How to Recycle Electronics in Southern California

If you have old computers, servers, monitors, phones, or any other electronics that you need to get rid of in Southern California — you have options. But not all of them are legal, and not all of them are safe for your data or the environment. This guide walks through what you can do, where you can go, and what to look for in a responsible e-waste recycler in the Inland Empire and surrounding areas.

Why You Can't Just Throw Electronics in the Trash

Electronic devices contain hazardous materials — lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and brominated flame retardants — that can leach into soil and groundwater when they end up in landfills. For this reason, California classifies many electronics as hazardous waste and prohibits their disposal in regular trash.

Beyond the environmental concern, most devices also contain personal or business data. Hard drives, SSDs, and even USB ports can retain information long after you think you've deleted it. Simply placing a computer in a trash can or dumpster creates a data security risk.

The good news: responsible recycling is easy to access in Southern California, and for businesses with qualifying loads, it can be free.

Your Options for E-Waste Recycling in Southern California

Option 1: Schedule a Free Business Pickup

If you're a business, school, government agency, or organization with a significant quantity of electronics to dispose of, scheduled pickup is usually the best option. ZS Recycling provides free pickup for qualifying business loads — typically a full pallet or more — throughout Southern California.

The pickup process works like this:

1. Contact ZS Recycling with a description of what you have and approximate quantity
2. We'll confirm whether your load qualifies for free pickup
3. Schedule a convenient pickup time — we handle loading
4. Receive a Certificate of Recycling for your records (available upon request)

For organizations with data-bearing equipment, we also offer certified data destruction as part of the pickup. ITAD services include chain-of-custody documentation and Certificates of Data Destruction.

Option 2: Drop Off at Our Upland Facility

ZS Recycling accepts drop-offs at our facility in Upland, California:

110 N 3rd Ave, Upland, CA 91786
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM PST
Phone: 951-833-1708

We recommend calling ahead for large loads so we can prepare receiving capacity. See our full accepted items list for what we take.

Option 3: County and Municipal Collection Events

San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County periodically hold free e-waste collection events for residents. These are best for individuals with small quantities of consumer electronics — a few old phones, a television, or a couple of computers.

For businesses, municipal events typically don't provide the documentation, data security, or volume capacity needed for proper business IT retirement. Commercial ITAD services from a certified recycler are the appropriate solution.

What Electronics Can You Recycle?

ZS Recycling accepts a broad range of electronics, including:

• Desktop and laptop computers, servers, and Chromebooks
• LCD monitors, televisions, and display screens
• Smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices
• Printers, copiers, and scanners
• Networking equipment: routers, switches, modems
• Circuit boards and electronic components
• Cables, power strips, and adapters
• Projectors, cameras, and audio/video equipment
• Industrial electronics, controllers, and test equipment

For the complete list, see our Accepted Items page. Have something not on the list? Contact us — we may still be able to help.

Cities We Serve in Southern California

ZS Recycling is based in Upland in the Inland Empire and provides e-waste recycling pickup and services throughout the following cities and surrounding areas:

Don't see your city? We cover a wide service area. Contact us to confirm coverage for your location.

Why Certification Matters

Not every "recycler" is actually recycling. Some brokers collect electronics and ship them overseas to countries with lax environmental standards, where devices are dismantled by hand — often burning materials and exposing workers to toxic fumes. This practice harms people and the environment while avoiding the costs of legitimate recycling.

When choosing an e-waste recycler in Southern California, verify that they hold:

• CA DTSC certification — California Department of Toxic Substances Control. This is required to legally handle e-waste as hazardous waste in California.
• CalRecycle registration — Required to participate in California's covered device take-back program.
• ISO 14001 certification — Environmental management systems standard that ensures the recycler operates with documented environmental controls.

ZS Recycling holds all of these certifications, plus ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety). We are transparent about our downstream partners and provide documentation on request.

Frequently Asked Questions