Most cleanouts in southern NH turn up at least a few pieces of old electronics. The CRT television that's been in the basement since 2008. The old desktop computer in the closet. A box of cell phones from family members across multiple decades. The disposal rules for these are different from regular trash, and "throw it in the dumpster" doesn't always work. Here's the practical guide.
What counts as e-waste
The category of "e-waste" covers most consumer electronics:
- Televisions (CRT/tube, LCD, plasma, LED)
- Computer monitors
- Desktop and laptop computers
- Printers and scanners
- Phones (landline and cell)
- VCRs, DVD players, stereos
- Microwaves
- Game consoles
- Small appliances with electronics inside
The category is regulated because most of these items contain materials that need controlled recycling: lead, mercury, lithium, rare earth metals, plastics with flame retardants.
What we can take in a dumpster
Most consumer electronics can go in a construction debris dumpster or as part of a house cleanout, with a few exceptions:
Can usually go:
- LCD and LED televisions
- Computer towers (desktops)
- Laptops
- Printers, scanners, fax machines
- Stereos, speakers, audio equipment
- Game consoles and game accessories
- Small electronics (radios, alarm clocks, cordless phones)
- Most microwaves (no per-item fee on most)
Need specific handling:
- CRT/tube televisions (older glass-tube TVs)
- CRT monitors (same family, glass tube with lead inside)
- Plasma televisions in some cases
- Certain rechargeable batteries (especially older NiCd packs)
For the "need specific handling" category, the items can still be hauled, but the disposal channel is different and sometimes carries a fee.
The CRT television problem
Tube TVs are the most-asked-about e-waste item. They contain lead in the glass and other regulated materials. Most NH transfer stations and recycling facilities charge a per-unit fee for CRT TVs because of the disposal complexity.
Options for CRT TV disposal:
- Town e-waste days. Most NH towns run a quarterly or annual e-waste collection. Fees vary.
- Best Buy and certain retailers. Some retailers accept CRT TVs for recycling, sometimes with a fee.
- Transfer station drop-off. Per-unit fee at most NH stations.
- Haul with us as part of a cleanout. The disposal cost is built into the cleanout quote.
For a cleanout that includes a CRT TV, mention it on the booking call so the fee is in the quote.
The computer question
Old desktop computers and laptops mostly go in a regular dumpster or junk haul. A few specific things to think about before disposal:
- Wipe the hard drive. If the computer has any personal data, wipe it or physically destroy the drive before disposal. Most disposal facilities don't do data wipes.
- Remove the lithium battery. Laptop batteries (older lithium-ion packs) sometimes go through a separate channel. For most modern laptops, the battery can stay in.
- Pull anything you want to keep. RAM modules, hard drives, specific cards. Worth a once-over before the laptop goes.
If you're sensitive about data security, physical destruction (literally hammering the hard drive or drilling through it) is the most certain method.
Phones, tablets, and small electronics
These accumulate in drawers over the years. Most have lithium batteries inside, which technically should go through a separate disposal channel.
The practical approach for cleanouts:
- A few phones with built-in batteries can go in a regular dumpster
- A box of 20+ old phones is worth pulling out for an e-waste recycling drop-off
- Old chargers and cables can go in regular disposal
- Specific specialty items (cameras with built-in batteries, GPS units) follow the same logic
Microwaves
A specific note because microwaves come up in a lot of cleanouts: most disposal facilities accept microwaves with regular bulk waste. A few states have specific microwave recycling programs but NH doesn't restrict them at the state level.
Microwaves can go in a single-item pickup or in a dumpster with other cleanout material. No special handling needed in most cases.
What about freezers and refrigerators that contain electronics
These get the refrigerant recovery fee (covered in our appliance removal post) but not a separate e-waste fee, even though they contain electronics. The refrigerant is the regulated material, not the control board.
The estate cleanout context
Older homes often have decades of accumulated electronics. A common pattern:
- 1990s-era stereo equipment in the den
- A CRT TV in the basement
- Multiple boxes of phones, cameras, and small electronics
- Old computers stored after upgrades
- Cassette tapes, VHS tapes, CDs
The mix varies by household but the volume can be significant. For estate cleanouts, the e-waste portion typically rolls into the broader cleanout pricing with any specific fees itemized.
The town e-waste day option
Most NH towns run e-waste collection a few times a year, separate from the spring and fall hazmat days. Acceptable items vary by town but usually include:
- All TVs (CRT and modern)
- Monitors
- Computers and laptops
- Phones
- Small electronics
- Sometimes batteries
The fees are usually nominal or free for residents. If your cleanout has a lot of e-waste and you have time before the cleanout day, hauling the e-waste pile separately to the town's collection can save on the disposal fees in the cleanout quote.
For most cleanouts, including the e-waste in the haul is simpler than running a separate trip.
The booking call
When a cleanout includes significant e-waste:
- Rough count of CRT TVs and CRT monitors (these are the fee items)
- Volume of other electronics (a few items vs many boxes)
- Whether the e-waste is staged separately or mixed with the rest of the cleanout
- Standard cleanout scope questions
Text 603-634-9947 with a photo of the e-waste pile if it's staged.
Call 603-634-9947 to schedule. For broader cleanout questions, see our house cleanouts page.