specific schedules.

Phone: 346-286-4294
Westpark Consumer Recycling Center

City of Houston consumer recycling drop-off. 5900 Westpark Dr, Houston 77057. Monday–Saturday 8 AM–5 PM. Accepts residential electronics (computers, monitors, TVs, printers) plus paper, cardboard, metal cans, and plastic bottles. Free. No HHW — those go to the ESC locations.

Phone: 713-837-0311
CompuCycle — Free Residential Electronics Recycling

Free drop-off for all consumer electronics at 8019 Kempwood Dr, Houston 77055. R2 and e-Stewards certified, processes everything in-house at its 130,000 sq ft facility. City of Houston's partnered e-waste recycler. Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM. No appliances, paint, light bulbs, or HHW.

Phone: 713-690-2000
Ellington Permanent E-Waste Drop-Off (City partnership)

City of Houston partnership with CompuCycle for a permanent residential e-waste drop-off site near Ellington Airport. Free for Houston residents. Appointment required. All data destroyed. Call CompuCycle for details.

Phone: 713-690-2000
Call2Recycle battery drop-off (Houston)

Free rechargeable and lithium-ion battery drop-off at participating Houston-area Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Staples, and other retail locations. Do NOT bring damaged, defective, or recalled (DDR) batteries to collection sites. Tape terminals before drop-off.
Goodwill Houston + CompuCycle Partnership

Free electronics recycling at 50+ Goodwill Houston donation centers. All e-waste processed locally at CompuCycle's R2/e-Stewards certified facility. Part of the Dell Reconnect program. Working and non-working electronics accepted.
Texas Recycles Computers Program (TCEQ)

State law requires computer manufacturers selling in Texas to offer free recycling of their own brand-labeled computer equipment to households. Covers desktops, laptops, tablets, monitors, and computer peripherals. Manufacturers registered with TCEQ include Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple, and many more.

Phone: 800-732-9253
Texas Recycles TVs Program (TCEQ)

TV manufacturers must register with TCEQ and file a recovery plan. Covers most consumer televisions (CRT, LCD, LED, plasma). Households can return brand-labeled TVs to the manufacturer's free takeback program.

Phone: 800-732-9253
AutoZone & O'Reilly — Car Battery Recycling

Free lead-acid car battery recycling at multiple Houston-area AutoZone and O'Reilly Auto Parts locations. Core deposit refunded if buying new. Also accepts marine, motorcycle, and lawn tractor batteries.

What to know in Houston

Local rules and laws

Texas Recycles Computers Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. I): requires computer manufacturers selling in Texas to offer free takeback recycling for their brand-labeled computers to households. TCEQ maintains an annual manufacturer list.
Texas Recycles TVs Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. J): TV manufacturers must register with TCEQ and meet annual recycling targets. Free household takeback required by law.
Texas does NOT have a paint stewardship law — PaintCare does not operate in Texas (as of 2026). All paint disposal must go through municipal HHW programs (Houston ESC or Harris County HHW).
Houston City Code Chapter 39 (Solid Waste): prohibits placing hazardous household waste (including electronics, batteries, paint, chemicals) in curbside garbage or recycling carts. Violations can result in fees.
Harris County Solid Waste Management Ordinance: regulates disposal of regulated wastes including used oil, batteries, electronics, and HHW within unincorporated Harris County.
Texas Health & Safety Code Ch. 361.106: prohibits improper disposal of lead-acid batteries, waste oil, and used oil filters. Applies statewide.
Texas Administrative Code Title 30 (Environment) Ch. 335: enforces Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards for hazardous waste management including small quantity generator rules for businesses.
Houston's Reuse Warehouse Program: accepts reusable building materials, furniture, and household goods at the ESC locations. Operated by the Solid Waste Management Department.

Useful local details

Houston has TWO separate HHW programs serving different populations: City of Houston residents use the North/South ESC (free, no appointment needed, Mon–Sat 8–5), while unincorporated Harris County residents use the Hahl Rd facility (appointment only, Tue/Wed/Sat). Know your jurisdiction!
Texas has NO PaintCare program — unlike neighboring states or Washington/Colorado/Oregon where you can drop paint at hardware stores, Houston residents must take ALL paint to the ESC or Harris County HHW. This is a major difference residents need to know.
CompuCycle (8019 Kempwood) is a unique local resource — R2 and e-Stewards certified woman-owned business that processes ALL electronics recycling in-house. City of Houston relies on them for e-waste events. Free residential drop-off.
The ESC facilities have a Reuse Warehouse where reusable items (furniture, building materials, household goods) are available for free to the public — essentially a city-run free store, little-known but popular with DIYers.
Houston is the largest US city without zoning — this can make it hard to find specific recyclers using commercial address patterns. Navigate by major intersections and neighborhoods.
Hurricane season (June–November) impacts HHW operations — facilities may close during storms and events like Hurricane Harvey (2017) and Beryl (2024) drove massive storm-related HHW collections.
The Harris County HHW facility at Hahl Rd (290 & Gessner area) has very limited hours — only Tue/Wed plus select Saturdays — and requires an appointment. Plan ahead: spots fill up.
Houston 311 (dial 3-1-1 or submit online) can provide HHW guidance and help schedule services. The 311.houstontx.gov site has a solid waste section with HHW info.
Best Buy in Houston charges $29.99 for TVs over 50" — typical for the retailer nationwide. CRTs may have additional fees. Three items per household per day limit applies.
Louisiana and Oklahoma do not have e-waste laws either, making Texas's TCEQ manufacturer programs the only formal electronics recycling framework in the region.

For general electronics recycling info — what's recyclable, how to prepare items, where the materials go — see the national electronics recycling guide. For all Houston options, browse electronics recycling in Houston.

Sources verified for this guide

Updated · 2026-05-19