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Electronics Recycling · Raleigh, NC

Computer Recycling in Raleigh

Before you go

The machine is easy. The data on it is the part people get wrong.

  1. Sign out of your accounts first

    Deauthorize the machine from Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, and anything else tied to a device limit. Doing it afterwards is a support-ticket problem.

  2. Wipe the drive, or pull it and keep it

    A factory reset is not a wipe on an older mechanical drive; it clears the index, not the data. If what's on it matters, remove the drive with a screwdriver and keep it, or hand the machine to a recycler that issues a certificate of destruction.

  3. Look for NAID AAA if a business owns the machine

    That's the certification that comes with documented, auditable destruction. For a personal laptop it's overkill; for anything holding customer or patient records it's the baseline.

  4. Take the laptop battery out if it comes out without tools

    Lithium cells are processed on a separate line and several sites want them handed over separately rather than sealed inside the chassis.

  5. Treat a swollen battery as a fire risk

    If the case is bulging or the trackpad is lifting, the battery is failing. Don't puncture it, don't press it flat, don't put it in a bag with anything else, and tell the counter staff before you hand it across.

  6. Send the charger with it

    Power bricks are accepted with the machine and are useless once it's gone.

Compare options

Computer Recycling in Raleigh

3 free · 3 fee-based

Facility Cost Open now Notes
North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility(919) 856-7400 Free
for Wake County residents and businesses		 Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Walk-in Wake County-operated facility. Also accepts appliances, cardboard, cooking oil, motor…
South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility(919) 856-7400 Free
for Wake County residents. Latex paint under 10 gallons can also be dried and put in regular trash.		 Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Walk-in South Wake location in Apex. Same accepted items as North Wake.
NC Electronic Recycling(919) 865-3073 Free
(residential). Business services quoted.		 Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Appointment Pickup avail. EPA Compliant · NAID Secure electronics recycling and data destruction. Free residential drop-off.
Paid or fee-based options
Anything With A Plug Recycling(919) 610-3465 Depends on the item
Pickup: $60 flat fee. Event pickup: $100 (3 hrs)		 Mon-Fri 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sat 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Walk-in Pickup avail. Free drop-off at their facility. Flat fee $60 pickup.
Best Buy Free for most
$30 fee for TVs under 50"		 Hours not published Walk-in Best Buy at Triangle Town Center, Brier Creek, and other Raleigh area locations.
Staples Free for most
$25 fee for monitors		 Hours not published Walk-in Raleigh area Staples locations. Also accepts ink and toner cartridges.

How it works in Raleigh

Computers, monitors, keyboards, and printers have been banned from NC landfills since July 1, 2011 under the Discarded Computer Equipment and Television Management Law. Drop off free at any Wake County Multi-Material Recycling Facility, or schedule free Raleigh curbside e-waste pickup. Best Buy (3/day) and Staples (7/day) also accept computers at Raleigh stores.

Local rules

  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10 bans computers, monitors, printers, and televisions from NC landfills, effective July 1, 2011 (Discarded Computer Equipment and Television Management Law, SB 887 / S.L. 2010-67).

Worth knowing

  • Raleigh garbage customers get free curbside e-waste pickup (max 4 items/week) at 919-996-3245 — a widely overlooked option that beats hauling TVs to the county facility.
  • Raleigh's bulky/special pickup fees rose April 1, 2026: $35/load for bulky and $70/load for special. E-waste pickup remains free.

Wake County household hazardous waste

Wake County Household Hazardous Waste Facilities

Free HHW disposal for Wake County residents.

(919) 856-7400 Official program page (opens in a new tab)

14 more Raleigh rules, not specific to this item
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10 bans lithium-ion batteries from landfill disposal effective December 1, 2026.
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.70 prohibits disposal of lead-acid batteries in landfills, incinerators, or waste-to-energy facilities; retailers selling lead-acid batteries must accept used ones for recycling.
  • City of Raleigh stormwater rules: oil-based paint, paint cleaner, and paint waste may not be disposed in the sanitary sewer or stormwater system (latex wash water is allowed in sanitary sewer only).
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10 also bans motor oil, motor-vehicle oil filters, antifreeze, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles from landfill disposal in NC.
  • NC G.S. 130A-309.10(f), as amended by SL 2023-137: expands the NC landfill disposal ban to include photovoltaic modules (solar panels) effective December 1, 2026.
  • Wake County Solid Waste Ordinance (Chapter 65): establishes operating rules for all county solid waste facilities, sets fees for non-resident use, and prohibits commercial waste dumping at residential facilities.
  • Wake County's three HHW sites run completely different schedules: South Wake (Apex) is the only Mon-Sat site, North Wake (Raleigh) is Saturday only, and East Wake (Wendell) is weekends only. Showing up on the wrong day is a common mistake.
  • The North Wake HHW main storage building was destroyed in a January 22, 2025 fire; same-day Saturday collection runs at an adjacent building under a temporary state permit while a replacement is planned.
  • PaintCare does not operate in North Carolina — the program is only in 12 states plus DC, so NC residents have no producer-funded paint takeback network and must use HHW facilities or dry-and-trash latex paint.
  • Motor oil, antifreeze, and used oil filters are not accepted at HHW sites — they go to the Multi-Material Recycling Facilities instead, a frequent point of confusion.
  • Wake County allows small amounts of fully dried latex paint (mixed with kitty litter or sand until solid) in regular household trash; only larger amounts or oil-based paint require HHW (10-gallon paint limit per visit).
  • Wake County requires all solid waste disposed at its Transfer Station to be covered (tarped) during transport, and loads must have a cover or else face a $50 per load penalty.
  • Residents who want to dispose of large appliances (refrigerators, freezers, AC units) must have the refrigerant removed and tagged by a certified technician before schedule pickup or drop-off.
  • The City of Raleigh's green yard waste cart program accepts leaves, grass clippings, and brush up to 6 inches in diameter — but not dirt, rocks, or treated lumber.

Other Raleigh programs

  • Wake County Multi-Material Recycling Facilities (MMRFs)Electronics with cords (TVs, computers, monitors, phones, game consoles, microwaves, printers), large appliances, scrap metal, motor oil/antifreeze, cooking oil, cardboard. North Wake MMRF at 9029 Deponie Drive (next door to the HHW facility); South Wake MMRF at 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex; East Wake MMRF at 5051 Wendell Blvd.
  • Wake County Household Hazardous Waste FacilitiesThree HHW facilities accepting oil-based paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, acids/bases, fluorescent bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and medications. South Wake (6130 Old Smithfield Rd, Apex, Mon-Sat 8AM-4PM); North Wake (9037 Deponie Dr, Raleigh, Sat only 8AM-4PM); East Wake (5051 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, Sat-Sun 8AM-4PM).
  • City of Raleigh curbside e-waste collectionFree scheduled curbside e-waste pickup for City of Raleigh garbage customers; max 4 electronic items per week; accepts TVs (working or broken), monitors, computers, small corded appliances.919-996-3245
  • City of Raleigh Yard Waste & Bulky Item CollectionCurbside yard waste collection (bags, cans) on designated service days. Bulky item pickup (furniture, appliances) available for a fee: $35/load for bulky items (furniture, mattresses), $70/load for special items (appliances with refrigerant). E-waste pickup remains free.919-996-3245
  • Call2Recycle drop-off networkFree rechargeable and lithium-ion battery drop-off at participating Home Depot, Lowe's, and Staples locations across the Raleigh area.
  • Batteries Plus — Raleigh locationsFree recycling for rechargeable and single-use batteries plus fluorescent bulbs/tubes at Raleigh-area Batteries Plus stores. Also accepts small electronics (phones, tablets) and ballasts for recycling.
  • NC Department of Justice shred-event calendarStatewide listing of free community paper-shredding events; Raleigh-area events typically cluster in April-May and September-October at banks, credit unions, and police stations.
  • Wake County Convenience Centers (weekend HHW collection sites)Two weekend-only collection sites for residents unable to visit the main HHW facilities during the week. Accept HHW items including paint, pesticides, and automotive fluids. Saturday-Sunday 8AM-4PM at select locations.
Where this came from: 14 sources

Common questions

About Computer Recycling here

How much does Computer recycling cost in this area?

3 of 6 facilities (50%) offer free recycling for Computer. Facilities that may charge: Anything With A Plug Recycling, Best Buy, Staples. Anything With A Plug Recycling: Free drop-off. Pickup: $60 flat fee. Event pickup: $100 (3 hrs). Beyond 1hr from downtown Raleigh: additional fees.. Best Buy: Free (most items). $30 fee for TVs under 50"..

Do I need an appointment for Computer drop-off?

1 facility requires an appointment: NC Electronic Recycling. North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, Anything With A Plug Recycling accept walk-ins.

Is pickup available for Computer?

Yes, 2 facilities offer pickup: Anything With A Plug Recycling, NC Electronic Recycling.

Are there certified recyclers for Computer?

Yes. Local facilities hold certifications including: EPA Compliant, NAID. These ensure responsible processing and, for NAID, verified data destruction.

Are there quantity limits for Computer drop-off?

Some facilities have limits: South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility: 10 gallon latex paint limit; Best Buy: 3 items per day per household; Staples: 7 items per day per customer.

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.

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